Interstim Therapy For Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence affects over 25 million Americans. A number of causes exist: injury or trauma to the pelvic region or back, enlarged prostate or prostate cancer, pregnancy or childbirth, neurological disorders, estrogen loss following menopause, other health conditions like multiple sclerosis or suffering a stroke.
Take our Urinary Incontinence Self-Assessment
How Often Should I Use Innovo After Ive Completed The 12 Week Treatment Plan
One of the big advantages of using INNOVO is that your awareness of your pelvic floor increases. Maintaining a healthy pelvic floor after the therapy is completed depends on the individual and their specific condition and improvement rate. As a general guide, we recommend you reduce the use of INNOVO from five days a week to 1-2 times a week. This will ensure that the results achieved will be sustained.
A Urinary Incontinence Device To Prevent Bladder Leaks
In partnership with our friends at INNOVO
As a clinician and a researcher, Ruth Maher, DPT, PhD, has extensive experience with physical therapy for the pelvic floor to treat pain and incontinence and to support sexual health. One in three women experiences stress urinary incontinence , urine leaks caused by exertion or coughing. Exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor are an essential part of treatment however, Maher has found that many women are unable to contract the correct muscles. Often they are unaware that this is the case. Women would say they felt a contraction, but using ultrasound imaging, I could see that either there was no contraction of the pelvic floor muscles or other muscles, such as the glutes, were recruited, says Maher.
Maher saw the need for a therapy that could reliably stimulate contraction of the pelvic floor muscles to treat SUI, and she developed a prototype that delivered comfortable electrical stimulation through the skin rather than through the standard vaginal probe. This technology was the basis for INNOVO, a wearable device designed to quickly engage and strengthen pelvic floor muscles. INNOVO is FDA-cleared for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence in the US. About womens reactions to the device, Maher says: They love it.
Read Also: What Can Cause Urinary Retention
Read Also: Signs Of Bladder Infection In Toddler Girl
Washable Pads And Pants
Although there is an initial out cost with washable incontinence products, they are more cost effective over time. Some people also prefer the absorbency of terry towels especially at night as it can contain quite a large volume. There is also less skin irritation involved. The downside is products designed for anything more than light leakage tend to be very bulky and not discreet.
- Washable Liners these are less commonly used than disposable liners as they tend to not be as effective. They are better suited to those who have control but want the reassurance of a pad
- Washable Pants these look exactly like everyday underwear but have an absorbent pad in the gusset area. Some women wear these in conjunction with a disposable pad for extra protection
- Washable All-In-Ones are usually made of terry towelling combine with a plastic pant to go over the top to avoid liquid seeping through. These are better for those with heavy bladder leakage. They are quite bulky though and folding and pinning the towelling into the correct shape can be quite fiddly
Whats The Difference Between Innovo And Other Incontinence Solutions
INNOVO treats the cause not just the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence. While other solutions, like pads, liners and absorbable underwear, help to mask the problem, INNOVO delivers effective, gentle pulses that help strengthen and re-train your pelvic floor. The key difference between INNOVO and other pelvic floor devices is that INNOVO is truly non-invasive, meaning you dont need to insert a probe or cone to deliver effective pelvic floor muscle contractions. Plus, its FDA cleared, completely safe and has been used successfully over 5 million sessions.
Recommended Reading: Non Invasive Muscle Bladder Cancer
How To Stop Bladder Leakage
Bladder control issues refer to the unwilling release of urine. While poor bladder control doesnt cause any major health issues, it can lead to some pretty embarrassing moments. Leakage can occur due to an overactive bladder or urinary incontinence.
The good news is that this condition is almost always treatable, and is most definitely not a necessary consequence of aging, childbirth, or an unavoidable part of being a woman.
Consult Your Healthcare Provider Before Using The Device If:
- You have any serious illness or injury not mentioned in this guide.
- You have an underlying neurological condition .
- You have a tendency to hemorrhage, following acute trauma or fracture.
- You take insulin for diabetes.
- You suffer from muscle or joint problems, including pelvic pain or a paravaginal defect.
- You suffer with suspected or diagnosed heart disease.
