Procedure and Treatments

At Nona Spine and Pain Institute, we offer a wide range of advanced procedures and treatments designed to relieve pain, restore mobility, and improve your quality of life. Our approach is personalized, minimally invasive whenever possible, and focused on helping you return to daily activities with greater comfort and confidence.

‍

Whether you’re dealing with chronic back pain, joint discomfort, or nerve-related conditions, our experienced team takes the time to evaluate your condition and recommend the most appropriate treatment options.

‍

Below, you’ll find an overview of the procedures and core treatments we offer:

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS)

Advanced, Minimally Invasive Treatment for Chronic Pain

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) is an advanced, minimally invasive treatment designed to help manage certain types of chronic pain by delivering gentle electrical stimulation to a targeted peripheral nerve. Rather than intentionally destroying or ablating the nerve, PNS works by modulating pain signals traveling through the nervous system.

‍

At Nona Spine and Pain Institute, Peripheral Nerve Stimulation may be considered for carefully selected patients who continue to experience pain despite medications, physical therapy, injections, or other conservative treatments.

How Does Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Work?
‍

Peripheral nerves carry sensory information, including pain signals, from different areas of the body toward the spinal cord and brain. With PNS, a very small electrical lead is positioned near the nerve associated with the painful area.

The system delivers mild electrical stimulation that alters how pain signals are processed by the nervous system. The goal is to reduce pain while preserving the nerve and its normal function.
‍
Depending on the specific PNS system and the patient's condition, treatment may involve a temporary system used for a defined treatment period or a longer-term implanted system.

What Conditions May Be Treated With PNS?

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation may be considered for selected patients with:

Chronic shoulder pain
Chronic knee pain
Hip or groin pain
Foot and ankle pain
Certain types of neck or low-back pain
Peripheral neuralgia and neuropathic pain
Post-surgical pain
Post-traumatic nerve pain
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Certain headache and occipital neuralgia syndromes
Persistent pain after joint replacement or other orthopedic procedures

Whether PNS is appropriate depends on the underlying cause of the pain and the specific nerve involved.

PNS vs. Nerve Ablation

Traditional radiofrequency ablation reduces pain by creating a controlled lesion in selected sensory nerve tissue. Peripheral Nerve Stimulation takes a different approach.
‍
Instead of intentionally disrupting the nerve, PNS uses neuromodulation to influence pain signaling while preserving the targeted nerve. For appropriately selected patients, this may provide another treatment option when injections, medications, rehabilitation, or other therapies have not produced sufficient relief.
‍
Neither treatment is appropriate for every patient. A comprehensive evaluation helps determine which approach is most suitable.

Potential Benefits of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Depending on the patient's diagnosis and response to treatment, potential benefits may include:

Reduced chronic pain
Improved physical function and activity
Improved quality of life
Reduced reliance on pain medications in some patients
Minimally invasive treatment
Targeted therapy directed toward the nerve associated with pain
Avoidance or postponement of more invasive treatment in selected patients

Individual results vary, and pain relief cannot be guaranteed.

What Happens During the Procedure?

‍

PNS placement is generally performed as a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. Using image guidance, such as ultrasound or fluoroscopy when appropriate, the physician identifies the targeted nerve and carefully positions a small stimulation lead near it.
The lead is then connected to the stimulation system. Patients typically receive instructions regarding device use, activity restrictions, wound care, and follow-up.
‍
The exact procedure varies depending on the nerve being treated and the PNS system selected.

Is Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Right for You?

‍

PNS may be considered when chronic pain continues despite appropriate conservative treatment. Successful treatment begins with identifying the actual source of pain and determining whether a specific peripheral nerve is contributing to the patient's symptoms.

‍

At Nona Spine and Pain Institute, each patient receives an individualized evaluation before PNS is recommended.

Schedule a Consultation

‍

If chronic pain is interfering with your work, sleep, exercise, or everyday activities, Peripheral Nerve Stimulation may be an option worth discussing.

Syringe injecting medication near lumbar vertebrae and yellow spinal nerves in a 3D medical illustration.

Cervical/Thoracic/Lumbar

Medial Branch Block (MBB)

Minimally invasive treatments for chronic neck or back pain caused by facet joint issues.