How Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) Alleviates Knee and Shoulder Pain

Tens of millions of Americans experience chronic pain at some point. And while chronic pain can affect any part of the body, knee and shoulder pain are the most common. 

If you relate all too well to these statistics, peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) may be your best bet, especially if other treatments haven’t sufficed.

Our expert team at Houston Pain Specialists, led by board-certified pain management specialist Hui Kang, MD, offers Nalu PNS for good candidates.

Read on for a closer look at this minimally invasive pain treatment.

Why knees and shoulders are prone to chronic pain

Most everyone experiences knee pain, shoulder pain, or both at some point. If the pain carries on for over three months, it’s considered chronic. 

Chronic pain typically stems from overuse or an injury. Because your shoulders and knees play a role in a huge range of activities, from walking and sitting to working out or playing sports, both wear-and-tear and acute injuries, like fractures, are common. 

Knee and shoulder pain can even be linked, due to conditions such as inflammatory arthritis or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

Other risk factors for knee and shoulder pain include:

• Carrying excess weight
• Eating a restrictive or low-nutrient diet
• Exercising intensely without gradually getting in shape
• Overexercising
• Wearing poor-fitting, high-heeled, or low-quality shoes

Increasing age also raises your risk for knee and shoulder pain, as you use the joints increasingly more over time. In fact, about 2 in 5 adults over 65 live with chronic joint pain.

How PNS alleviates knee and shoulder pain

Peripheral nerve stimulation uses a small wire-like electrode to send mild electrical pulses to targeted areas. By affecting specific peripheral nerves, PNS blocks pain signals to your brain.

The procedure we perform, using the Nalu system, is painless. In fact, the most you feel is a gentle tingling sensation once we place the wires under your skin. You control the level of stimulation from your device. You can also turn it off or on at any time.

If you seem like a good candidate, you start with a trial (involving a handheld device) to make sure PNS works well for you. If your pain diminishes by at least 50% during the trial, we implant the device under your skin. 

Previous knee replacement surgery doesn’t rule you out for Nalu PNS, even if you’re not a candidate for further surgery.

The PNS process and results

If we deem you a good candidate for PNS, you start with a trial to ensure it works well for you. If your pain significantly diminishes during that period, you can opt for a permanent, surgically placed (implanted) device.

Research shows that PNS holds great promise for chronic pain and effectively reduces knee and shoulder pain for many people. PNS may also make a helpful addition to an overall treatment plan or reduce or eliminate your need for pain medication.

To learn more about peripheral nerve stimulation for knee and shoulder pain or inquire about a trial, contact our Houston, Texas, office today to schedule an appointment.