mPNS for Post-Surgical Pain
mPNS (Magnetic Peripheral Nerve Stimulation) for Post-Surgical Pain
What is post-surgical pain?
Pain that continues after the expected tissue healing period following surgery; when persistent beyond ~3 months it is often called chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP)
Mechanisms: Nerve injury or entrapment, scar-related tethering, ongoing inflammation, and peripheral/central sensitization all contribute to persistent post-operative pain.
Common symptoms of post-surgical pain
- Persistent aching, burning, shooting, or electric-shock pain at or near the surgical site
- Hypersensitivity to touch (allodynia) or increased pain from normally non-painful stimuli
Numbness, tingling, and paresthesia around scars or in the limb - Stiffness, reduced range of motion, weakness, or difficulty performing activities used to be routine
- Sleep disturbance, mood changes, and activity avoidance due to pain
How post-traumatic pain affects daily life
Limits return to work, caregiving, and daily activities (lifting, walking, dressing)
Reduces participation in rehabilitation and slows recovery progress
Causes sleep disruption, fatigue, anxiety, and reduced quality of life
Increases healthcare visits, medication use, and risk of long-term disability
Statistics and scope
Prevalence varies by surgery type, patient factors, and definitions. Reported rates of chronic post-surgical pain range widely — commonly cited ranges are ~10–50% depending on procedure (higher after thoracotomy, amputation, or certain orthopedic and breast surgeries). Risk factors include severe acute postoperative pain, nerve injury during surgery, younger age, pre-existing chronic pain, and psychosocial factors.
Common treatment options
Prevention & Perioperative Risk Reduction
Adequate acute pain control, multimodal analgesia, and early mobilization to reduce CPSP risk
Pre- and post-operative education and optimization of comorbidities
Rehab & Functional Restoration
Physical therapy, graded activity, desensitization techniques, and occupational therapy
Medical & Psychological
Medications for neuropathic pain (gabapentin/pregabalin, duloxetine, tricyclics), topical agents, short-term analgesics as appropriate
Psychological therapies (CBT, pain coping skills) for pain-related distress and function
Surgical & Advanced Neuromodulation
Diagnostic or therapeutic nerve blocks, steroid injections, neuroma excision or revision surgery for clear structural causes
Implanted peripheral nerve stimulation or spinal cord stimulation for refractory cases
Multidisciplinary care is recommended for complex or long-standing CPSP.
How mPNS works
mPNS delivers focused magnetic pulses over peripheral nerves or nerve branches near the surgical site.
Magnetic stimulation modulates nerve excitability and interrupts maladaptive pain signaling, reducing peripheral sensitization and downstream central amplification without drugs or implants. By lowering pain signals, mPNS can improve tolerance for rehabilitation and speed functional recovery when used with standard care.
How mPNS can help post-surgical pain
Targeted, non-invasive pain reduction: mPNS can decrease neuropathic and nociceptive components of post-surgical pain by modulating peripheral nerve signaling
Enhances rehabilitation: reduced pain often allows better participation in physical therapy and progressive loading of tissues.
Low systemic side-effect profile: avoids many medication-related adverse effects and is needle-free compared with injections.
Adjunct or alternative to invasive neuromodulation: useful for patients who prefer non-implant options or who are not candidates for surgery.
Typical course: outpatient series of brief sessions with gradual symptom improvement over days–weeks; best outcomes when combined with multimodal rehabilitation and medical management.
Typical course and expectations
- Clinical assessment to confirm pain mechanisms and screen for contraindications (e.g., incompatible implanted electronic devices).
- Series of brief outpatient sessions (protocols vary); many patients report gradual symptom reduction over days–weeks.
- Best outcomes when mPNS is integrated into an individualized, multidisciplinary plan. Side effects are uncommon and generally mild (temporary local discomfort or transient paresthesia).
Who may be a candidate
Patients with persistent post-operative pain (especially with neuropathic features) who have incomplete relief from standard care or who want non-invasive adjuncts.
Clinical evaluation and screening for contraindications (e.g., certain implanted electronic devices) are required.
Talk with your pain specialist to see if mPNS is appropriate for your post-surgical pain and to develop a personalized treatment plan.
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Schedule an appointment with us to design an individualized treatment plan.
