Who Is a Candidate for PNS?

A candidate for Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) is someone with chronic, localized nerve pain that has not responded to conservative treatments, such as medication, physical therapy, or injections, and whose pain can be traced to a specific peripheral nerve.

At Expert Care Center in Delray Beach, our team confirms the pain’s nerve origin and evaluates whether PNS may offer lasting relief by intercepting pain signals at the source.

What Makes Curonix PNS Different

A peripheral nerve stimulator works by placing tiny electrodes near the nerve that’s causing trouble. These electrodes send gentle electrical pulses that interrupt pain signals before they ever reach your brain.

Our Curonix Freedom PNS System takes this a step further with a two-part design: a small implanted electrode and receiver, paired with an external wearable transmitter that powers everything wirelessly. There’s no bulky battery pack under your skin and no major surgery required. For many patients, that combination makes it a far more appealing option than a spinal cord stimulator or another round of open surgery.

Signs You Might Be a Good Fit

Not everyone with pain needs this kind of treatment, and Dr. Gazelle Aram evaluates every patient individually before recommending it. That said, certain patterns tend to show up again and again in people who do well with PNS:

• You have chronic pain that hasn’t improved with rest, physical therapy, or medication

• Your pain seems to trace back to one specific nerve rather than your whole body

• You’ve had surgery, such as a knee, shoulder, or ankle replacement, and pain lingered afterward

• You’re on blood thinners, which can make more invasive procedures riskier

• You’re managing several health conditions and want to avoid adding more medications to the mix

If any of these sound familiar, there’s a good chance PNS deserves a closer look.

Post-Surgical Pain That Won’t Let Go

Surgery is supposed to fix the problem, but sometimes the pain sticks around anyway. This happens more often than people realize after joint replacements or operations on the shoulder, knee, or ankle. When physical therapy and medication management haven’t calmed things down, a nerve that was irritated during surgery may still be firing pain signals long after healing should be complete. This is one of the clearest signs that peripheral nerve stimulation could help, since it targets the exact nerve responsible rather than masking pain throughout the body.

When Other Procedures Already Worked, Just Not Long Enough

Here’s something that surprises many patients: a successful trial with a nerve block or radiofrequency ablation is a strong predictor that PNS will work well, too. If a nerve block calmed your pain, even temporarily, that tells your doctor exactly which nerve is involved. The same goes if radiofrequency ablation gave you relief that eventually wore off. PNS can pick up where those treatments left off and offer results that last much longer.

A Safer Path When You’re on Blood Thinners or Managing Multiple Conditions

Patients on blood-thinning medications often get told they’re not candidates for more invasive spine or joint procedures, and understandably so. The bleeding risk is simply higher. PNS involves a much smaller, less invasive approach, which makes it a realistic option for people who’ve been turned away from other surgical solutions. The same goes for patients juggling several health conditions at once. Adding another medication to an already complicated regimen isn’t always wise, and PNS offers a way to manage pain without new drug interactions to worry about.

What Happens Before You Get the Device

Nobody goes straight from consultation to permanent implant. Dr. Aram starts with a thorough review of your medical history, prior treatments, and the specific area causing you trouble. From there, patients undergo a trial phase in which temporary electrodes are placed and connected to an external device for a few days. This lets you actually feel what stimulation does for your pain before committing to anything permanent.

If you experience 50% or more pain relief during the trial, that’s typically the green light for a permanent implant. It’s a smart, low-risk way to make sure the treatment actually works for your body before moving forward.

What You Can Expect Afterward

Patients who move forward with the Curonix system tend to see meaningful changes, not just in pain levels but in daily life overall.

On average, people use 47% fewer medications after getting the implant, and many report pain reductions around 70%, with those managing foot and ankle issues seeing roughly 65% less pain.

Better sleep, improved mood, and the ability to actually get through a day without constantly thinking about pain are common results too. It’s also an outpatient procedure, so most patients go home the same day and return to normal activities within a day or two, though strenuous exercise needs to wait about four weeks.

Who Should Book a Consultation

If you’re dealing with lingering pain after surgery, a nerve that just won’t quiet down, or you’ve hit a wall with medications and other treatments, it’s worth having a real conversation about whether PNS fits your situation. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all device, and that’s exactly why Dr. Aram takes the time to evaluate your history, your pain pattern, and your response to prior treatments before recommending it. You deserve a plan built around your body, not a generic protocol.

Expert Care Center offers a full range of interventional pain management options alongside PNS, including spinal cord stimulation for patients whose pain calls for a different approach. If chronic pain has been running your life for too long, reach out and schedule a consultation with Dr. Aram. You don’t have to keep guessing what might help. A clear evaluation is the first step toward finding out.