Stimpod

Chronic nerve pain has a way of taking over your life. The burning, tingling, numbness, or relentless aching that comes with nerve damage or dysfunction can make it difficult to sleep, work, or simply get through the day. For many patients, conventional treatments offer limited relief, and the underlying cause of the nerve dysfunction is never fully addressed.

At Personalizing Your Health, Dr. Anthony Serle takes a different approach. As a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist and Certified Functional Medicine Physician, Dr. Serle looks at nerve health not as an isolated problem, but as one piece of a larger picture involving the brain, immune system, and gut. Stimpod pulsed radiofrequency nerve stimulation is one of the targeted therapies Dr. Serle uses to support nervous system function as part of that whole-person framework.

What Is Stimpod?

The Stimpod NMS460 is an FDA-cleared device that uses pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) energy to stimulate peripheral nerves. Unlike a standard TENS unit, which simply blocks pain signals at the surface level, Stimpod delivers a controlled, non-invasive pulse directly to the nerve itself.

How Pulsed Radiofrequency Works

Radiofrequency energy in pulsed form has been studied for its ability to interact with nerve tissue without generating damaging heat. When applied through the Stimpod device, these pulses target specific peripheral nerves and may support:

• Improved nerve conduction and signaling
• Reduced hypersensitivity in damaged or overactive nerve fibers
• Restoration of more normal communication between peripheral nerves and the central nervous system
• Decreased pain perception associated with nerve dysfunction

The treatment is delivered through a handheld probe placed on the skin near the affected nerve pathway. There are no needles, no incisions, and no required recovery time. Most patients describe the sensation as mild tingling or gentle warmth.

How Stimpod Differs from Other Nerve Therapies

Many conventional pain therapies focus on masking discomfort rather than addressing nerve function directly. Stimpod is not a pain-masking tool. The goal is to interact with the nerve at a functional level, supporting the nerve's own ability to regulate and recover. That distinction matters when the underlying issue is long-standing nerve damage or chronic nervous system dysregulation, not just temporary pain.

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Who May Benefit from Stimpod

Stimpod may be appropriate for patients dealing with conditions that involve peripheral nerve dysfunction, nerve pain, or central nervous system dysregulation. A thorough consultation is always the first step, as Dr. Serle evaluates each patient's full clinical picture before recommending any therapy.

Patients who may benefit include those experiencing:

• Peripheral neuropathy, including diabetic neuropathy, where nerve damage in the extremities causes burning, numbness, or loss of sensation
• Chronic nerve pain that has not responded adequately to conventional treatments
• Post-injury nerve damage, including nerve trauma following surgery, accidents, or repetitive stress
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a condition involving disproportionate and persistent pain following injury
• Fibromyalgia, particularly where central sensitization and nerve hypersensitivity are significant drivers of symptoms
• Carpal tunnel syndrome and other entrapment neuropathies, where nerve compression leads to pain, tingling, or weakness
• Nervous system dysregulation associated with autoimmune conditions, thyroid dysfunction, or chronic inflammation

If you have been told your nerve pain is something you simply have to manage, that is not a conclusion Dr. Serle accepts as a starting point. The question is always why the nerve dysfunction is occurring and what systems may be driving it.

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What to Expect at Your Appointment

Your Initial Consultation

Before any treatment begins, Dr. Serle conducts a thorough evaluation. This includes a detailed health history, neurological assessment, and where appropriate, functional medicine lab work to identify underlying contributors to nerve dysfunction, such as blood sugar dysregulation, nutrient deficiencies, inflammatory markers, or immune dysfunction.

Dr. Serle may also use QEEG brain mapping, a technology that captures a real-time picture of brainwave activity, to assess how the nervous system is functioning at the central level. This helps build a complete neurological picture that informs how Stimpod and other therapies are applied.

During a Stimpod Session

Stimpod sessions are non-invasive and straightforward. Here is what a typical session looks like:

• You will be seated or reclined comfortably in a treatment position that allows access to the target nerve pathway.
• Dr. Serle will position the Stimpod probe on the skin at the site of the nerve to be treated. The probe does not break the skin.
• The device delivers a series of precisely timed pulsed radiofrequency pulses. You may feel mild tingling, warmth, or a light pulsing sensation, but the treatment should not be painful.
• A standard session typically lasts between 20 and 45 minutes, depending on the area being treated and your individualized protocol.
• There is no downtime. Most patients return to normal activity immediately following the session.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pulsed radiofrequency nerve stimulation?

Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is a technique that delivers controlled bursts of radiofrequency energy to nerve tissue. Unlike continuous radiofrequency, which generates heat and can damage surrounding tissue, the pulsed method is designed to interact with the nerve without thermal injury. It is used to support nerve function, reduce hypersensitivity, and improve the nerve's ability to communicate normally with the rest of the nervous system.

Is the Stimpod treatment painful?

No. Most patients describe the sensation as mild tingling, gentle warmth, or a light pulsing feeling at the site of the probe. The treatment is non-invasive and does not involve needles or incisions. If you experience any discomfort during a session, Dr. Serle can adjust the parameters accordingly.

Is Stimpod the same as a TENS unit?

No. A TENS unit (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) works primarily by flooding the nervous system with non-painful stimuli to override or mask pain signals. Stimpod uses pulsed radiofrequency energy and is designed to interact with the nerve itself at a functional level, with the goal of supporting nerve recovery rather than temporarily blocking pain perception.

How many sessions will I need?

This varies by patient and is determined after Dr. Serle completes your initial evaluation. Some patients respond quickly, while others, particularly those with long-standing or complex nerve conditions, benefit from a longer series of sessions. Dr. Serle monitors your progress throughout and adjusts the protocol based on your individual response.

Can Stimpod be combined with my existing treatments?

In most cases, yes. Stimpod is often used as part of a broader care plan at Personalizing Your Health that may include functional lab work, nutritional support, gut health protocols, and when appropriate, neurofeedback. Dr. Serle will review your current medications and treatments during your consultation to ensure Stimpod is appropriate alongside them.

Is Stimpod safe for everyone?

Stimpod is not appropriate for every patient. Contraindications may include the presence of implanted electronic devices such as pacemakers, active infection at the treatment site, or certain other medical conditions. Dr. Serle conducts a thorough evaluation before recommending Stimpod to determine whether it is a safe and appropriate option for your specific situation.

Do I need a referral to schedule a consultation?

No referral is required. You can contact Personalizing Your Health directly to schedule a consultation with Dr. Serle.

Ready to Address Your Nerve Pain at the Root Cause?

Nerve pain and dysfunction are signals that something in the system needs attention. At Personalizing Your Health, Dr. Serle takes those signals seriously. Through the Brain-Immune-Gut Connection framework, advanced functional medicine testing, and targeted therapies like Stimpod, the goal is always to understand why your nervous system is struggling and to build a plan that supports recovery from the inside out.

If you are in Jacksonville, FL or the surrounding areas and you are tired of managing symptoms without answers, Dr. Serle's practice is designed for exactly that: getting to the root of it.

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