Chronic Foot Pain
Treatment for: Chronic foot pain
Procedure offered: Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS)
Chronic foot pain is pain within the foot that lasts more than a few months. It may occur non-stop, or it can come and go. It is estimated that up to 36% of the population experience chronic foot pain and is more common in older adults (particularly women) and those who are overweight.1
Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) effectively blocks pain signals from one or more of the nerves in your foot from traveling to your brain. It’s a revolutionary treatment option that provides pain relief without the need for continuous medication use.
Pain signals radiate from one or more of your foot’s nerves, which include the tibial, common peroneal or sciatic nerves, and are transmitted through larger nerves in the leg, then through the spinal cord and to your brain. You will “feel” the pain once these signals reach your brain. PNS is a minimally invasive, drug-free option that uses mild electrical impulses to block pain signals from one or more of the nerves within the foot.
During the procedure, very thin wires (leads) are placed under the skin close to the nerves associated with the pain. These leads connect to a tiny implanted pulse generation device (also under the skin) which provides the electrical impulses. These impulses effectively “block” the nerve’s pain signals so the brain doesn’t receive them. Because it directly targets the nerves, PNS may succeed where other treatments have failed.
Significant relief is achieved usually within two days. While the treatment works for most, if it isn’t working for you the PNS system can be removed. In fact, you can try the system on a temporary basis before a permanent device is implanted.
The PNS system is powered by a rechargeable battery within an adhesive clip that you wear on your body. You can also remove the clip if you don’t need stimulation or wish to wear a swimsuit or tight-fitting clothing. You can also control the intensity and type of therapy delivered by the PNS your iPhone or Android smartphone.
Lakeland Vascular Institute specializes in minimally invasive and cutting edge procedures for chronic foot pain along with pain in the knee and back. We serve patients all over Central Florida at our state-of-the-art facility in Lakeland, Florida.