Kenneth J. Eaddy, MDInterventional Pain Management
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Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Neuromodulation aimed at a single peripheral nerve to treat pain confined to that nerve's territory — often with a minimally invasive, leads-only approach.

In short — Peripheral nerve stimulation delivers electrical impulses directly to a single peripheral nerve, offering drug-free relief for post-surgical nerve injury, CRPS, diabetic neuropathy, or occipital neuralgia that hasn't improved with medication and therapy. A three- to five-day trial with a temporary wire must show at least 50% relief before a permanent implant is considered.

What is peripheral nerve stimulation?

Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) uses tiny leads to deliver electrical impulses directly to a peripheral nerve, providing drug-free pain relief.

Who is a candidate?

PNS may benefit patients with pain lasting more than three months from post-surgical nerve injury, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), diabetic neuropathy, occipital neuralgia or post-traumatic neuropathy who have not improved with medications and physical therapy.

How does it work?

A thin lead is placed alongside the target nerve under ultrasound or X-ray guidance and connected to a small generator or external transmitter that modulates the nerve's pain signaling.

What happens during the trial?

During a three- to five-day trial, a temporary wire is placed near the target nerve and connected to an external stimulator. At least 50% pain relief is required before moving forward with a permanent implant.

What is recovery like?

The procedure is typically outpatient. Patients return to normal activities within a week but should avoid heavy lifting for one to two weeks and attend follow-up visits for programming adjustments.

What are the risks?

Benefits include targeted, adjustable relief with less reliance on opioids. Risks include:

  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Lead migration
  • Device malfunction
  • Nerve injury
  • Inadequate pain relief

Does insurance cover it?

Payers generally approve PNS for chronic neuropathic pain when conservative measures have failed and the trial demonstrates significant improvement.

Reducing the risk of infection before your procedure

Because a device is implanted, Dr. Eaddy uses a skin-preparation protocol in the days before your procedure to lower the already-small risk of infection. Follow the exact instructions the office gives you — in general it involves:

  • Mupirocin antibiotic ointment — applied twice daily for the five days leading up to your procedure.
  • Hibiclens (chlorhexidine gluconate) antiseptic wash — used each day for the four days before your procedure, and once more on the morning of the procedure.

Because a stimulator trial leaves temporary leads passing through the skin, every stimulator trial also requires an oral antibiotic taken for the entire length of the trial.

This reflects published evidence that decolonizing the skin and nose with mupirocin and chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) lowers the rate of surgical-site infection, along with neuromodulation-specific guidance from the Neurostimulation Appropriateness Consensus Committee (NACC). See preparing for an interventional pain procedure for the rest of your pre-procedure checklist.

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Medically reviewed by Kenneth J. Eaddy, MD · Last reviewed: July 5, 2026