Solutions for Post-Surgery Pain
If you’re dealing with residual pain after surgery — whether shoulder, knee, back, or elsewhere — you don’t have to accept “this is normal.” Here’s how we can help you find real relief.
What Is Dorsal Ganglion Root (DRG) Stimulation, and How Can it Relieve Persistent Hip Pain?
Hip pain has a way of shrinking your world. You stop taking the stairs. You skip the long walk. You think twice before getting in the car because you know that the first step out is going to zing you.
At SamWell Institute for Pain Management, Dr. Jay M. Shah and our team take persistent hip pain seriously, especially when it doesn’t respond to the usual first steps. We look for the “why” behind your symptoms and match treatment to the true driver of your pain, not just its location.
One advanced option we may discuss for certain types of chronic, nerve-driven hip pain is dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation.
Why hip pain doesn’t always come from the hip joint
A lot of people assume “hip pain” automatically means arthritis or a muscle strain. Sometimes it does.
But for many patients, the pain behaves more like nerve pain: burning, sharp, electric, or oddly specific to one side, one pocket of the hip, or the groin area. That pattern matters because nerve pain often responds best to treatments that calm or interrupt the pain signals themselves.
That’s where DRG stimulation comes in.
What DRG stimulation really is
DRG stimulation is a targeted neurostimulation technique used for hard-to-treat pain in specific lower-body areas, including the hip and groin.
In simple terms, the dorsal root ganglion is a small bundle of sensory nerve cells near your spine that helps “route” sensation from a specific area of your body up to your brain. You might think of these structures as “traffic cops,” regulating which signals get through.
With DRG stimulation, we place a thin lead near the DRG that corresponds to your pain location. A small generator sends mild electrical pulses that help block or modulate pain signals before they register as pain.
Because the DRG map is so specific, we only consider DRG stimulation when your pain is localized — for example, stubborn hip or groin pain that doesn’t neatly fit the “one big nerve” pattern.
When DRG stimulation is worth discussing for hip pain
DRG therapy isn’t for every sore hip. It’s a more specialized tool, and we only bring it up when your story fits.
DRG therapy may be an option when your pain has been going on for six months or more, stays isolated to a lower-body area (including hip or groin), and doesn’t respond well to more traditional approaches.
In other words, it’s not a first-line treatment. It’s a viable next step when we identify persistent, nerve-based pain, and you need something more targeted.
What your DRG trial looks like at SamWell
We don’t jump straight to a long-term implant. We start with a seven-day trial so you can experience what it feels like, and Dr. Shah can confirm you’re a strong candidate.
If the trial gives you meaningful relief and helps you move through your day with less pain, we talk through next steps together. If it doesn’t, that information is still valuable — it helps us pivot to the option that fits you better.
What we monitor, and what you pay attention to
During the process, we keep a close eye on your function — not just your pain score.
We ask questions like:
- Can you walk farther or stand longer?
- Do you move more naturally without guarding?
- Do you need fewer “recovery days” after normal activities?
At home, we encourage you to notice patterns: what improves, what doesn’t, and which activities feel possible again.
The goal: less pain, more life
At SamWell, we use advanced, image-guided options and non-opioid strategies to help restore function and quality of life, whether your hip pain originates in the spine, nerves, joints, or a combination of these.
And while DRG stimulation can be a powerful tool for the right patient, the “right patient” part is everything. That’s why Dr. Shah’s approach starts with careful diagnosis, a clear plan, and a trial when appropriate — so you’re not guessing.
Ready to talk through your options?
If hip pain persists, don’t settle for managing it forever. Schedule a visit so we can pinpoint what’s driving your symptoms and walk you through the treatments that fit — including whether DRG stimulation belongs on your list.
Call us or book an appointment online at SamWell Institute for Pain Management. We have offices in Colonia, Englewood, and Livingston, New Jersey.
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