What Is Peripheral Nerve Stimulation?
Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is a medical procedure that uses electrical impulses to treat chronic pain and neurological diseases. It’s a neuro-modulation treatment that focuses on nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Before recommending PNS, your doctor often recommends conservative treatments such as physical therapy, medicines and lifestyle changes. And if you have ongoing infections or bleeding disorders, you aren’t eligible for peripheral nerve stimulation.
When considering PNS, select a competent and experienced neurologist as they have a better understanding of how PNS works and its potential applications. The doctors and staff at Neuro Injury Specialists in New York and New Jersey. Dr. Mark Cohen, Dr. Dmitriy Dvoskin and Dr. Leon Reyfman all have expert knowledge to help you use PNS for the right purposes.
Their practice also offers services, that include:
What’s the Procedure for Peripheral Nerve Stimulation?
Peripheral nerve stimulation involves many steps, and it’s important to note that the specifics of the PNS procedure may differ depending on your condition, the nerves targeted and the type of stimulator used.
The general procedure includes:
- After an initial evaluation, a trial stimulation is performed. This involves inserting temporary electrodes into the skin and testing the reaction. This helps establish whether PNS delivers adequate relief from pain for you.
- If the trial is successful, permanent implantation and a stimulator device are considered. Typically, you’re comfortably positioned, and the area where the electrodes will be implanted is cleansed, sterilized and numbed.
- The electrodes are carefully implanted after small incisions are made to reach the targeted nerves. To achieve proper positioning, guiding techniques like fluoroscopy or ultrasound may be used.
- The stimulator is a tiny device that’s implanted beneath the skin, commonly in the buttocks or abdomen. The device sends electrical impulses to the nerves via the electrodes, disrupting pain signals.
- The stimulator is then set to provide electrical impulses at the right frequency and strength for pain management.
Post-operative instructions for peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) may differ depending on your doctor’s specific suggestions.
General post-operative care includes:
- Incision care
- Activity restrictions
- Pain management
- Stimulator programming and monitoring
- Follow-up appointments
- Medication management
- Battery life and device maintenance
- Reporting of unexpected side effects
What Are the Applications of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation?
PNS has neurological applications primarily focused on treating and reducing chronic pain associated with various neurological diseases.
PNS has several neurological applications, including:
- Neuropathic pain. By regulating nerve signals, PNS treats illnesses such as mononeuropathy and post-herpetic neuralgia.
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). PNS treats severe limb pain and neurological symptoms.
- Trigeminal neuralgia. PNS relieves severe facial discomfort along the trigeminal nerve.
- Phantom limb pain. Peripheral nerve stimulation alleviates phantom limb pain’s neurological component by giving sensory stimulation.
- Spinal cord injury pain. PNS alleviates chronic pain caused by spinal cord injury by targeting affected nerves.
- Occipital neuralgia. By regulating occipital nerve signals, stopping pain and providing a minimally intrusive, personalized method, PNS effectively treats occipital neuralgia.
Several pre-operative precautions are typically taken before performing PNS to ensure the procedure’s safety and effectiveness.
Protocols may differ based on your medical state, but usually include:
- Before the procedure, your doctor explains the procedure, its risks, benefits and alternatives.
- Diagnostic examinations, such as MRI or CT scans are used to evaluate the anatomy and pinpoint the target nerve or stimulation site.
- Routine blood tests may be performed to assess blood count, clotting function and overall health.
- An anesthesiologist consultation may be required to examine your anesthetic needs.
How Effective Is a Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Procedure?
The success of a peripheral nerve stimulation technique varies from person to person and is determined by factors such as the specific pain problem, the accuracy of the diagnosis and how well you respond to the treatment.
Some benefits of peripheral nerve stimulation include:
- Pain relief
- Non-pharmacological approach
- Customizable treatment
- Trial stimulation for assessment
- Minimally invasive procedure
- Long-term pain control
Determining whether or not peripheral nerve stimulation is right for you depends mostly on your condition.
It involves a comprehensive evaluation by your doctor and his consideration of factors, such as:
- If you have a well-diagnosed chronic pain condition
- The pain you experience is associated with specific nerves
- You get a positive response during the trial stimulation
Dr. Cohen, Dr. Dvoskin and Dr. Reyfman maximize outcomes by doing precise assessments and providing you with the most appropriate pain treatment. Contact the staff at Neuro Injury Specialists in New York and New Jersey for an evaluation and to see if you qualify for peripheral nerve stimulation.