Peripheral Nerve Stimulation: A Promising Option for Chronic Pain Relief

Living with chronic pain can feel overwhelming, especially when traditional treatments like pain  medication and physical therapy don’t provide much relief. For many people, persistent pain starts to take over their lives, limiting movement, independence, and overall well-being. 

But there’s hope. Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is a promising option for chronic pain relief, particularly for those who haven’t found success with other treatments.

As leaders in pain management, our team of board-certified providers at Alliance Spine & Pain Centers offers many innovative treatments to manage chronic pain, including PNS. Here, we describe this minimally invasive treatment, how it works, and how it might benefit you.

What is peripheral nerve stimulation?

PNS is a type of neuromodulation therapy that targets specific peripheral nerves to help manage chronic pain conditions. Peripheral nerves travel from the spinal cord to the rest of the body, carrying signals between the brain and body, including pain signals.

By focusing directly on the peripheral nerves, PNS provides localized pain relief at the discomfort at the source. This differs from spinal cord stimulation (SCS), which targets the spinal nerves and provides broader pain relief. 

For example, SCS often helps ease back and leg pain, while PNS addresses more specific pain such as knee, hip, or shoulder pain.

How PNS works

PNS manages pain by adjusting nerve activity. It involves implanting a small electrical device next to the peripheral nerve. This device delivers mild electrical pulses that help calm overactive pain signals before they reach the brain.

By altering how the nervous system processes pain, PNS reduces discomfort, improves movement, and enhances quality of life. Because the therapy targets a specific nerve, it offers  precise pain relief without affecting surrounding body parts. 

Can PNS help you?

If you have nerve-related pain conditions and chronic pain that affects a specific area of your body but you can’t get relief from traditional treatments, PNS might be an effective option for you. We use PNS to treat chronic:

• Knee pain
• Arm pain
• Leg pain
• Shoulder pain
• Diabetic nerve pain

PNS is also an effective pain management tool for discomfort that continues after surgery for the underlying pain conditions. 

Before moving ahead with permanent implantation, we do a trial run to make sure the therapy effectively addresses your pain. During the trial, we place thin lead wires near the concerning nerve and attach those wires to an external device you carry with you.

If you experience significant relief over the course of a week, we can move forward with the permanent implantation. 

While results vary, many people experience long-term pain relief and a significant improvement in quality of life. 

Chronic pain relief is within reach

Constant pain can affect every aspect of your life, especially when lasting relief feels out of reach. Peripheral nerve stimulation is a promising treatment that may help you regain control and live without pain holding you back.

Our team includes PNS specialists who are ready to help you find lasting relief. We have easy appointment scheduling, so call us today at 770-929-9033 or request a visit online. As the largest interventional pain practice in the Southeast, we have a convenient location to serve you.