Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
What Is a Peripheral Nerve Stimulator (PNS)?
A peripheral nerve stimulator is a minimally invasive treatment designed to relieve chronic pain by gently “resetting” how pain signals travel along a nerve. One of the most widely used options is the SPRINT Peripheral Nerve Stimulation System, a small, temporary device that delivers mild electrical pulses directly to the nerve responsible for your pain. Instead of masking pain with medications, PNS works by calming overactive pain pathways. This treatment can be especially helpful for patients who are not candidates for surgery or who want to avoid long-term medications. Common examples include chronic knee or shoulder osteoarthritis pain that isn’t operable, as well as nerve-related pain such as meralgia paresthetica (outer thigh burning), intercostal neuralgia (rib pain), iliohypogastric neuralgia (lower abdominal/groin pain), superior cluneal neuralgia (low back/hip pain), and plantar neuralgia (foot pain).
What Is the Procedure and Recovery Like?
The procedure is performed in an outpatient setting and typically takes less than an hour. Using ultrasound or other imaging guidance, our physicians place a very thin, flexible wire (about the size of an acupuncture needle) near the targeted nerve. This wire is connected to a small external stimulator that you wear discreetly on your body. Once activated, the device sends gentle pulses that you may feel as a mild tingling sensation—or sometimes not feel at all—while it works to reduce pain. There is no major surgery, no permanent implant, and no need for general anesthesia. Most patients return to normal daily activities within 24–48 hours, with only minor precautions to protect the small lead site.
What Results Can You Expect?
Many patients begin to notice pain relief within days to weeks, with continued improvement over the course of treatment. The SPRINT system is typically used for about 60 days, after which the lead is removed in a simple office visit—yet pain relief can persist well beyond that period, to a year or longer. Patients often report reduced pain, improved function, better sleep, and decreased reliance on medications. While results vary depending on the condition and duration of symptoms, this therapy offers a promising, low-risk option for people living with chronic nerve-related pain who are seeking meaningful relief without surgery and where other interventions have failed.
Experience Personalized Care & Expertise Today