If you’ve lived with chronic nerve pain for months—or even years—and nothing else has helped, you might be a strong candidate for neuromodulation therapy.
This advanced, non-surgical treatment uses gentle electrical stimulation to calm overactive nerves and reduce pain.

At MAPS Centers for Pain Control in Chicago, led by Dr. Timothy R. Lubenow, MD, one of the nation’s foremost authorities on neuromodulation, our specialists identify whether Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS), Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Stimulation, or Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) is the right fit for you.

Explore related guides in this series:

What Is Neuromodulation for Neuropathy? A Complete Patient Guide
Neuromodulation vs. Other Pain Treatments: Choosing the Best Option for Your Nerve Pain
How Neuromodulation Targets Neuropathy Pain: What Patients Need to Know
5 Quick Signs You Might Benefit from Neuromodulation
Neuromodulation: Advanced Pain Relief at MAPS Centers for Pain Control

When Pain Doesn’t Go Away — Even After Everything Else

You’ve tried physical therapy, injections, maybe even surgery. You’ve taken medications that dull the edge for a few hours but never truly work. And still, the pain returns—burning, tingling, radiating.

That’s when many patients begin asking if there’s anything left to try.

Neuromodulation therapy is designed for exactly these moments: when pain becomes chronic and the usual treatments no longer bring relief.

Instead of numbing the body, it works at the level of your nervous system—retraining nerves that have learned to send pain signals even when no injury remains.

As Dr. Lubenow often explains:
“When pain becomes the disease itself—when the signal keeps firing even after healing—neuromodulation gives us a way to quiet that signal safely and precisely.”

What Does It Mean to Be a Candidate for Neuromodulation?

Neuromodulation therapy is designed for patients whose pain has become chronic and treatment-resistant — meaning traditional options like medication, physical therapy, or injections no longer provide lasting relief.

Being a “candidate” means your pain likely originates from nerve dysfunction rather than inflammation or structural injury. In other words, the nerves themselves are misfiring, sending false pain signals that your brain interprets as ongoing discomfort.

Neuromodulation doesn’t destroy or block these nerves; instead, it retrains them using gentle electrical pulses to restore more normal signaling and reduce pain.

Dr. Lubenow notes:
“The best candidates are people who’ve done everything right—followed therapy, tried medications, even had surgery—and still hurt. Neuromodulation is built for those tough cases because it treats the nerve communication problem directly.”

Common Conditions That Respond Well to Neuromodulation

Neuromodulation can be effective for many chronic pain conditions, but it’s most beneficial for those involving neuropathic (nerve-related) pain.

Patients at MAPS who benefit most often have:

Peripheral Neuropathy: Nerve damage in the feet, legs, or hands—often from diabetes or chemotherapy.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): Localized pain, burning, and sensitivity in one limb or joint after injury or surgery.
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS): Persistent back or leg pain after spine surgery.
Post-Surgical Nerve Pain: Pain that lingers long after recovery, especially after joint replacement or hernia repair.
Radiculopathy and Sciatica: Shooting pain that follows a spinal nerve root.
Occipital Neuralgia: Pain at the base of the skull caused by irritated neck nerves.
Post-Traumatic or Post-Amputation Pain: Nerve hypersensitivity after injury or limb loss.

Each of these conditions stems from nerve dysfunction — making neuromodulation a precise and effective treatment.

Signs You Might Be a Good Candidate

If you’re unsure whether neuromodulation might work for you, ask yourself the following:

Has your pain lasted longer than six months?
Chronic pain lasting this long often signals nerve-based pathology rather than temporary inflammation.
Have you tried other treatments without success?
If medications, injections, or surgeries haven’t provided sustained relief, it may be time to consider neuromodulation.
Does your pain include burning, tingling, or electrical sensations?
These are hallmarks of neuropathic pain, which responds best to electrical modulation.
Do you experience pain that’s localized or radiating?
DRG stimulation works best for focal pain (like a knee or foot), while SCS is ideal for radiating pain (like sciatica or leg pain).
Are you ready to reduce your reliance on medications?
Many patients seek neuromodulation to safely decrease or eliminate opioid or neuropathy drug use.
Do you prefer a non-surgical, reversible option?
Neuromodulation is minimally invasive and reversible, unlike nerve ablations or fusion surgeries.

If you answered “yes” to most of these, you may be an excellent candidate for neuromodulation therapy.