- You underwent a recent surgical procedure and where muscle contraction may disrupt the healing process.
- You have any doubt about using the device.
This is brilliant! It is so not invasive, so simple and so comfortable. Ive tried so many things over the last 15 years. This was the easiest, yet the most productive. I truly love your product.
Lori
Read Also: Does Beer Help Bladder Infections
Interstim Implants For Urinary Or Bowel Incontinence
Incontinence is often the result of a miscommunication between the brain and the bladder and/or bowels. InterStim therapy, a type of sacral neuromodulation or sacral nerve stimulation therapy, works to re-establish this very important communication channel. Incontinence Institute offers three implanted sacral neuromodulation devices:
How Urinary Incontinence Is Treated
Initially, your GP may suggest some simple measures to see if they help improve your symptoms. These may include:
- lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and cutting down on caffeine and alcohol
- pelvic floor exercises taught by a specialist
- bladder training guided by a specialist
You may also benefit from the use of incontinence products, such as absorbent pads and hand-held urinals .
If you are still unable to manage your symptoms, medication may be recommended.
Surgery may also be considered. The specific procedures suitable for you will depend on the type of incontinence you have.
Surgical treatments for stress incontinence, such as tape or sling procedures, are used to reduce pressure on the bladder, or strengthen the muscles that control urination.
Operations to treat urge incontinence include enlarging the bladder or implanting a device that stimulates the nerve that controls the detrusor muscles.
Read more about non-surgical treatments for urinary incontinence and surgery and procedures for urinary incontinence
You May Like: Azo Bladder Control Customer Reviews
How Is Urinary Incontinence Diagnosed
Your doctor will ask about what and how much you drink. He or she will also ask how often and how much you urinate and leak. It may help to keep track of these things using a bladder diary for 3 or 4 days before you see your doctor.
Your doctor will examine you and may do some simple tests to look for the cause of your bladder control problem. If your doctor thinks it may be caused by more than one problem, you will likely have more tests.
The main symptom of urinary incontinence is a problem controlling urination.
- Symptoms of stress incontinence:
- Involuntary release of urine, especially when you cough, sneeze, or laugh
- Leaking a small to moderate amount of urine
It is common for a woman to have symptoms of both types of incontinence. This is called mixed incontinence.
Appendix 1 Search Strategies For Literature Searches
The Incontinence Group Specialised Register was searched using the Group’s own keyword system, with the following search terms:
AND. The date of the most recent search of the Register for this review was: 21 August 2014.
Extra searches for this review were run by the Trials Search Coordinator, details are given below:
EMBASE on OvidSP . Search date: 26 August 2014. The search strategy used is given below.
1. Randomized Controlled Trial/
9. crossover procedure/ or double blind procedure/ or parallel design/ or single blind procedure/
10. Placebo/
15. family study/ or feasibility study/ or pilot study/ or study/
16. placebo$.tw.
19. adj25 ).tw.
20. factorial.tw.
35. incontinence/ or mixed incontinence/ or stress incontinence/ or urge incontinence/ or urine incontinence/
36. continence/
37. overactive bladder/
38. micturition disorder/ or lower urinary tract symptom/ or pollakisuria/
39. urinary dysfunction/ or bladder instability/ or detrusor dyssynergia/ or neurogenic bladder/ or urinary urgency/ or urine extravasation/
40. .tw.
41. adj5 ).tw.
42. .tw.
43. adj2 ).tw.
44. ).tw.
45. .tw.
46. 35 or 36 or 37 or 38 or 39 or 40 or 41 or 42 or 43 or 44 or 45
47. 34 and 46
49. incontinence dish pessary/
50. mechanical device$.tw.
51. adj25 ).tw.
52. .tw.
54. ).tw.
55. adj25 ).tw.
56. .tw.
57. adj25 ).tw.
58. or/4857
59. 58 and 47
CINAHL on EBSCO . Search date: 26 August 2014. The search strategy used is given below.
New search for studies and content updated
Also Check: Can I Treat A Bladder Infection Without Antibiotics
Pelvic Floor Muscle Training
Your pelvic floor muscles surround the bladder and urethra and control the flow of urine as you pee.
