How Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Helps When Other Treatments Fail
Many patients with chronic pain reach a frustrating point where injections, physical therapy, rest, chiropractic care, or medications haven’t provided lasting relief. When pain becomes persistent and nerve-related, it often means the irritated nerve needs to be calmed directly.
Peripheral nerve stimulation, or PNS, offers a minimally invasive way to target a specific nerve that’s generating pain. Instead of treating the entire spine or relying on systemic medication, PNS delivers gentle electrical signals directly to the affected nerve — helping to quiet pain at the source.
This overview explains how PNS works, who it’s designed for, and why it helps patients who feel like they’ve tried everything.
What Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Is — and How It Works
Peripheral nerve stimulation uses a thin electrode placed near a single overactive nerve. That electrode sends mild electrical pulses that change how the nerve communicates with the brain. When the nerve stops firing excessively, the pain signals reduce.
Two common approaches exist:
- Short-term PNS, such as the SPRINT PNS, uses a small temporary lead worn for about 60 days.
- Long-term PNS systems, such as the Nalu Neurostimulation System, provide ongoing relief for nerves that remain chronically irritated.
Both options use very small, flexible devices and are performed through tiny entry points rather than surgical incisions.
Who PNS Is Designed For
Peripheral nerve stimulation can help a wide range of patients, especially those whose pain is linked to a specific nerve rather than the entire spine.
- Shoulder, arm, or hand nerve pain
- Knee pain after surgery or trauma
- Foot or ankle nerve pain
- Occipital neuralgia
- Post-surgical nerve pain
- Injury-related nerve sensitivity
If your pain is sharp, electric, burning, or follows a clear nerve pathway, you may be a candidate for PNS.
Why PNS Works When Other Treatments Don’t
- Targets one specific nerve instead of the entire spine
- Calms abnormal nerve firing rather than masking symptoms
- Drug-free and minimally invasive
- May help avoid major surgery
- Short-term systems can “reset” a nerve
- Long-term systems maintain relief when nerves stay hyperactive
What the PNS Process Looks Like
Evaluation
Identifying the nerve responsible for your symptoms.
Placement
A thin electrode is positioned near the nerve through a tiny entry point.
Trial or short-term therapy
Short-term systems stay in place for about 60 days before removal.
What patients feel
Most describe the stimulation as gentle pulses or tapping.
Timeline
Some feel relief in days; others improve over several weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is peripheral nerve stimulation the same as a spinal cord stimulator?
No. PNS targets a single nerve outside the spine. A spinal cord stimulator affects broader pathways inside the spinal canal.
How long does the SPRINT PNS system stay in?
Typically about 60 days.
Which conditions respond best to PNS?
Shoulder pain, knee pain, post-surgical nerve pain, foot pain, and occipital neuralgia are common candidates.
Is the implant permanent?
Short-term systems are temporary. Long-term systems stay in place but can be removed.
What if other treatments haven’t helped?
PNS targets nerve activity directly, which is why it can help when broader treatments fall short.
