InterStim Therapy
Worrying about your bladder control can keep you from doing the things you love. InterStim Therapy is an FDA-approved treatment for overactive bladder and urinary retention. With InterStim Therapy, an implantable device sends mild electrical pulses to the sacral nerves to reduce symptoms of bladder control problems, so you can get back to living.
If medications, physical therapy and lifestyle changes haven’t effectively treated your bladder control problem, then InterStim Therapy might help. Find an SSM Health urologist near you today to discuss your options and learn how to get started.
Symptoms of Bladder Control Problems
Signs and symptoms of bladder control problems include:
- Frequent urges to urinate (urgency-frequency)
- Inability to hold urine/leaking (urge incontinence)
- Inability to urinate (complete urinary retention)
- Incomplete bladder emptying (partial urinary retention)
Treatment of Bladder Control Problems
If you have been diagnosed with a bladder control problem, treatment typically begins with conservative, non-surgical options, including:
- Kegel exercises
- Medications
- Physical therapy
- Fluid/diet changes
If these conservative treatments have not worked for you, InterStim Therapy may be an option.
How InterStim Therapy Works
The sacral nerves, located near your tailbone, control the bladder. If these nerves don’t communicate correctly with the brain, the bladder does not function properly.
InterStim Therapy stimulates these nerves so that they communicate with the brain for increased bladder control. Neurostimulation is a reversible treatment that can be discontinued at any time by turning off or removing the device.
Neurostimulation may help you resume normal activities -- and help you avoid frustrating experiences associated with overactive bladder.
The Testing Period
The potential benefit of the therapy can be demonstrated by a trial assessment. The trial assessment takes 3-7 days and lets you try neurostimulation to see if it is right for you without making a long-term commitment. The test procedure uses an external stimulator and test system that can be placed in a 45-60 minute procedure.
During the trial assessment, you can continue many of your daily activities with caution. You can usually continue to work throughout your trial assessment if your job doesn’t require strenuous movement.
During your trial period, you will keep track of your urinary symptoms in a bladder diary. If your symptoms are significantly reduced or eliminated during the testing period, you may benefit from long-term use of sacral nerve stimulation.
InterStim Therapy is appropriate for many patients who do not adequately respond to medication therapy, cannot take medications due to side effects, or do not want to take medications for the rest of their lives. Deciding if you are a candidate for InterStim Therapy is a two-part process. There is a test procedure to determine if you are a candidate, followed by implantation of a small device if the test improves your symptoms significantly.
Take the Next Step
If the conservative treatments mentioned above have not been successful for you, contact your SSM Health primary care physician or urologist to explore your treatment options.