Some types of chronic pain are caused when a peripheral nerve - one of the nerves outside your brain and spinal cord, such as those in your arms and legs - is compressed, or pushed on. This type of pain often happens after surgery or injury such as a sports injury or car accident. If other treatments don't help relieve pain, peripheral nerve decompression can help.

In this procedure, your surgeon will make a small incision near the nerve that is being compressed and cutting away or removing whatever is causing the pressure on the nerve.