A method of diagnosing, minimizing symptoms and/or treating the pathology of intervertebral disc degeneration includes introducing a first cannula through a vertebra along an axis of at least one pedicle of the vertebra from a generally posterior to a generally anterior direction and inserting a second cannula within a lumen of the first cannula, the second cannula constrained to a relatively straight configuration within at least a portion of the first cannula and assumes a nonlinear or curvilinear geometry external to the first cannula within at least a portion of a vertebral body of the vertebra and away from a longitudinal axis of the first cannula. The method includes forming a channel with the second cannula, the channel extending to or adjacent to a vertebral endplate of the vertebral body in order to create a defect through the vertebral endplate of the vertebra. Related systems, devices, and methods are described.