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Intracept vs treatment for Cluneal nerve
Intracept vs treatment for Cluneal nerve
Has anyone undergone either of these 2 procedures for treatment of pain in the lower lumbar region?
The Intracept® Procedure is a minimally invasive, outpatient treatment for chronic lower back pain. It uses radiofrequency energy to heat and disable the basivertebral nerve (BVN), stopping it from sending pain signals to the brain.
Cluneal nerve pain (cluneal neuralgia) occurs when the nerves supplying sensation to your lower back and upper buttocks are irritated or compressed, usually as they pass through tight tunnels of fascia and bone. It is an often-overlooked cause of lower back and leg pain that is frequently misdiagnosed as a spinal or sacroiliac (SI) joint issue
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What is the treatment for Cluneal nerve pain?
I have never had the Intercept treatment, but I'm interested in exploring ANY avenues possible.
What type of doctor would do the Intercept procedure? A neurosurgeon? All the ones I have seen want to do spinal surgeries and fusions.
I will be following this thread with much interest.
Best wishes!
Mike
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Hug
1 ReactionThe ultimate treatment for cluneal nerve pain is steroid injection wich needs repaeting over time. The diagnostic for it seems to be rather cut and dried. I think a pain mgmt doc would do the Intercept procedure. The closest one to me [I'm in Ames] is in Council Bluffs Iowa. I will be getting another epidural in a week or so. If that doesn't help then cluneal nerve or Intercept are in the future.
Pretty sure that I've met the Medicare coverage requirements for the Intracept if I get accepted by the performing physician.
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Hug
1 ReactionYou are right: pain doctors do the Intracept. I was denied TWICE for the procedure! They don't want to pay for it, I guess. They had used the stenosis for a reason, so I had the MILD for the stenosisi; still, they denied the Intracept. Now I plan to have the Neurostimulation. Only time will tell. **The injections did not work after the second one; not at all.
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1 Reaction@dorma
Some doctors are better than others at justifying why insurance should cover certain procedures.
So true.
On Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 02:35:34 PM CDT, Mayo Clinic Connect wrote:
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@dorma
Some doctors are better than others at justifying why insurance should cover certain procedures.
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@dorma
My granddaughter needed some ivig treatments which her regular pediatrician said insurance wouldn't cover. She sent her to another doctor who was able to get insurance to pay for.
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1 ReactionHow do you get diagnosed for that? I researched and found it plausible for my gluteal tendinopathy and tenderness all along my iliac crest, plus random sharp pulling pain when bending too much. Doctors seem to give me different diagnosis from facet joint arthritis to SI joint dysfunction. No one is on the same page.
@loyd1957
I guess I will find out if the shot I got today doesn't help. It might be near the end of the option list too.