What the PNS Procedure Is Like

In the days before your procedure, your physician will review your imaging, confirm the target nerve, and finalize your stimulation plan. You'll receive instructions on medications to pause, fasting requirements, and what to bring on the day.

PNS is performed in an outpatient setting — a clinic or ambulatory surgery center, not a hospital. You'll need a driver for the day, but there's no overnight stay.

On arrival, you'll be prepped and positioned for the procedure. Local anesthesia is administered at the insertion site, and light sedation is typically offered for comfort. You remain conscious but relaxed — general anesthesia is not required.

Using imaging guidance (ultrasound or fluoroscopy), your physician places one or more thin, flexible leads near the targeted peripheral nerve. The leads are connected to a small external stimulator device. The entire procedure typically takes 30 to 60 minutes.

The insertion site is fully numbed before lead placement. Most patients report feeling mild pressure but no significant pain during the procedure. You may feel a brief tingling sensation when stimulation is tested — this is normal and confirms correct lead placement.

Your physician will ask for feedback during placement to help dial in the precise position. This real-time communication is part of what makes PNS targeting effective.

Once leads are placed and secured, you'll spend a short recovery period in the clinic before being discharged. Most patients go home within one to two hours of the procedure starting.

Many patients notice pain relief within the first 24 to 48 hours as stimulation begins modulating nerve activity. You'll wear the external stimulator as directed and keep the insertion site clean and dry.

PNS typically begins with a trial period — usually 60 days — during which you and your physician assess how well the stimulation is working. If the trial is successful and you choose to continue, a longer-term or permanent lead system is placed.

Because the trial is separate from permanent implantation, you have the opportunity to evaluate your response before any longer commitment. If the trial doesn't provide sufficient relief, leads are removed and you retain all future options.