If you have pain that does not go away no matter the treatment, you may be eligible for peripheral nerve stimulation. Direct stimulation of nerves with an electrical lead has been shown to help with pain relief, especially in cases that do not respond to other forms of care. This procedure also helps reduce the need for opioid medications. Though it does require a surgery to install the device, technological breakthroughs make this procedure much less invasive.
Previously, your doctor would implant an electrode connected to an internal battery pack near your painful nerve. With recent technological advances, your doctor now will only implant the electrode, using wireless power transmission to deliver the electrical stimulation to the nerve. As with all forms of nerve stimulation, your doctor will first implant a trial electrode to determine if this treatment is right for you. After about a week, if you respond well to this treatment, the doctor will remove the temporary trial lead and will later implant a permanent lead electrode to provide long-lasting pain relief. You will use a small portable control unit that will transmit power to the electrodes to manage your pain. You may feel a tingling sensation as it works.
As with any procedure, there are risks with bleeding and infection, as well as adverse reactions to the electrodes. This is considered a safe procedure, though, and is even easier thanks in part to the developing technology that allows for less invasive procedures. If you have chronic pain that is not responding to regular treatment and you do not want to rely on pain medications for relief, call us today and we will begin you on a path towards having your pain under control.