What Is Wireless Peripheral Nerve Stimulation?
If you have chronic pain, peripheral nerve stimulation can help. It uses electrical pulses to disrupt pain signals. It may reduce your need for pain medications. Here’s how it works.
Peripheral nerve stimulation is a treatment that is used to manage chronic pain that stems from a damaged or diseased somatosensory nervous system. This treatment uses electrical impulses to stimulate the peripheral nerves that are causing the pain. PNS devices are composed of three main components: a battery or power source, a thin wire connected to the electrodes that delivers electrical pulses to the nerve, and a remote control device that allows the settings to be adjusted by the patient. This treatment can be used for a variety of different types of chronic pain, including neuropathic pain and cancer-related pain. It is also non-invasive and has very few side effects.
Did You Know?
Electrical impulses generated by PNS devices interrupt pain signals to the brain. This helps to reduce or even eliminate the pain signals that are being sent to the brain. The result is a decrease in or elimination of pain.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Am I a candidate for peripheral nerve stimulation?
You may be a candidate for peripheral nerve stimulation if you have chronic neuropathic pain that has not responded to other treatment options. PNS works well for neuropathic pain caused by:
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS, RSD)
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
- Headache disorders
- Ilioinguinal neuralgia
- Intercostal neuralgia
- Lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy
- Nerve injuries
- Phantom limb pain
- Trigeminal neuralgia
However, your doctor will need to evaluate your specific situation to determine if this treatment is right for you. Schedule a consultation at MVM Health: Pain, Vein, & Wellness to determine if you are an ideal candidate for PNS.
What can I expect when undergoing peripheral nerve stimulation?
If you are a candidate for this treatment, you will first need to undergo a trial period to ensure that the treatment is effective for your pain. During the trial, a temporary electrode will be placed near the peripheral nerve that is causing your pain. An exterior stimulator will be used to stimulate the nerve and determine whether your pain levels are decreased or not. If the trial is successful, a permanent implant will be placed.
The procedure to place an implant is typically done as an outpatient procedure with local anesthetic and mild sedation. To insert the PNS device, a small incision will be made around the desired nerve. The wire electrodes and battery-operated stimulator will be inserted under the skin through this incision. Once the device has been placed, it will be calibrated. Although there are external components, these will only need to be used while using the device and will not need to be worn constantly.
What can I expect after treatment?
After treatment, you can expect a significant reduction in your pain. In some cases, the pain may be completely eliminated. You will also have more control over your pain as you will be able to adjust the settings of the device as needed. Most people are able to return to their normal activities within a few days after treatment.
PNS has helped many of our patients find relief from chronic neuropathic pain and we may be able to help you too! Request an appointment with MVM Health: Pain, Vein, & Wellness today to determine if this treatment is right for you.
Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation Therapy
Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation (DRG) is a relatively new treatment that is used to help manage chronic pain. It is a non-invasive procedure that involves the use of electrical stimulation to the dorsal root ganglia, which are a cluster of cells located in the spine that are responsible for sending pain signals to the brain. This stimulation ultimately helps to reduce pain signals that are sent to the brain. DRG uses a device made up of electrodes and an implantable pulse generator, much like other types of stimulation treatments.
Did You Know?
Dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRG) can address areas that cannot be reached with traditional spinal cord stimulation. This is because the dorsal root ganglia is located within the epidural space of the spine and can provide focused stimulation to specific areas.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Am I a candidate for Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation (DRG)?
DRG therapy may be an option for you if you are suffering from chronic pain in the lower part of the body (groin, hip, knee, or foot) that has not responded to other treatments. People with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) have also found DRG therapy to be effective in relieving pain. To determine if DRG is right for you, schedule a consultation with our pain specialists at MVM Health: Pain, Vein, & Wellness today.
What can I expect when receiving Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation (DRG)?
Before having a dorsal root ganglion stimulator placed, you will undergo a trial period. This is done to ensure that DRG stimulation is an effective treatment for your pain. A small wire will be placed along the affected DRG and connected to a generator. The generator will be worn outside of the body and can be used to adjust the strength and frequency of the electrical impulses. The trial period is about a week. If you experience a 50% or more reduction in pain, then the procedure is considered a success and the permanent device can be placed.
The placement of a DRG stimulator is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure performed with local anesthetic and mild sedation. During the procedure, a small device is placed under the skin through a small incision in the upper buttock or lower back. This means that there is no need for open surgery, which can be a big benefit for many people. The stimulator is then connected to wires that are threaded through the body to the epidural space where the DRG is located. If the stimulator is not providing enough relief, it can be adjusted or turned off.
What can I expect after treatment?
After you have a DRG stimulator placed, you will wake up in a recovery room where you will remain until the effects of the anesthesia have worn off. You can expect to be discharged within 1-2 hours of the surgery. Your doctor will provide you with postoperative instructions to follow, but you can expect to abstain from strenuous activities for at least 2 weeks. You will also likely have stitches that will need to be removed around 3 days after surgery. In most cases, you can expect your incision to heal within 2-4 weeks following surgery.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation is a relatively new treatment option for chronic pain that is showing great promise. This revolutionary treatment uses electrical impulses to relieve pain. A small device, called a stimulator, is placed under the skin near the spine. The stimulator sends electrical impulses to the spinal cord, which interferes with pain signals sent from the nerves to the brain. This can help to relieve pain or make it more tolerable.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant
(Trial Procedure)
Spinal cord stimulation (also called SCS) uses electrical impulses to relieve chronic pain of the back, arms and legs. It is believed that electrical pulses prevent pain signals from being received by the brain. SCS candidates include people who suffer from neuropathic pain and for whom conservative treatments have failed.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant
Spinal cord stimulation (also called SCS) uses electrical impulses to relieve chronic pain of the back, arms and legs. It is believed that electrical pulses prevent pain signals from being received by the brain. SCS candidates include people who suffer from neuropathic pain and for whom conservative treatments have failed.
