About the Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is a treatment option offered by The Pain Center’s physician if therapy and medication are ineffective in managing chronic or persistent pain.
With the exception of sending modest electrical currents directly to nerves outside of the spinal cord, peripheral nerve simulators function similarly to spinal cord simulators. Your body’s peripheral nerves extend from your spinal cord to your limbs and organs.
First, we perform a neuropsychological assessment. The process begins with a trial run to gauge your reaction to transient electrodes that are positioned along the length of the problematic peripheral nerve, just like with spinal cord stimulation. If the discomfort does not go down considerably, the electrodes are taken out. If it is successful, permanent electrodes are positioned at the nerve site, and an internal stimulator that runs on batteries is inserted beneath the skin. These batteries are easily replaceable and have a long lifespan. We adjust the electrical pulse settings of the stimulator after it is installed to get optimal pain relief.
This technique is usually done as an outpatient under local anesthetic. PNS has been used to treat chronic pain since the 1960s and is a very safe treatment. Some of the conditions we treat with PNS are:
- Trigeminal neuropathic pain
- Nerve injuries
- Occipital neuralgia and other headache syndromes
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Post amputation pain syndrome
To learn if Peripheral Nerve Stimulation is right for you, contact us today at (304) 527-8207 or questions@thepaincenterus.com