InterStim therapy is an FDA-approved treatment option for patients suffering from overactive bladder and urinary incontinence issues. InterStim therapy can be considered when the conservative measures of behavioral therapy, pelvic rehabilitation and medications have not garnered successful outcomes for controlling the symptoms of urge incontinence or overactive bladder. This treatment option uses an implanted medical device that gently stimulates the sacral nerves (sacral neuromodulation) through mild electrical pulses to help control overactive bladder.

Overactive bladder is considered a nerve disorder. By gently stimulating the sacral nerves, the brain-bladder communication is enhanced thereby decreasing the sudden urges to urinate and consequently leaking urine. Once the device is implanted, patients can experience a dramatic increase in their bladder function and improved quality of life.

HOW DOES INTERSTIM THERAPY WORK?

Sacral Nerve Stimulation (SNS) involves the electrical stimulation of the sacral nerve, which is located near the tailbone. The sacral nerve controls the bladder as well as the muscles that control urinary function. In healthy patients, the sacral nerves are in communication with the brain and the bladder functions properly. In patients with overactive bladder, the sacral nerves and brain do not communicate properly and the patient experiences urge incontinence, urinary frequency and urinary retention.

A small neurotransmitter is implanted under the skin in the upper area of the buttocks close to the sacral nerve. The impulses created by the implanted device can activate or inhibit the bladder muscles and sphincter to provide more bladder control. The electrical stimulation improves the communication between the brain and the bladder to increase bladder control function. Patients can remotely control the amount of nerve stimulation to increase or decrease stimuli based on comfort level and effectiveness.

InterStim therapy is a simple, outpatient surgical procedure that is shown to give life-changing and long-lasting relief for symptoms of overactive bladder. InterStim therapy can be tried externally before receiving the implanted device. Your doctor can place a temporary external nerve stimulating device over the sacral nerves in the upper buttocks to perform a peripheral nerve evaluation and determine if this procedure is right for you. Over the course of a few days, your symptoms may improve by 50% or more, which indicates you are a candidate for InterStim therapy.

The sacral nerve stimulation in InterStim therapy is designed to improve symptoms in patients with:

• Urge incontinence
• Overactive bladder
• Urgency frequency
• Urinary retention

InterStim therapy is not recommended for patients who have:

• Stress incontinence – leakage that occurs during laughing, sneezing, coughing or exercise
• Diabetes
• Neurological disease
• Pacemakers

Blue Ridge Urological is pleased to offer InterStim therapy to patients as the next level treatment option for patients who have not had success with conservative measures. We will partner with you to explore your treatment options and help determine if sacral nerve stimulation is the right treatment for you. If you would like to learn more about InterStim therapy, call (540) 932-5926 or schedule your consultation online.