Peripheral Nerve Blocks are typically used for short-term pain relief (up to several days) and can aid many different nerves in the body. A more permanent solution is a Peripheral Nerve Stimulation which is an implant to bring long-term pain relief.
A Peripheral Nerve Block is an anesthetic injected into the pained nerve. It may be used after surgery or before surgery as a safer option for those with respiratory issues.
There are two types of nervous systems in the body: The Central Nervous System which consists of nerves from the brain and spinal cord regions; and The Peripheral Nervous System which includes nerves that send information from your brain to the rest of your body. Read more about the Two Nervous Systems here.
As you can see from the graphic, there are many peripheral nerves that effect the body. If a patient experiences pain in one of these regions, and a Peripheral Nerve Block provided the proper amount of pain relief, then a more permanent solution may be an option: Peripheral Nerve Stimulation.
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation is similar to the type of relief that a TENS unit provides. During a PNS, a patient will receive an implant as small as a hair or possibly as thin as a paperclip. This implant is placed on the nerve sending pain signals, but instead it will now send electrical impulses to the brain. This changes how you perceive the pain so that it interrupts the pain signals sent to the brain.
A PNS can bring relief to many different areas of the body all in a short appointment right in our office. A similar treatment for the spine is the Spinal Cord Stimulator for Sciatica relief.
PNS may also aid in the relief of:
and many others.
What to do Next
Call us so we can set up an appointment to discuss your options for chronic pain treatment. Dr Henriquez strives to provide an approach for personal and compassionate care.
Learn more about Getting out of Pain
Spinal Cord Stimulator – Blog Article
Spinal Cord Stimulation – 2 Minute Video
