For many patients, persistent shoulder pain and chronic arm discomfort continue even after rest, therapy, or injections. Whether the pain stems from nerve compression, rotator cuff issues, or post-surgical pain, the frustration of trying multiple treatments with limited relief is real.
At Grand Rapids Pain, led by Keith Javery, DO & Girish Juneja, MD, we help patients across West Michigan find lasting solutions for chronic pain conditions through advanced therapies like Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS). Our care is physician-led from start to finish, so there’s no middleman—just direct, expert care that’s designed around your needs. If you're seeking meaningful relief from chronic shoulder pain or other upper extremity pain, we’re here to help.
Let’s explore how PNS offers a better, targeted approach to treating difficult pain conditions in the shoulders, arms, and hands.
Understanding Upper Extremity Pain
Upper extremity pain involves chronic discomfort in your shoulders, arms, wrists, or hands. It's more than just an inconvenience—this pain often limits your ability to work, sleep, and perform everyday tasks. When conservative treatments like medication management, physical therapy, or injections don't bring relief, finding an effective solution becomes crucial.
Typical causes of persistent shoulder and arm pain include:
- Chronic shoulder pain (rotator cuff injuries, arthritis)
- Neuropathic pain (from nerve compression or peripheral nerve damage)
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Post-surgical pain (following orthopedic or nerve surgery)
- Hemiplegic shoulder pain after stroke
- Axillary nerve irritation affecting the deltoid muscle
- Refractory pain conditions resistant to standard care
Accurate diagnosis through a thorough physical examination by a qualified pain physician is essential to determine the most effective treatment.
How Nerve Stimulation Targets and Blocks Chronic Pain
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) is a minimally invasive procedure where a small electrical device delivers gentle electrical pulses to targeted peripheral nerves. These pulses effectively interrupt pain signals traveling toward your central nervous system, reducing or eliminating the sensation of pain.
Unlike superficial therapies like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) or more invasive methods like spinal cord stimulation, PNS provides targeted, precise relief directly at the nerve causing your pain. The stimulation parameters are fully adjustable, allowing your pain physician to optimize your pain relief over time.
3 Ways Peripheral Nerve Stimulators Treat Persistent Arm and Shoulder Pain
1. Interrupting Pain Signals
Peripheral nerve stimulators work by blocking the transmission of pain signals at the source. By delivering controlled, rapid electrical pulses, these devices prevent pain signals from ever reaching your brain, providing immediate and sustained pain relief for conditions like chronic shoulder pain or neuropathic arm pain.
2. Reducing Chronic Inflammation
Many upper extremity pain conditions involve ongoing nerve inflammation and irritation. By stimulating the peripheral nerves directly, such as at axillary nerve motor points, PNS reduces inflammatory responses, leading to decreased pain intensity, improved muscle comfort, and better overall function.
3. Restoring Mobility and Function
Persistent shoulder pain often limits your ability to participate fully in physical therapy or everyday tasks. PNS provides the level of comfort you need to engage in rehabilitative exercises and activities, leading to improved strength, mobility, and quality of life without reliance on long-term pain medications.
Real-World Benefits: Mobility, Comfort, and Function
Patients who receive peripheral nerve stimulation typically report:
- Significant reduction in pain intensity
- Improved shoulder, arm, and wrist mobility
- Reduced dependence on opioid medications or pain medicine
- Enhanced physical comfort and improved sleep quality
- Greater ability to participate in daily activities and rehabilitation exercises
Differences Between Nerve Stimulators and Other Therapies
Compared to conservative treatments like medications, TENS units, or surgical interventions, peripheral nerve stimulation offers unique advantages:
- More targeted relief: Directly targets peripheral nerves instead of broad approaches like medication.
- Minimally invasive: Outpatient procedure with local anesthesia, minimal downtime, and low risk of complications.
- Adjustable and reversible: Your physician can easily modify stimulation settings for personalized relief.
- Effective for refractory conditions: Especially useful for complex, treatment-resistant chronic pain conditions.
While medications mask symptoms and surgery carries higher risks, peripheral nerve stimulation provides sustained relief without systemic side effects or permanent changes to anatomy.
Who Qualifies and What to Expect from Treatment
You may qualify for a peripheral nerve stimulator if:
- You have chronic shoulder or arm pain not responsive to standard treatments
- You experience ongoing pain due to CRPS, peripheral neuropathy, or post-surgical complications
- Your physical examination and diagnostic nerve blocks identify specific peripheral nerve involvement
At Grand Rapids Pain, your care begins with a careful evaluation and a temporary stimulator trial. A temporary stimulator allows you to test treatment effectiveness, ensuring you achieve adequate pain relief before proceeding to permanent implantation.
Why Choose Grand Rapids Pain
It’s not 1999 anymore—so why treat chronic pain like it is?
At Grand Rapids Pain, we’ve modernized every part of the pain care experience. From direct physician-led consultations to advanced, image-guided therapies, our goal is simple: put expert care back in the physician’s hands, right where it belongs.
Here’s how we’re different:
- No middleman: Your plan of care is created and delivered directly by your doctor. No unnecessary layers. No delays.
- New Surgical Center, New Era: Our soon-to-open West Michigan Surgical Center for Guided Relief (WMSCGR) is where cutting-edge treatments like PNS and MIST 2.0 are already changing lives.
- Next-gen technology: We don’t just manage pain—we use advanced tools and image guidance to pinpoint and treat it at the source.
- Tailored, modern care: Whether it’s a stimulator trial or a minimally invasive surgical therapeutic, you’ll receive a plan designed around your body—not a corporate protocol.
Some patients are used to the “old way” of pain treatment, and we understand that. But for those ready for something better, something personal, something physician-led—we’re here.
Comfortable Care with Sedation When Needed
At Grand Rapids Pain, your comfort is never an afterthought. If medically indicated, we offer moderate IV conscious sedation or MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care) during both trial and permanent PNS procedures. You remain relaxed, safe, and supported throughout—without fear or pain disrupting your progress.
Get Lasting Relief for Arm and Shoulder Pain
Persistent upper extremity pain doesn't have to control your life. Peripheral nerve stimulators provide an effective, minimally invasive option to help you achieve sustained pain relief and return to daily activities comfortably.
If conservative treatments haven't worked and you're tired of temporary fixes, it's time to talk to Grand Rapids Pain With direct physician care and advanced therapies, we'll help you regain comfort, mobility, and independence. Call (616) 727-0083 or request your appointment online today. We'll help you find lasting relief—together.
