A Pain Signal Trapped In One Nerve
Chronic pain can stay locked inside a single peripheral nerve for years.
- 20%: Chronic pain prevalence (of adults, global estimate)
- ~1 in 3: Localized neuropathic pain (of chronic pain cases)
- >6 mo: Failed conservative therapy (before device referral)
- >60: Nerve territories mappable (named peripheral nerves)
Pain confined to a distribution
Symptoms track one nerve's sensory map, not the whole limb.
A single damaged or irritated nerve can drive pain out of proportion to any visible injury.
Why oral drugs fall short
Systemic medication dulls the whole body, not just the sore nerve.
A case for local intervention
A localized problem invites a localized, reversible solution.
Confirming The Pain-Generating Nerve
Imaging and a diagnostic block pinpoint the exact culprit nerve.
- >50%: Diagnostic block relief (defines a positive test)
- 2–4 h: Local anesthetic duration (confirmatory window)
- Standard: Ultrasound guidance use (for nerve targeting)
- Low: False-positive block rate (with careful technique)
Ultrasound or fluoroscopic mapping
Imaging traces the nerve's exact course under the skin.
A positive diagnostic block is the gatekeeper before any lead is implanted.
The diagnostic nerve block
A brief anesthetic injection tests whether relief follows that nerve.
Selecting the exact target
Only a confirmed nerve moves forward to lead placement.
Placing The Stimulation Lead
A thin percutaneous lead is threaded alongside the confirmed nerve.
- ~1 mm: Lead diameter (percutaneous cylindrical lead)
- Ultrasound: Placement guidance (real-time needle tracking)
- 3–7 days: Trial period (before permanent decision)
- Outpatient: Procedure setting (local anesthesia only)
Percutaneous needle approach
A needle guides the lead through skin to the nerve's edge.
Placement accuracy directly determines how much of the nerve falls inside the stimulation field.
A short trial before commitment
An external trial confirms benefit before permanent implant.
Anchoring near, not inside
The lead sits adjacent to the nerve, never piercing it.
Electrical Pulses Modulate The Nerve
Programmed pulses alter how that one nerve carries pain signals.
- 2–100 Hz: Pulse frequency range (programmable)
- 0–5 mA: Amplitude range (patient-titrated)
- Seconds: Onset of paresthesia (after activation)
- Several: Programming sessions (to optimize settings)
Gate-control modulation
Pulses recruit large fibers that dampen pain transmission.
Higher amplitude and better lead position both widen effective nerve coverage.
Patient-adjustable settings
Amplitude is tuned to comfortable, effective paresthesia.
Effects stay at the source
Only fibers within the field are modulated, nothing further.
Relief Limited To One Territory
Pain eases inside the treated nerve's map while elsewhere is unchanged.
- ~60–70%: Responders (>50% relief) (across PNS trials)
- 0%: Relief outside territory (by design, spatially selective)
- Years: Device battery life (rechargeable or primary cell)
- Reversible: Explant if ineffective (minimal tissue disruption)
Selective, not systemic, relief
The rest of the body's pain signaling is left untouched.
Spatial selectivity is the defining trait separating PNS from systemic pain drugs.
Durability over time
Benefit is checked and reprogrammed at follow-up visits.
A reversible, targeted option
The lead can be repositioned or removed if needs change.