If you’ve been unsuccessful in managing your chronic pain, you might feel like you’ve run out of options. From medications to alternative therapies, it can be disheartening when you’ve failed to find relief. Thankfully, pain management is constantly advancing, and new solutions, such as the Sprint Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) system, are being developed. This innovative pain management therapy might just be the solution you’ve been waiting for!
Let’s learn more about the Sprint PNS System, how it can help you, how the implant process works and whether this is the right choice for you.
What is the Sprint PNS System?
The Sprint peripheral nerve stimulator (PNS) system is a cutting-edge treatment designed to relieve chronic and acute peripheral nerve pain.[1] Unlike traditional pain control methods, which rely heavily on medication, the Sprint PNS system is a drug-free, minimally invasive way to block pain signals.[2] PNS uses electrical impulses to target and interrupt pain signals in the nervous system, effectively reducing intense pain. [2] It’s a temporary, low-risk implant that is ideal for patients who aren’t candidates for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or spinal cord stimulators (SCS).[3]
Unlike permanent, long-term stimulators requiring a surgical procedure, the Sprint PNS system involves placing a thin wire near the nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals.[4] This device then sends mild electrical impulses to those nerves, which helps to disrupt the pain signals before they can reach the brain. The result? Significant pain relief without the need for heavy medications.
How Can Short-Term Sprint PNS Help My Chronic Pain?
How does this temporary device relieve high levels of persistent pain? The system has shown promise for patients dealing with pain due to damaged nerves or neuropathic pain.[2] It’s also practical for low back pain, shoulder, hip and knee pain, chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and post-surgical pain.[5]
What makes the Sprint PNS technology such a viable treatment option is the ability to target pain at its source.[2] Directly modulating the nerves responsible for pain can provide more precise and effective relief than other treatments.[5] Patients can also control the level of stimulation with a hand-held remote.[3] It’s a temporary, non-invasive, drug-free intervention that offers pain relief without the risks of permanent damage or more invasive.[3]
How is the Sprint PNS System Implanted?
One significant benefit of the Sprint PNS system is that it’s minimally invasive. The non-surgical procedure can be done under local anesthesia in-office and requires no incisions or stitches.[2]
During the procedure, your healthcare professional will insert a tiny, flexible wire or lead near the source of pain using a needle.[5] Proper placement is guided by ultrasound.[5] The lead is then connected to an external device that sends the electrical impulses.[5] The entire procedure is usually completed within an hour, allowing you to go home on the same day and resume regular activity, except for swimming and taking baths.[4]
What to Expect After the Procedure?
You’ll go home the same day as your procedure. Some patients experience mild discomfort at the insertion site, but this usually subsides quickly.[1] The stimulator will be programmed to deliver optimal electrical impulses to manage your pain. Once your Sprint PNS is implanted, it’s possible to notice immediate pain relief.[1]
How Long Does Pain Relief Last?
The Sprint PNS system is a short-term pain intervention device and is worn for up to 60 days. It’s designed to provide chronic pain sufferers with profound and sustained pain relief.[4] Successful treatment resets your nerves’ transmittal signals, extending pain relief beyond the 60-day days. Patients have reported experiencing pain relief up to one to two years post-removal.[4] Due to the device’s non-invasive, non-damaging nature, repeated implantation is possible for more prolonged pain relief periods.[4]
Is the Sprint Peripheral Nerve Stimulator Right for Me?
Whether or not the Sprint PNS system suits your pain condition requires a consultation with your healthcare provider or pain management physician. If you’ve experienced acute or chronic pain in your back, neck, arm or leg that has failed to respond to conventional treatment, you may be an ideal candidate for a peripheral nerve stimulator. Your provider will consider factors such as location and type of pain, previous treatments, and overall health.
If you have been seeking a non-opioid, low-risk, short-term, minimally invasive option that targets pain at its source, Sprint PNS could be a life-changing solution for you! It offers a promising alternative for patients dealing with uncontrolled chronic pain, including neuropathy. If traditional pain management methods have yet to reduce your pain, ask your doctor if the innovative Sprint PNS system can make a difference in your life.
Resources:
- SPRINT Peripheral Nerve Stimulator (PNS). American Pain Consortium [Internet]. Accessed June 28, 2024. Available from: https://www.americanpainconsortium.com/treatments/spinal-cord-stimulation-intrathecal-implants/sprint-pns/
- Hunter S. UF Health Pain Medicine Offers New Technology for Chronic Pain. UF Health [Internet]. Accessed June 28, 2024. Available from: https://ufhealth.org/stories/2023/uf-health-pain-medicine-offers-new-technology-for-chronic-pain
- Bricker S. Why You Should Consider Using SPRINT PNS as an Early Pain Treatment Option, Especially for Back Pain. SPR Therapeutics. Published May 23, 2021. Accessed June 28, 2024. Available from: https://www.sprtherapeutics.com/2021/05/23/why-you-should-consider-using-sprint-pns-as-an-early-pain-treatment-option-especially-for-back-pain/
- Sprint Peripheral Nerve Stimulation. Neurosurgery One [Internet]. Accessed June 28, 2024. Available from: https://www.neurosurgeryone.com/treatment/sprint-peripheral-nerve-stimulation/
- Strand N, D’Souza RS, Hagedorn JM, et al. Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines from the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience for the Use of Implantable Peripheral Nerve Stimulation in the Treatment of Chronic Pain. Journal of Pain Research [Internet]. 2022;15:2483-2504. Accessed June 28, 2024. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S362204 Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9419727/
