If chronic nerve pain is interfering with your daily life and conservative treatments have not provided lasting relief, Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) may be an effective treatment option. At TOPS Institute, we offer advanced Peripheral Nerve Stimulation in Los Angeles for carefully selected patients suffering from chronic, localized nerve pain.
Peripheral nerve stimulation is a form of neuromodulation that uses gentle electrical impulses to interrupt pain signals before they reach the brain. This minimally invasive treatment may help reduce pain, improve function, and decrease reliance on long-term pain medications.
Our board-certified interventional pain management specialists perform comprehensive evaluations to determine whether PNS is the right solution for your condition.
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) is a minimally invasive treatment that uses small electrical leads placed near targeted peripheral nerves to help manage chronic pain.
Peripheral nerves are located outside of the brain and spinal cord and transmit signals between the body and the central nervous system. When these nerves become injured, irritated, or continue sending abnormal pain signals, PNS may help reduce pain by delivering mild electrical stimulation that alters how those signals are perceived.
Unlike traditional surgery, PNS is performed using small incisions or needle-based techniques and is typically completed on an outpatient basis.
A small electrode is positioned near the nerve responsible for your pain.
The PNS device delivers gentle electrical pulses that modify pain signal transmission before the signals reach the brain. Rather than treating the underlying structural condition, PNS helps reduce the perception of chronic pain for appropriately selected patients.
Many modern systems are programmable, allowing your physician to adjust stimulation settings to optimize comfort and symptom control.
Peripheral nerve stimulation may be considered for selected patients with chronic localized pain, including:
A comprehensive medical evaluation is necessary to determine whether PNS is appropriate for your specific diagnosis.
Your treatment begins with a detailed consultation and physical examination.
Our physicians review:
If PNS appears appropriate, we develop an individualized treatment plan based on your diagnosis, symptoms, lifestyle, and treatment goals.
Before considering a longer-term implant, most patients undergo a temporary PNS trial.
During this outpatient procedure:
The trial period allows both you and your physician to determine whether PNS provides meaningful symptom improvement before considering a longer-term system.
If the trial is successful, a longer-term PNS system may be implanted during a minimally invasive outpatient procedure.
The device is positioned beneath the skin while leads remain near the targeted nerve.
After implantation, the stimulation settings can be adjusted over time to optimize pain control and comfort.
For appropriately selected patients, PNS may provide:
Results vary depending on the condition being treated, the targeted nerve, and individual patient response.
Our physicians have extensive experience diagnosing and treating complex chronic pain using advanced neuromodulation technologies.
Not every patient is a candidate for peripheral nerve stimulation.
We perform a thorough assessment to ensure the treatment is appropriate before recommending implantation.
Every treatment plan is customized based on your diagnosis, symptoms, goals, and response during the trial period.
We utilize modern image-guided techniques to maximize procedural precision while minimizing recovery time.
PNS delivers electrical stimulation directly to the affected peripheral nerves, helping interrupt pain signals without affecting the entire body.
The procedure requires only small incisions or needle placement and is performed on an outpatient basis.
For some patients, PNS may reduce the need for long-term pain medications as part of an overall pain management plan.
Stimulation settings can be adjusted over time to meet changing needs, and many PNS systems can be removed if treatment is no longer appropriate.
Recovery following peripheral nerve stimulation is generally faster than recovery after major surgery.
Most patients:
Your physician will provide individualized postoperative guidelines based on your procedure and device.
Peripheral nerve stimulation is generally considered safe when performed by experienced specialists.
Potential risks include:
Your physician will review all risks, expected benefits, and available alternatives before treatment.
A peripheral nerve stimulator is a small medical device that delivers mild electrical impulses near targeted peripheral nerves to help reduce chronic pain by altering pain signal transmission.
Patients with chronic localized nerve pain that has not improved with medications, physical therapy, injections, or other conservative treatments may be candidates following a comprehensive evaluation.
PNS may be considered for selected patients with peripheral neuropathic pain, post-surgical nerve pain, CRPS, chronic knee pain, shoulder pain, certain chronic back pain conditions, and other localized nerve pain syndromes.
Many patients experience meaningful pain reduction following successful PNS therapy, although results vary depending on the underlying diagnosis, target nerve, and individual response. A temporary trial helps determine whether treatment is likely to be beneficial.
Temporary leads are placed near the affected nerve during a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. You use the device for a trial period to determine whether it provides meaningful symptom relief before considering a longer-term implant.
Yes. Peripheral nerve stimulation is generally considered safe when performed by experienced pain management physicians. As with any procedure, there are potential risks that will be discussed during your consultation.
Most patients return home the same day and gradually resume normal activities over the following days to weeks, depending on physician recommendations and the specific procedure performed.
PNS is not necessarily a replacement for medication, but it may reduce medication requirements for some patients as part of a comprehensive pain management plan. Treatment recommendations are individualized.
Yes. Most PNS systems allow your physician to adjust stimulation settings after implantation to optimize comfort and pain control.
Not always. Every patient first undergoes an evaluation, and many undergo a temporary trial before deciding whether a longer-term implanted system is appropriate.
If chronic nerve pain continues to limit your quality of life despite conservative treatment, Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) may provide another option for lasting pain management.
At TOPS Institute, our experienced interventional pain specialists offer advanced Peripheral Nerve Stimulation in Los Angeles using personalized treatment plans, minimally invasive techniques, and comprehensive follow-up care designed to help you reduce pain and return to the activities you enjoy.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation and learn whether Peripheral Nerve Stimulation is right for you.
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640 South San Vicente Blvd., Suite 389, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Interventional pain management for Los Angeles & Beverly Hills — image-guided care that treats the source, not just the symptom.
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