Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
What is it?
Peripheral nerve stimulation involves placing a lead adjacent to a nerve that is causing pain. The lead stimulates the nerve at a level that is not felt by the patient but is strong enough to turn off pain signals the nerve is sending back to the spinal cord and brain. The patient usually has a battery that they wear on the outside of their skin in close proximity to where the lead is placed under the skin.
What conditions does it treat?
Peripheral nerve stimulation can be used to treat polyneuropathy, radiculopathy, post-surgical pain, and other neuropathic pain states.
How long does the effect last?
This mode of therapy usually has long duration of pain relief. The pain relief from these devices can last many years in most cases.