Weak or damaged pelvic floor muscles can cause urinary incontinence, so exercising these muscles is often recommended.
A GP may refer you to a specialist to start a programme of pelvic floor muscle training.
The specialist will assess whether you’re able to squeeze your pelvic floor muscles and by how much.
If you can contract your pelvic floor muscles, you’ll be given an exercise programme based on your assessment.
Your programme should include a minimum of 8 muscle contractions at least 3 times a day and last for at least 3 months. If the exercises are helping after this time, you can keep on doing them.
Research has shown that pelvic floor muscle training can benefit everyone with urinary incontinence.
Find out more about pelvic floor exercises.
Criteria For Considering Studies For This Review
Types of studies
All randomised or quasirandomised controlled trials of mechanical devices in the management of adult female urinary incontinence.
Types of participants
All adult women with urinary incontinence diagnosed as having stress, urgency or other incontinence either by symptom classification or by urodynamic diagnosis, as defined by the trialists.
Types of interventions
Interventions using mechanical devices designed to control urinary leakage by being inserted:
-
within the urethra or
-
applied to the external surface of the urethra.
Standard urethral catheters and simple collecting devices were excluded from the definition of mechanical device because their main roles are diversion and hygienic collection of the urinary stream rather than to control incontinence. Vaginal cones and electrical stimulation devices were also excluded as they have been evaluated in separate Cochrane reviews .
Types of outcome measures
Purely clinical assessments were accepted since the value of these devices may be more obvious within a lowtech community environment. The primary outcomes were improvement in patient symptoms, health status and quality of life.
Patient symptoms 3. Number requiring alternative management.4. Frequency of daytime micturition ).5. Frequency of nocturia .6. Incontinence episodes in 24 hours .7. Pad changes over 24 hours .
Objective clinical measures8. Formal pad weighing tests .9. Differences in the results of urodynamic tests .
Read Also: Can Fibroids Cause Pressure On The Bladder
Medications For Overactive Bladder
Drugs used to treat OAB block the abnormal contractions of the bladder muscle and can therefore also help ease the symptoms of urge urinary incontinence in both men and women. Youll find a list of OAB medications available in Canada on page 20. Generally speaking, these drugs fall into three categories:
Anticholinergics
Anticholinergic medications block the action of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that tells the muscles of the bladder wall to contract. Unfortunately, acetylcholine acts in other parts of the body as well, so medications that block it can cause unwanted side effects like dry mouth, blurred vision, impaired cognition and constipation. New extended or prolonged release versions of anticholinergic medications reduce the incidence of side effects and improve compliance because they only need to be taken once a day to produce a steady absorption rate and constant blood levels of the drug.
Meet Elitone Fda Medical Device For Stress Urinary Incontinence
I was thrilled when I learned that there was a comfortable, easy to use device that allows you o take control of this sensitive health issue in the comfort of your own home. This device doesnt require a prescription so you dont have to worry about an uncomfortable conversation/ // with your doctor about urinary incontinence. Elitone is the first FDA cleared medical device to relieve mild to moderate symptoms of urinary incontinence. Left untreated, urinary incontinence can become debilitating.
Elitone GelPads can be used 2 to 3 times if they are carefully placed back into the sealable pouch before they need to be replaced. Simply replace the gel pad if you notice that it isnt sticking to the skin properly or you no longer feel the same intensity of contractions during the previous session. About 50% of the women who have used Elitone reported that they had to shave for it to work properly.
Recommended Reading: How Does Kidney Failure Affect The Urinary System
You May Like: Best Supplements For Bladder Health
Risk Of Bias In Included Studies
All included studies were assessed separately for risk of bias . A summary of those assessments is represented by Figure 2 and Figure 3.
Risk of bias summary: review authors’ judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.
Randomisation
All included studies were randomised trials and details of randomisation were clear in two trials . In three trials, the women were randomly allocated by blocked randomisation . In another trial, randomisation was carried out using a randomisation card . Sealed envelopes were used in the Glavind trial .
The randomisation method in one study was deemed high risk as participants were allocated to groups alternately .
Blinding to intervention
In trials which involved using a mechanical device, blinding can be difficult if not impossible. Only two trials confirmed that participants or outcome assessors were blinded.
