Many people believe urinary incontinence is simply part of getting older. But while it’s true that more than half of older (over 65) men and women have some type of incontinence, you don’t have to live with this frustrating condition.
At Urological Associates, our board-certified providers specialize in diagnosing and treating men and women in the Charlottesville, Virginia, area dealing with incontinence. For some of our patients, sacral neuromodulation with Axonics and InterStim implant therapies offers the best solution.
Here’s a look at this cutting-edge treatment and how to know if sacral neuromodulation is right for you.
Sacral neuromodulation is an implant therapy for some types of urinary incontinence. It works by stimulating the nerves that control your bladder.
You have a group of nerves at the base of your spine called the sacral nerves. Studies show they sometimes become dysfunctional, sending the wrong signals from your bladder to your brain.
This triggers certain forms of incontinence. Sacral neuromodulation stimulates those nerves, improving their function and treating your incontinence.
Your Urological Associates provider places a small implant under the skin of your upper buttocks. You receive a small remote that fits easily in your pocket so you can control the stimulation level as needed.
Our team offers both Axonics and InterStim sacral neuromodulation. With both options, we first recommend a test treatment so you can experience what the therapy is like and whether you think it will help your incontinence symptoms.
It’s important to understand that this type of therapy isn’t a cure for urinary incontinence. Instead, it’s a long-term treatment option that provides drug-free relief of the symptoms associated with the condition.
The best way to learn if you’re a candidate for sacral neuromodulation is to speak to a provider at Urological Associates. A urinary incontinence specialist offers the most reliable insight on the right treatment for your condition.
Your team member first reviews your medical history and current symptoms to determine if you’re a candidate for sacral neuromodulation. This type of treatment is not effective for all types of urinary incontinence.
The best candidates have one of two types of incontinence: (1) overactive bladder (urgency incontinence), or (2) urinary retention problems which cause an inability to empty the bladder fully or at all.
You may be a candidate for either InterStim or Axonics sacral neuromodulation if you have one of those two types of incontinence and your symptoms haven’t responded to more conservative therapies.
If you’re struggling with stress incontinence or another urinary condition, other treatment options are available to help.
If your Urological Associates provider determines you’re not a candidate for sacral neuromodulation, we offer other effective treatments for incontinence. We personalize treatment recommendations to address your specific needs.
Treatment plans for urinary incontinence may include one or more of the following therapies:
Surgical intervention may be required if other treatments don’t alleviate your symptoms. The team at Urological Associates is committed to helping you regain control of your bladder and your life with the right treatment modalities for your case.
Don’t wait to reclaim control of your bladder. Schedule a consultation at Urological Associates in Charlottesville, Virginia, and find out which incontinence treatment is right for you.
