Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

The peripheral nervous system consists of a network of nerves that connect the entire body to the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). When these specific nerves are damaged, you may experience pain, burning, shocks or tingling, known as neuropathic pain. Additionally, your movement, motor coordination and sensation abilities may be affected. You may also experience numbness. Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) at Weill Cornell Medicine can help correct these symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Like spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation is a type of neuromodulation that relies on a small electrical device. The device is placed next to a peripheral nerve with a minimally invasive, nonsurgical, needle-based outpatient procedure. It then delivers rapid electrical pulses, which can interrupt and reduce the number of pain signals that reach your brain. Your provider adjusts the amount of pain-relieving stimulation to meet your specific needs.

Why Weill Cornell Medicine

At Weill Cornell Medicine, our physicians are leading experts in neuromodulation, including peripheral nerve stimulation. However, your care journey may not begin with peripheral nerve stimulation. Rather, your team considers your overall health, symptoms and goals. They then use this information to create a tailored treatment plan.

If you’re considered a good candidate for this advanced treatment, our compassionate, multidisciplinary team of experts will guide you through the process. Along with educating you on the procedure, they consider you the most essential member of your care team. So, they go out of their way to empower you to take an active role in your care.

Conditions Treated with Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Peripheral nerve damage makes everyday tasks difficult, leaving you in pain. Peripheral nerve stimulation treats chronic pain and helps you regain function. It can help treat conditions, including:

●      Complex regional pain syndrome related to nerve injuries

●      Some types of back pain focusing on myofascial and multifidus muscle pain

●      Chronic knee or shoulder pain

●      Migraine or  headaches from occipital neuralgia

●      Nerve injury or nerve entrapment

Benefits of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

The main benefits of peripheral nerve stimulation are pain relief and improved quality of life. Here are two other important perks to consider:

●      It starts with a trial. Before permanent implantation, you use the device for a trial period. This gives you time to experience its effects and ensure the specific nerve area causing the issue receives stimulation. Some pain may respond to a short course of stimulation over two months. Your physician may recommend such a device if you have had this pain for a short time (acute pain), and it is easily removed. Other patients with more chronic pain may require a longer-lasting system. Once it’s found effective, your physician implants the device permanently. Your team considers other treatment options if it doesn’t help with symptoms.

●      It takes the place of medicine. When effective, this treatment reduces or even eliminates the need for oral pain medications, allowing one to go about life without taking regular pain medication.

Make an Appointment

If you would like to learn more about peripheral nerve stimulation for pain management, please contact us today to schedule a consultation.