Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

How does neurostimulation work?

You can think of each of your nerves as a single-line telephone that can only carry one conversation at a time. Since the leads are already sending a signal to the brain through the nerves that normally carry the pain signal, the line is busy, and the pain signal does not get to the brain. As long as the stimulation signal is on the line, the pain signal cannot get through.

What is peripheral nerve stimulation?

Peripheral nerve stimulation is a drug-free pain management approach that uses mild electrical impulses to block pain signals from various parts of your body before they get to your brain. Most patients will not be aware of these electrical impulses. A small percentage of patients may feel a gentle tingling sensation called paresthesia. Thin wires, called leads, are placed under the skin near the nerves that are associated with the pain, and an implantable pulse generator (IPG) is placed under the skin and connected to the leads to provide the electrical impulses.

What can I expect during peripheral nerve stimulation treatment at NovaSpine?

You can “test-drive” the system before you commit. Once your physician decides that neurostimulation may be right for you, you can “test- drive” the system to see if it delivers the relief you need.

Step 1: wear experience

The purpose of the wear experience is to make sure you are comfortable with neurostimulation wearables and can feel what it would be like to live with the system on a daily basis. During this assessment period, you will wear an adhesive clip and nonfunctioning Therapy Disc in various positions for up to 14 days to determine the best location of the Therapy Disc and IPG for your anatomy and lifestyle.

Step 2: therapy trial

To begin the trial, you will undergo a small surgical procedure to place thin wires (leads) near the nerve(s) identified by your physician and connect them to an external stimulator. During the therapy trial period, you and your physician will evaluate the amount of your pain relief and improvements in sleep and daily activities. After the therapy trial, the wires will be removed, and you and your physician will decide if neurostimulation is appropriate for you.

Step 3: permanent implant

If Steps 1 and 2 are successful, your physician will perform a minimally invasive surgical procedure to place permanent leads (one or two) and the neurostimulation micro-IPG in the optimal location for your specific pain. Your physician’s prescribed therapy will be programmed into the device, and you will be trained on how to control it through the remote control app on your smartphone.

Step 4: life resumed

You will work with your physician and the neuromodulation support team to optimize your neurostimulation and manage your chronic pain. With pain relief, you may be able to resume activities (work, family, travel, etc.) that were previously too painful to enjoy.

To schedule a consultation with the experienced team, call NovaSpine Pain Institute office nearest you or use the online contact form.