Peripheral Nerve Stimulation and Implantation

Living with chronic nerve pain can feel like a constant battle that affects every part of your life. Whether it’s lingering pain from surgery, nerve damage from an injury, or a condition like neuropathy, the discomfort can make even the simplest daily activities a challenge.

To make matters worse, traditional treatments like physical therapy, medications, or injections sometimes just don’t bring relief, making you feel like you’re completely out of options. But there is still hope.

Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is a minimally invasive, non-opioid solution that targets pain at its source—helping you regain control, restore mobility, and get back to living life on your terms.

What is Implantable Peripheral Nerve Stimulation?

Implantable peripheral nerve stimulation is a minimally invasive therapy that blocks troublesome pain signals using a small implant to deliver mild electrical pulses to the peripheral nerves. It is typically used for chronic nerve pain from conditions like post-surgical nerve damage, nerve injury from trauma, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), occipital neuralgia, and neuropathy (if the pain is localized or affects one limb). It is especially recommended when other pain management treatments like physical therapy, medications, and injections have failed.

An implant is typically placed after a successful trial phase lasting 3-5 days, when a temporary wire is placed near the affected nerve and results in at least a 50% improvement in pain.

The Benefits of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Peripheral nerve stimulation is effective because it targets focal or localized nerve pain in various body areas, including the arms, legs, torso, and head. By placing a small electrode near the affected nerve, the system delivers electrical pulses that disrupt pain signals—right at their source—before they even reach the brain.

The other benefits that peripheral nerve stimulation offers compared to other forms of pain management include:

Minimally invasive: It requires only a tiny implant, reducing recovery time.
Non-opioid alternative: Helps decrease reliance on pain medications.
Customizable therapy: Patients can adjust stimulation levels for optimal comfort.
Reversible and adjustable: The device can be modified or removed if needed.
Improved mobility: Reduces pain that limits movement and daily activities.
Enhanced quality of life: Patients can return to work, hobbies, and routines more quickly.

Conditions Commonly Treated by Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Persistent post-surgical pain, such as after knee replacement, hernia repair, or amputation (phantom limb pain), are one of the most common conditions that benefit from PNS. Other conditions may include those who suffer from nerve injuries due to trauma, CRPS, occipital neuralgia, or neuropathy when it affects a local area or one limb.

What to Expect During Peripheral Nerve Stimulation and Implant

During the implantation procedure, which is performed under local anesthesia or light sedation, the physician places the small lead (electrode) near the nerve associated with the pain and connects it to a compact, implanted pulse generator, usually placed under the skin. Patients can then control stimulation levels using a remote device.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Recovery Timeline

After implantation, patients may experience some mild soreness, but recovery is generally quick. Over the following weeks, physicians adjust the stimulation settings for optimal pain relief, and many patients report significant pain reduction, improved function, and decreased reliance on pain medications. This recovery journey allows them to return to daily activities with greater comfort and mobility.

Like with any procedure, however, there is always the possibility of side effects or complications. Though unlikely, these are some of the possible side effects associated with PNS:

Infection: At the implant site, though rare with proper care.
Lead movement or displacement: May require repositioning or adjustment.
Device malfunction: The implant may need reprogramming or replacement.
Skin irritation or sensitivity: Due to the implanted components.
Tingling or discomfort: Some patients may feel unusual sensations from stimulation.
Inadequate pain relief: Results can vary, and some patients may not experience complete relief.
Allergic reaction: Rare, but possible reaction to implant materials.

Who is a Candidate?

If you’ve experienced any of the following, you may be a candidate for a peripheral nerve implant:

Chronic nerve-related pain that has lasted for three months or longer and has not responded to conventional treatments.
Post-surgical nerve pain, such as after knee replacement, hernia repair, mastectomy, or amputation (phantom limb pain).
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a chronic pain condition affecting the limbs after an injury or surgery.
Diabetic neuropathy and other peripheral neuropathies caused by chemotherapy or other unknown origins that affect a specific area or one limb.
Post-traumatic nerve pain from injuries such as fractures, burns, or lacerations.
Pain following nerve damage, affecting mobility or quality of life.

Candidates for PNS should also be in good health overall, have realistic expectations for pain relief, and be committed to follow-up care and device management.

Target Troublesome Pain Today—Contact Desert Spine and Sports Physicians

If you’ve been dealing with stubborn chronic nerve pain, we invite you to request an appointment at one of our six convenient Arizona locations today. The board-certified physicians at Desert Spine and Sports Physicians offer a wealth of expertise in non-surgical medicine to reduce pain and improve function effectively.

Reach out today to get the care you need right at the source where you need it.

Phoenix Office

3700 N 24th Street, Ste 210.

Phoenix, AZ 85016

Mesa Office

6634 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 101

Mesa, AZ 85206

Scottsdale Office

8670 E Shea Blvd Suite 102

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Gilbert Office

3615 S Rome St.