Dr. Lubenow adds:
“Duration and pattern matter. If pain has persisted beyond the normal healing window and feels electric or burning, that’s the red flag we look for—it often means the nervous system itself needs retraining.”

Who Might Not Be a Candidate

While neuromodulation is safe and well-tolerated, it may not be suitable for everyone. You might not qualify if you:

Have an active infection or open wounds near the planned implant site.
Have an untreated psychiatric disorder that could affect post-treatment recovery or follow-up.
Are unable to operate or manage the device (for example, severe cognitive impairment).
Have mechanical pain only (pain from bone or joint damage rather than nerves).

Your MAPS provider will review your full medical history and coordinate with other specialists to ensure neuromodulation is safe and appropriate for you.

How Candidacy Is Determined at MAPS

At MAPS Centers for Pain Control, the evaluation process is thorough, evidence-based, and individualized.
1. Comprehensive Pain Assessment
Your physician reviews your pain history, imaging, and previous treatments. Understanding where the pain starts, how it behaves, and what triggers it helps pinpoint whether it’s nerve-related.
2. Diagnostic Testing and Exclusion of Other Causes
Advanced imaging and diagnostic nerve blocks may be used to confirm neuropathic pain origins.
3. Collaborative Care Approach
MAPS physicians work alongside your primary care doctor, neurologist, or surgeon to ensure continuity of care.
4. Trial Stimulation Phase
Before permanent implantation, every patient completes a temporary one-week trial.

If you experience 50% or greater pain reduction, the trial is considered successful, and a permanent system may be implanted.
This trial ensures only appropriate candidates proceed with long-term therapy — giving patients confidence before committing to the next step.

Choosing the Right Neuromodulation Option

At MAPS, our specialists offer several neuromodulation techniques tailored to the patient’s pain type and location:

Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS): For widespread nerve pain in the back, legs, or arms.
Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Stimulation: The newest refinement of spinal stimulation, targeting specific nerve roots for highly localized pain relief (like the knee or foot).
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS): For isolated pain in smaller regions such as the shoulder, hip, or base of the skull.

Dr. Lubenow was among the first U.S. physicians to perform DRG stimulation after training in Oxford, England.
“DRG allows us to target pain with millimeter precision,” he explains. “For patients with focal pain—like the knee, foot, or groin—it’s a game-changer.”

Each option is minimally invasive, adjustable, and fully reversible.

Talk with your MAPS provider to determine which system best fits your symptoms and goals for recovery.

Benefits for the Right Candidates

Patients who qualify for neuromodulation often see life-changing results.
At MAPS, the majority of our patients report:

50–80% reduction in pain intensity
Improved mobility and sleep quality
Significant decrease in medication use
Restored ability to work, exercise, and socialize
Renewed emotional well-being and confidence

“We’re not just treating pain—we’re giving people their independence back,” says Dr. Lubenow. “That’s the ultimate goal.”

These improvements often begin during the trial week and strengthen as the device is fine-tuned in the following months.

Common Questions About Candidacy

1. Can I get neuromodulation if I’ve had back surgery before?
Yes. Many patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) benefit greatly from spinal cord stimulation.
2. Does age matter?
No. Neuromodulation can be successful for adults of any age as long as they’re medically cleared.
3. What if I have diabetes or neuropathy?
Patients with diabetic neuropathy are among the best candidates, as this therapy targets the damaged nerve pathways responsible for pain.
4. How do I know if my pain is “nerve pain”?
Neuropathic pain often feels burning, tingling, or like electric shocks — sensations distinct from dull or throbbing joint pain.
5. Is it covered by insurance?
Yes. Neuromodulation is FDA-approved and covered by Medicare and most major insurance plans when criteria for chronic pain are met.

Your Path to Candidacy: What to Expect Next

Becoming a candidate starts with a conversation.
At your MAPS consultation, your physician will:

Review your pain history and previous treatments.
Determine whether your pain is neuropathic.
Discuss the potential benefits and limitations of neuromodulation.
Plan your trial phase if you qualify.

Because neuromodulation is customizable, no two treatment plans are identical — your therapy is built around your unique pain pattern and daily needs.

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If you’ve been living with nerve pain that hasn’t improved despite every other treatment, neuromodulation could finally provide lasting relief.
At MAPS Centers for Pain Control, our specialists have decades of experience helping patients across Chicagoland regain comfort, function, and peace of mind.

Schedule your consultation today.