OptaBlate Now Available for Vertebrogenic Pain
- Posted on: Apr 23 2026
For many patients, chronic back pain does not primarily come from the muscles, facet joints, or nerve roots. Instead, the true pain generator may arise from the vertebral endplates, with pain signals transmitted through the basivertebral nerve (BVN). This specific diagnosis, known as vertebrogenic pain, has become one of the most important advances in modern spine care.
With the addition of OptaBlate, we are expanding our ability to treat this condition using targeted, minimally invasive technology designed to address the pain source more directly.
What This Means for Patients
OptaBlate is part of the broader category of BVN ablation, a treatment approach that targets the basivertebral nerve within the vertebral body. Patients who may benefit are those with:
- Chronic axial low back pain lasting 6 months or longer
- Failure of conservative treatments such as therapy, medication, or injections
- MRI findings such as Modic type 1 or type 2 changes
- Pain patterns consistent with vertebrogenic pain
This is especially important for patients who have been living with persistent back pain despite trying multiple treatments without lasting relief.
A New Option Within BVN Ablation
Many patients are already familiar with the Intracept Procedure, which helped bring vertebrogenic pain into mainstream spine care. OptaBlate is another technology platform within the same treatment category.
In other words:
Vertebrogenic pain is the diagnosis. BVN ablation is the treatment category. Intracept and OptaBlate are two procedure platforms used to target the same basivertebral nerve pain pathway.
This broader framework allows us to discuss treatment in a more precise and patient-centered way, focusing first on the diagnosis and then on the most appropriate procedural approach.
Why This Matters
Chronic low back pain is often treated with generalized strategies that may not fully address the real pain source. The recognition of vertebrogenic pain has changed that. By identifying the role of vertebral endplate damage and basivertebral nerve signaling, we can better match the treatment to the pathology.
The addition of OptaBlate reflects our commitment to offering advanced, evidence-based spine care with a focus on accurate diagnosis, thoughtful patient selection, and targeted minimally invasive treatment.
Learn More
If you would like to learn more about this condition and the available treatment options, visit:
Dr. Amit Sharma & our minimally invasive pain & spine team.
Posted in: News, Special Report
