---
title: "Peripheral Nerve Stimulation"
---
## What Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Is
Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) uses small electrical signals to interrupt chronic pain signaling along specific peripheral nerves. A thin lead (a flexible wire with electrical contacts) is placed near the nerve causing pain, and the lead delivers gentle electrical stimulation that masks or modulates the pain signal before it reaches the brain.
For appropriate patients, PNS produces meaningful pain relief without the systemic side effects of long-term medications. It is most useful for patients with persistent pain along a specific nerve distribution that has not responded adequately to other treatments.
PHI uses a temporary 60-day system. This leads-only system delivers stimulation for up to 60 days and is then removed, with many patients experiencing sustained pain relief well beyond the stimulation period.
## How PNS Works
A thin flexible lead is placed near the targeted nerve through a single needle insertion, with no incision, stitches, or tunneling required, and connected to a small stimulator worn on the skin. The placement is minimally invasive, non-surgical, and drug-free. PHI uses a temporary 60-day system: the lead stays in place delivering stimulation for up to 60 days, then is removed. There is no separate trial period before placement.
Stimulation is non-painful and adjustable. Patients control settings within parameters set by their physician, allowing the stimulation to be optimized for daily activities. The approach is non-destructive and motor-sparing: it does not damage or destroy the nerve, and it targets the pain signal without impairing muscle function.
Many patients experience relief that continues beyond the 60-day stimulation period. Sustained stimulation over the treatment period is thought to modulate how the nervous system processes pain, which is the proposed basis for relief that can persist after the lead is removed.
## Who Is a Candidate
PNS is typically appropriate for patients with:
- Chronic nerve-related pain along a specific peripheral nerve distribution
- Pain that has not responded adequately to medications, injections, and other treatments
- A pain pattern that fits a specific nerve target rather than a diffuse pain syndrome
- A stable medical condition appropriate for an implantable device
Common indications include post-surgical nerve pain, occipital neuralgia, post-traumatic peripheral nerve pain, peripheral neuropathy in specific distributions, and certain chronic regional pain syndromes.
## What the Evidence Shows
PNS has accumulated evidence for several specific pain indications. Recent randomized trials and prospective cohort studies demonstrate meaningful pain reduction and functional improvement, particularly for post-surgical nerve pain and certain post-amputation pain syndromes. The 60-day temporary stimulation system has shown sustained benefit beyond the active stimulation period in multiple peer-reviewed studies.
This is a more recent intervention than traditional spinal cord stimulation, with evidence quality varying by specific indication. Your physician will discuss what the evidence supports for your particular situation.
## Why Patients Choose PHI for Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
## What to Expect
## Frequently Asked Questions
**Q: How is peripheral nerve stimulation different from spinal cord stimulation?**
Spinal cord stimulation places leads near the spinal cord to treat broader pain patterns, typically the lower back and legs. Peripheral nerve stimulation places leads directly near a specific peripheral nerve to treat pain in that nerve's distribution. PNS is generally appropriate for more focal pain; SCS for more diffuse pain.
**Q: How long does the stimulation system stay in place?**
PHI uses a temporary 60-day system. The lead delivers stimulation for up to 60 days and is then removed. Many patients experience relief that continues beyond the stimulation period.
**Q: Can I drive with PNS?**
Most patients can carry on with normal daily activities during the stimulation period, though stimulation may be turned off during driving in some cases. Your physician will discuss specifics for your situation.
**Q: What happens if the 60-day system does not give lasting relief?**
If the temporary system does not provide lasting relief, your physician will discuss alternative treatment options based on your specific condition. PHI offers the 60-day Sprint peripheral nerve stimulation system and does not place permanent implants.
**Q: What are the risks?**
The most common effect is temporary skin irritation where the lead exits the skin or where adhesives are applied, which is usually mild and resolves on its own. Other risks include lead migration, infection at the access site (reported in a small percentage of patients), and post-procedure pain. Serious complications are rare. Your physician will review the complete risk profile.
**Q: How much does PNS cost at PHI?**
Insurance coverage and payment options may vary. All pricing is disclosed at consultation.
**Q: Do you accept international patients?**
Yes. PHI regularly treats patients from outside Los Angeles, including Las Vegas, Palm Springs, London, and other international locations.
> Consensus guidelines for the use of peripheral nerve stimulation in the treatment of chronic pain and neurological diseases: a Neuron Project from the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience. Peer-reviewed via PMC.
— [Latif U, et al.](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12614495/)
> Peripheral nerve stimulation for chronic pain: a systematic review of effectiveness and safety. Pain and Therapy, 2021.
— [Helm S, et al.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34478120/)
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