PNS vs Replacement

Joint replacement removes the damaged joint and installs a prosthetic. It's a proven, effective treatment — but it's also irreversible, requires significant recovery time, and carries surgical risks including infection, blood clots, and implant wear.

Peripheral nerve stimulation takes a different approach entirely. Instead of replacing the joint, PNS modulates the pain signals traveling from the joint to the brain. The joint itself is preserved, and the procedure is fully reversible.

Joint replacement typically requires 6 to 12 weeks of structured rehabilitation, with full recovery often taking 3 to 6 months. During this period, mobility is limited and daily activities are significantly affected.

PNS is an outpatient procedure. Most patients return to normal activities within days, not months. There's no hospital stay, no extended rehabilitation protocol, and no prolonged period of restricted movement.

This is the most significant distinction. Joint replacement is permanent — once the joint is removed, it cannot be restored. If complications arise or the prosthetic wears out, revision surgery is the only path forward.

PNS is fully reversible. If it doesn't provide adequate relief, or if your condition changes, the device can be removed and you retain all future treatment options, including replacement if needed. You lose nothing by trying PNS first.

Replacement remains the gold standard for joints with severe structural deterioration — bone-on-bone arthritis, major deformity, or complete loss of function. In these cases, PNS may not provide sufficient relief because the underlying anatomy is too compromised.

The ARC approach doesn't oppose replacement. It sequences treatment so that less invasive options are explored first, and replacement is reserved for when it's clearly the most appropriate path.

ARC's philosophy is simple: preserve the natural joint whenever possible. PNS gives patients and physicians an intermediate step between conservative care (therapy, injections) and irreversible surgery. For many patients, that intermediate step is all that's needed.