What Is the BVNA Procedure? A Minimally Invasive Breakthrough for Chronic Back Pain

Back pain doesn’t always start with a strained muscle, damaged disc, or pinched nerve. For some people, the pain comes from changes inside the vertebrae themselves.

For certain types of chronic low back pain, James Ellner, MD, and the team at Georgia Pain Management in Woodstock, Georgia, offer basivertebral nerve ablation, or BVNA. This minimally invasive procedure uses controlled energy to stop the basivertebral nerve from continuing to transmit chronic pain signals. 

Here’s a closer look at how BVNA works, what happens during the procedure, and how to tell if you’re a good candidate for the procedure. 

What kind of back pain does BVNA treat?

When the endplates of your spinal bones are damaged, a small nerve inside the vertebra can keep sending pain signals to the brain, even when there’s no active injury. This condition is called vertebrogenic pain, and it requires a treatment aimed at that specific source.

Your vertebral endplates sit between the spinal bones and discs. They contain nerves that transmit pain signals. This is called vertebrogenic pain. BVNA treats this type of pain. 

It’s important to identify whether this is the type of pain you have, as BVNA isn’t designed for every type of back pain and specifically targets nerves inside the vertebrae.

Dr. Ellner can identify vertebrogenic pain on MRI, which reveals changes in these areas (Modic changes), to help determine whether BVNA is the right option. 

What happens during the BVNA procedure?

During BVNA, Dr. Ellner makes a very small incision and guides a specialized instrument into the affected vertebra. A probe then delivers controlled radiofrequency energy to the basivertebral nerve.

This energy disables the nerve so it can’t continue to send pain messages to your brain. The procedure is performed without open spine surgery, and there’s no permanent device or implant left behind.

How does BVNA relieve chronic back pain?

Most pain treatments work by reducing inflammation or temporarily interrupting discomfort. BVNA takes a more targeted approach by addressing the nerve that transmits vertebrogenic pain.

Once that nerve is deactivated, the damaged endplates can no longer send the same persistent pain signals. For the right patients, this can provide lasting relief and make everyday activities, movement, and exercise more manageable.

Who should consider BVNA?

BVNA is for people who’ve experienced low back pain for at least six months and whose pain hasn’t improved with other, more conservative therapies, such as:

• physical therapy
• medication
• activity changes
• spinal injections

Dr. Ellner also reviews your symptoms and MRI results to confirm that vertebral endplate damage is likely the reason for your pain. 

Find out whether BVNA is right for you

If chronic back pain is interfering with your ability to work, sleep, move, or simply get through daily life, you don’t have to keep cycling through treatments that aren’t effective.

At Georgia Pain Management, Dr. Ellner can determine whether the BVNA procedure belongs in your personalized treatment plan. 

Call our Woodstock office or book an appointment online to learn more about this minimally invasive option for long-term relief of back pain.