Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
09:35
Subcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Field Stimulation for Refractory Facial Pain
Published on: May 10, 2017
18.8K
Suprascapular nerve peripheral nerve stimulation for malignancy-related pain: A case series
Cole Cheney1, Jason Dauffenbach1
1Department of Pain Medicine, Mayo Clinic Health Systems, Mankato, MN, USA.
Interventional Pain Medicine
|September 6, 2024
Summary
Peripheral nerve stimulation effectively treated chronic oncologic shoulder pain in two cases. This approach provided significant pain relief and reduced the need for oral analgesics, suggesting a promising new option for cancer pain management.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Neurology
- Oncology
Background:
- Suprascapular nerve blockade is a recognized diagnostic and therapeutic tool for shoulder pain.
- Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) offers sustained pain relief for chronic pain conditions.
- PNS has not been previously explored for managing shoulder pain in cancer patients.
Observation:
- Two patients with chronic, cancer-related shoulder pain were treated with ultrasound-guided PNS targeting the suprascapular nerve.
- The PNS device was placed posteriorly at the suprascapular nerve.
Findings:
- Both patients reported over 50% pain reduction on the numerical rating scale (NRS) at 30 and 98 days post-procedure.
- Patients experienced a decrease in oral pain medication use and associated side effects.
Implications:
- Posterior suprascapular nerve PNS is a feasible technique for treating oncologic shoulder pain.
- This method offers significant pain relief and reduces reliance on analgesics.
- Further large-scale, prospective studies are needed to confirm efficacy and safety.
Related Concept Videos
01:44Nociception
Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...
01:29Blood and Nerve Supply to the Bones
Bones are dynamic organs that require a rich supply of oxygen and nutrients. Around 5% to 10% of the cardiac output supplies blood to the bones. A typical long bone has three main sources: the nutrient artery, the metaphyseal and epiphyseal arteries, and the periosteal arteries.
Nutrient Artery
The nutrient artery is the main blood vessel that enters the diaphysis via the nutrient foramen. While most long bones have only one nutrient foramen, large bones, such as the femur, may have two. This...
Nutrient Artery
The nutrient artery is the main blood vessel that enters the diaphysis via the nutrient foramen. While most long bones have only one nutrient foramen, large bones, such as the femur, may have two. This...