Systems and methods of reducing pain after surgery in the thoracic or abdominal region and managing chronic nerve pain in the thoracic or abdominal region are provided. Such methods involve an electrode assembly that has a proximal portion and a distal portion with the distal portion including a plurality of electrodes. At least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes is placed over each of a plurality of intercostal nerve bundles in the patient's body. The proximal portion of the electrode assembly is connected to a pulse generator. An electromagnetic field is applied to the plurality of intercostal nerve bundles. The plurality of electrodes is removed from the patient's body after an intercostal nerve block sufficient to alleviate the patient's pain has been achieved.
