Could Modic Changes on Your MRI Point to Vertebrogenic Low Back Pain?
If your MRI report mentions Modic type 1 or type 2 changes, you might finally have an answer for the persistent pain in your lower back. These findings can point toward vertebrogenic low back pain, which starts in damaged vertebral endplates, but they aren’t enough to confirm the diagnosis on their own. At Allied Pain & Spine Institute, we look at your symptoms, exam, treatment history, and imaging together before recommending the Intracept Procedure as part of your care plan.
What Are Modic Changes?
The vertebral endplates sit between the bones of your spine and the discs that cushion them. When an endplate becomes damaged, nearby bone marrow can change in ways that appear on MRI. Radiologists classify these findings as Modic changes.
Type 1 and type 2 changes can appear in people with chronic low back pain, but they are not a diagnosis on their own. A 2026 review of Modic changes supports using them as one part of an imaging-guided evaluation while noting that diagnostic standards are still developing. Your pain pattern and physical exam still have to fit.
Who May Be Considered for the Intracept Procedure?
We may consider the Intracept Procedure at Allied Pain & Spine Institute when the basivertebral nerve appears to be a likely pain source. Common candidacy factors include:
- Low back pain that has lasted at least six months
- Modic type 1 or type 2 changes between L3 and S1
- Pain centered in the lower back rather than mainly traveling down the legs
- Limited improvement after physical therapy, medication, injections, or other conservative care
Meeting these criteria doesn’t automatically mean you’re a candidate. Other spinal conditions, your health history, and where your symptoms show up can all affect the recommendation. Insurance coverage can vary, so we’ll help you check your benefits as part of the planning process.
How Does Basivertebral Nerve Ablation Work?
The Intracept Procedure uses controlled radiofrequency energy to interrupt pain signals from the basivertebral nerve inside the vertebral body. This type of basivertebral nerve ablation doesn’t remove a disc, fuse your spine, or leave an implant behind. It’s done as an outpatient procedure with image guidance.
Five-year follow-up from three prospective clinical trials showed lasting improvements in pain and function for people with matching symptoms and Modic type 1 or type 2 changes. Results can vary, and Intracept isn’t designed to treat low back pain that comes from the facet joints, sacroiliac joints, muscles, or other sources.
Why a Detailed Evaluation Comes First
Low back pain can come from discs, joints, nerves, muscles, or even a mix of problems at once. Dr. Parish Vaidya is Allied’s Chief Medical Officer and is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine. His training means you get the careful, whole-picture evaluation needed before considering a targeted procedure like Intracept.
Explore the Intracept Procedure in San Jose or Los Gatos
If Modic changes showed up on your MRI and chronic low back pain keeps getting in your way, it might be time to take another look at your diagnosis and treatment plan. Reach out to Allied Pain & Spine Institute to schedule an evaluation for the Intracept Procedure in San Jose or Los Gatos.
Posted on behalf of Allied Pain & Spine Institute
