By Dan Murphy
All of us have experienced some form of pain during our lives from injury or illness. When pain is experienced for longer than 3-6 months, it’s called chronic pain, which can affect your physical movements (standing, sitting, walking) and your ability to work. And when you experience chronic pain for months, it can impact your emotional health and lead to excessive use of pain medication.
Dr. Stephen Erosa, an interventional spine and pain specialist with St. John’s Riverside Hospital, wants our readers to consider another option: Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS). “I see many patients with chronic pain in their neck, shoulder, spine, hip, and knee, which is nerve-related. Some of this pain is post-surgical; after the surgery to alleviate pain, it seems to continue. Fortunately, St. John’s Hospital is the only hospital in lower Westchester that is offering Peripheral Nerve Stimulation,” said Dr. Erosa, who explained the process of PNS.
“We electrically stimulate specific nerves, which reprograms them to override the pain, and potentially provide you with long-term pain relief, without the need for a permanent implant, surgery or opiate medication.”
“This procedure is performed under ultrasound guidance, like any other knee injection, shoulder injection, or nerve block procedure. But instead of injecting medication into the area, we place a small, strand-like hair-size wire that blocks your pain electrically. I know this might sound daunting, but this procedure is minimally invasive, reversible, and repeatable. And it can get you feeling better for longer.”
Patients are awake during the procedure to make sure that the electrodes are properly placed so that Dr. Erosa can identify what level of stimulation the patient is comfortable with during a testing period. The electrode delivers rapid electrical pulses that feel like mild tingles and are placed near a nerve in the part of the body in pain. These signals can block and alter the pain signals that typically reach the brain.
No surgery is required and the patient goes home same day with a remote control to adjust the level of stimulation as needed. Temporary discomfort after the PNS procedure is minimal and treated with over-the-counter medication
Dr. Stephen Erosa is a dual board-certified pain physician who focuses on rehabilitation and advanced interventions to help manage chronic pain. He offers a unique approach using his osteopathic, psychiatric, and interventional knowledge to create a comprehensive, holistic, personalized treatment plan for all his patients.
“It is my mission to identify the cause of your pain and provide a treatment that has the potential to provide the longest-lasting pain relief without the need for long-term oral medications. As a born and raised New Yorker, I have a passion for helping my community thrive.”
PNS has been more commonly used in recent years for neuropathic pain and migraine headaches after several stimulation devices received FDA approval.
“For many of my patients, PNS is a game changer. It’s low risk and high reward. It is a non-opioid therapy that is not a narcotic and provides up to a year in pain relief. In the world of pain management, we are always looking for new modalities that don’t have the risk of medication abuse. Many of my patients have tried other methods but they still have pain. This gets them feeling better,” said Dr. Erosa.
Andrea C. is one of Dr. Erosa’s patients that has benefitted from PNS. She had the procedure at St. John’s Riverside Hospital after experiencing chronic back pain for more than 10 years. “I’ve had two spinal surgeries and tried other things including medications before Dr. Erosa told me about PNS and recommended it for me. For many patients experiencing chronic pain it is worthy trying. It has worked wonders for me.”
Andrea has 2 implants placed in her lower back and buttocks area in May and July of this year. The first implant worked and reduced her pain, but Dr. Erosa found another location on the other side of her lower back and buttocks which was suitable for another implant. Since the second implant, Andrea says that her pain level has gone from an 8 to a 3, which allows her to lead an active life once again. “Anyone with chronic back pain should consider PNS and go see Dr. Erosa. What do you have to lose in trying something else? Dr. Erosa has changed my life. “
Dr. Erosa wants to make sure all our readers know about the different options available to them to alleviate chronic pain. “PNS is a treatment that not many people know about. I’m not just a pain medication doctor. This therapy can offer you relief and improve your function. That’s why I want to get the word out, because if there is someone in the community who doesn’t know about this, it’s a disservice.”
If you are a candidate for peripheral nerve stimulation for your chronic pain, contact Dr. Stephen Erosa at 914-964-4DOC, or visit or visit https://bit.ly/2X5Kiv3 for more info.
Dr. Stephen Erosa completed his residency and fellowship training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Interventional Pain Medicine at the prestigious Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
