[Doctor Perspective]

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[Patient Perspective]

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting,

Incontinence can be an uncomfortable word.

Incontinence can be an uncomfortable word. For many people, it’s embarrassing to even say. For others, it’s something they simply refuse to admit that they have. “I just pee a little when I laugh,” they say, or “sure, I have a few bladder leaks, but it’s just because I’m getting older.” But what they’re describing isn’t just “the way life goes.” What they’re describing is incontinence, and it’s anything but normal. If you’re experiencing symptoms like these or other symptoms detailed on this site, your body is telling you that something is out of order.

Quick Look

Treatment Options

Prescription Drugs

When lifestyle changes aren’t enough, the next step may be to take medicine. Your health care provider can tell you about special drugs for OAB.

There are several types that can relax the bladder muscle. These drugs (for example: Anti-muscarenics and Beta-3 agonists) can help stop your bladder from squeezing when it’s not full. Some are taken as pills, by mouth. Others are gels or a sticky patch to give you the drug through your skin.

Your health care provider will want to know if the medicine works for you. They will check to see if you get relief or if the drug causes problems, known as “side-effects”. Some people get dry mouth and dry eyes, constipation, or blurred vision.

To help relieve symptoms, your health care provider may ask you to take different amounts of the drug. Or, give you a different one to try. You may be asked to make lifestyle changes and take medicine at the same time for better results.

Injections

If lifestyle changes and medicine aren’t working, there are other options. A trained urologist or FPMRS specialist can help. They may offer bladder injections (shots) of Botox® (botulinum toxin).

Small amounts of Botox® can stop the bladder muscles from squeezing too much. Many tiny injections are used. It gently paralyzes the muscles. Additional treatments are given when this treatment wears off, anywhere from six to twelve months later. Your doctor will watch how you’re doing to make sure you aren’t retaining (holding in) too much urine. If urine is not draining well, you may need to catheterize temporarily.

Nerve Stimulation (Neuromodulation Therapy)

Another treatment for people who need extra help is nerve stimulation, also called neuromodulation [pronounced: NER-oh-mahd-yoo-LAY-shun] therapy.

This type of treatment sends electrical pulses to nerves in your bladder. In OAB, the nerve signals between your bladder and brain don’t work the right way. These electrical pulses interrupt the nerve signals, set them right, and improve OAB symptoms.

There are two types:

  • Sacral neuromodulation (SNS)
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases,
    National Institutes of HealthSacral neuromodulation (SNS) changes how the sacral nerve works. This nerve carries signals between the spinal cord and the bladder. Its job is to help hold and release urine. In OAB, these nerve signals aren’t doing what they should. SNS uses a “bladder pacemaker” to control these signals to stop OAB symptoms. SNS is a two-step surgical process. The first step is to implant an electrical wire under the skin in your lower back. This wire is first connected to a handheld “pacemaker” to send pulses to the sacral nerve. You and your doctor will test whether or not this pacemaker can help you. If it helps, the second step is to implant a permanent pacemaker that can regulate the nerve rhythm.

  • Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS)
    Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is another way to correct the nerves in your bladder. For this type of nerve stimulation you will not have to have surgery. PTNS is performed during an office visit that takes about 30 minutes. PTNS is done by placing a small electrode in your lower leg near your ankle. It sends pulses to the tibial nerve. The tibial nerve runs along your knee to the sacral nerves in your lower back. The pulses help control the signals that aren’t working right. Often, patients receive 12 treatments, depending on how it’s working. [This therapy is pronounced: PER-cyoo-TAY-nee-uhs TI-bee-ahl NERV STIM-yoo-LAY-shun.]