Withdrawal
The number of withdrawals were reported in all except one trial and all of these stated the reasons for withdrawal . There were no withdrawals in one trial .
Potential Biases In The Review Process
We attempted to minimise bias by the following two review authors separately assessed eligibility for inclusionand risk of bias and extracted data. Data entry into RevMan was undertaken by one author and checked by the other. These steps involve subjective assessment and may carry some risk of bias.
Don’t Miss: What Vitamins Are Good For Bladder Health
Will Sacral Neurostimulation Change My Digestive Habits
No. Sacral neuromodulation will not change your digestive habits or your digestive system. This treatment stimulates the sacral third nerve, which controls sensation of the bladder and bowel walls. It will not impact your digestive system at all.
You don’t just have to live with urinary incontinence symptoms. There are many treatment options available so talk with your primary care provider or OB-GYN about your symptoms.
Watch this video to learn more about urinary incontinence treatments including sacral neuromodulation therapy:
What Are The Treatment Options For Leaking Urine
Here’s some really great news: “Most patients can be cured or really well-managed with treatment,” says Dr. Sheyn. “The most common thing I hear from patients is, ‘I wish I would have done this sooner.'”
There are a lot of ways to treat leaking urine, but the best option for you will depend on which type of incontinence you have, how intrusive your symptoms are, what your treatment goals are, what your insurance covers, and whether you are interested in invasive or noninvasive treatment. Practical matters like time commitment and access to medical providers will also play a factor.
Here are some general treatment categories your doctor may discuss with you:
If treatment doesn’t work, the Mayo Clinic points out that you can take measures to “ease the discomfort and inconvenience of leaking urine,” including wearing pads and protective garments to collect any leakage or using a catheter to drain your bladder.
Read Also: Malignant Neoplasm Of Overlapping Sites Of Bladder
Stop Bladder Leaks: Get Your Life Back With This Doctor
A leaky bladder can put a damper on life. The never-ending cycle of bathroom breaks tempts you to hold back from enjoying a full-bellied laugh with your friends or an intense group workout at the gym. Youre not alonebladder control problems are common in womenbut you shouldnt have to limit your life like this. And the good news is, you dont have to urinary incontinence is a treatable condition.
My Virtual Physicians team of Las Vegas gynecologists wants to help provide the solution to your leaky bladder situation. In this blog, well cover the basics of stress incontinence, its causes, and provide our recommended remedy.
What Causes Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is not an inevitable result of aging, but it is particularly common in older people. It is often caused by specific changes in body function that may result from diseases, use of medications and/or the onset of an illness. Sometimes it is the first and only symptom of a urinary tract infection. Women are most likely to develop urinary incontinence during pregnancy and after childbirth, or after the hormonal changes of menopause.
Recommended Reading: What Is A Bladder Doctor Called
Ways To Stop Bladder Leakage
Fortunately, this is a treatable condition, and lifestyle changes play a key role in helping to alleviate symptoms. Here are the ten most effective strategies for stopping bladder leaks.
1. Pelvic Floor Exercises
Bladder leakage is often the result of weak pelvic floor muscles, which can be strengthened. Kegel exercises are the most widely known technique for strengthening these muscles. Pelvic floor muscles support not only the bladder but also the uterus, small intestine, and rectum.
These exercises can be practiced even during pregnancy and after childbirth to prevent incontinence. Results can be seen after a few weeks, but for best results, they should be part of your daily routine. Pelvic floor exercises can be done anytime, anywhere: while sitting at the office without anyone noticing, as well as lying down and standing.
2. Electrical Stimulation
Many individuals have trouble sensing their pelvic muscles, and they mistakenly activate their abdominals and gluteus instead.
This therapy can be done at a doctors office, but also in the comfort of your own home thanks to home versions of these machines, offering a range of different strengths and time intervals.
3. Increase fiber intake
This dietary ingredient resolves constipation, which is one of the triggers of urinary incontinence. Fiber is found in:
- Whole-grain products
- Peas, lentils and other beans
4. Avoid Irritants
5. Maintain Healthy Vitamin D and Magnesium Levels
6. Stop Smoking