Beyond Traditional Painkillers: Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Pain Management

Chronic pain can be a debilitating experience, leaving many feeling hopeless and discouraged in their search for relief. We often turn to traditional painkillers such as opioids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but they may not be effective, and their long-term potential side effects, including drowsiness, addiction risk, and gastrointestinal issues, can make them less than ideal solutions. Then there are other neuropathic medication classes that have their own side effects and drug interactions. 

You may not have heard of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). This cutting-edge technology has been proven by medical research to help manage many cases of neuropathic/neurologic chronic pain, minimizing the need for daily medications. If you’re seeking an alternative approach that could offer more effective results with fewer risks, this blog post is for you! 

Let’s dive into the topic of PNS and learn about how it may work to provide safe and effective relief from chronic pain resulting from peripheral nerve involvement. 

What is Peripheral Nerve Stimulation? 

Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is a minimally invasive procedure that works on the principle of neuromodulation. It is surgically implanted in the body and works by sending mild electrical impulses through electrodes. By modulating the pain signals being sent to and processed in the spinal cord and brain, it results in pain relief. 

Curonix, a company that specializes in highly advanced PNS systems is a leader in the field and has pioneered a wireless system that minimizes surgical intervention and offers long-term relief to many patients.

PNS involves a trial phase when an array of electrodes on a thin lead are implanted in the affected areas for a few days on a temporary basis. If the patients experience significant relief of pain with improved quality of life, they are then scheduled to have the permanent system inserted around the involved nerve areas. 

The Benefits of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation 

PNS offers many advantages over traditional painkillers, making it a preferred option for some patients suffering from neurologic chronic pain involving the trunk and limbs. Its benefits include:

• Minimally-invasive procedure with no need for the long recovery period 
• Minimizes the risk of addiction that may result from taking pain medications like opioids 
• Avoids side effects and /or drug interactions  that may result from medications
• Avoids multiple follow-up appointments that are necessary for people taking medications
• Improved function and quality of life due to decreased pain and improved mobility 
• Long-term cost-effective solution as compared to traditional treatments

Peripheral nerve stimulation is an emerging treatment for chronic pain that can offer safe and effective relief with fewer risks than traditional painkillers. If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional painkillers, peripheral nerve stimulation may be an option for you.

With the right treatment, chronic pain can become manageable.  Consider peripheral nerve stimulation as a potential solution for long-term relief from chronic pain, and discuss this with your pain management physician. 

At the Pain and Spine Center of Charlottesville, we offer Peripheral Nerve Stimulation as a cutting-edge modality for chronic pain management. Our team of professionals understands the individual needs of our patients and provides comprehensive care to help manage pain while trying to improve function and quality of life. We invite you to contact us to schedule an appointment to discuss if PNS may be an option to help you manage your chronic pain.