Nerve Stimulation To Treat Urinary Incontinence
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Many people have heard of pacemakers and how they can be used to treat heart conditions. But did you know a similar implantable device is available to treat urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence, or the loss of bladder control, is common. One of the most common types is urge incontinence, which is distinguished by a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. About 17% of women and 3% to 11% of men experience urge incontinence at some point in their lives.
Symptoms of incontinence can cause people to feel socially isolated, experience sexual inhibition, or become afraid to make social or travel plans. Careers and personal relationships are often affected.
Fortunately, many treatment options can help, including sacral neuromodulation.
How Big Is The Device
Medical technology has made significant advances in recent years, and implantable medical devices have gotten smaller. The current device, which is about the size of a thumbnail drive, is smaller than most pacemakers. A new version is available that has a rechargeable battery that lasts about 15 years. These devices also are MRI-safe so you can have scans of your hips, back or legs in the future, if needed.
Is This The Right Urology Surgery For You
What is a male sling procedure? It can be simplified as follows: a tape that is similar to mesh in consistency and texture is placed in a problem area of the urethra. This action allows for the urethra to move into a new place, a new place that grants the patient control over their bladder once again. If it seems straightforward, its because it is.
A male sling procedure typically takes roughly 90 minutes to complete, and it is recommended that about 60 days be taken to fully recover with no strenuous activities like weightlifting occurring during that time period. The success rate for this procedure is said to range between 70-80%. Be sure to maximize the chances of success by going to a urology clinic that specializes in all types of male urology surgery.
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Surgical Treatment Options For Men With Sui
Before considering surgery, a full assessment of stress incontinence should be made to determine an individuals suitability for surgery and make a recommendation regarding type of surgery. Such assessment may include:
Overall the artificial urinary sphincter is regarded as the gold standard treatment for severe male stress urinary incontinence occurring after radical prostatectomy surgery. Slings, injectable agents and other devices are better suited to men experiencing mild to moderate stress incontinence.
What Was The Male Sling Developed For
The bladder sling procedure in males was developed as a surgical treatment for certain types of urinary incontinence. This surgery works in males who suffer from bothersome but not severe symptoms.
These patients usually have mild or moderate incontinence problems. It mainly works successfully in cases of sphincter deficiency. In other words, when the ring-like muscle that keeps the urine in the bladder is no longer working as it should.
These patients typically have stress urinary incontinence and small leaks of urine. Instead of fixing the sphincter muscle, the male sling procedure is a type of extra source of grip. It is placed near the weak area, slightly lifting the urethra and providing support.
It does have a mechanical effect by pressing on the site against the bladder. Thus, it contributes to the urethra sphincter to keep the urine inside the bladder. As such, it is an appropriate measure for cases when the sphincter is the source of the incontinence problem .
It is not developed and not appropriate for:
- Patients with severe symptoms of incontinence
- Patients with vesicoureteral reflux and other conditions that may compromise the kidney function
- People with a compromise in the bladder neck or urethral tissue.
- Patients with an ongoing urinary tract infection
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Insertion Of An Artificial Urinary Sphincter
This is the preferred treatment for moderate to severe urinary incontinence caused by sphincter failure. This type of incontinence generally occurs in men who undergo surgery where a lesion of the sphincter occurs or in women also with severe lesions of the sphincter. Insertion of an artificial sphincter must be done at least six months to a year after surgery and if the conservative measures adopted are ineffective.
In this procedure, a circumferential device with an inflatable cuff is inserted. This cuff is placed around the urethra and compresses it.
The patient themself activates the device every time they want to urinate ensuring continence whenever they are not urinating.
Urination occurs when a device placed in the scrotum is activated. This moves the liquid inside the cuff away from this location, automatically opening the calibre of the urethra while the patient urinates. Little by little, the liquid returns to the cuff, reclosing the urethra and ensuring continence.
It is intended for more severe cases of incontinence with a high volume of leakage or even constant/continual leakage in which the patient sometimes cannot even fill the bladder and has regular, very frequent or even continual losses.
Caring For The Device
Pessaries can fall out if you strain. If you can, try not to bear down during bowel movements. If the pessary does fall out, you can reinsert it after you clean it.
Many women find insertion easier when they are standing up with one foot resting on a stool. Its important to use plenty of water-based lubricant for insertion.
If you arent comfortable removing and reinserting your own pessary, your doctor will set up follow-up visits for you to come and it done in the office. Frequency of visits can range from monthly to every three months, depending on your needs.
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What Will I Experience During The Recovery Process
Every patient is different, but most men expect a quick recovery time. A majority of our patients resume normal activities 1-2 weeks after the procedure and full activity can be resumed in 6 weeks. Complications are rare, but they include pain and inflammation, urinary retention, urethral or tissue damage and bleeding and irritation at the site of the wound.
Supervised Pelvic Floor Training
I realize that this article is about self-help measures to stop stress incontinence, but understanding the differences between supervised and unsupervised pelvic floor strengthening is necessary for two reasons. First, supervised training is the widely accepted recommended approach so I would be doing a disservice not to mention it. Second, supervised training has been shown to be the more effective approach so if doing these exercises on your own fails to significantly improve your symptoms, all is not lost.
In contrast to unsupervised pelvic floor muscle training, training supervised by a pelvic health physiotherapist offers:
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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:
Stop The Leak: New Procedure Could Help Women With Incontinence
Ivanhoe Newswire
An estimated 15 million women in the U.S. deal with stress urinary incontinence, an accidental leak of urine after pressure on the bladder from movement, a cough or a sneeze. A new procedure being used in the United States could help these women get the help they need.
Playing pat-a-cake wasnt as easy as pie for Nicole Murphy. In fact, doing anything with her daughter was daunting.
Very embarrassing and terrifying, Murphy said.
Murphy had stress urinary incontinence. She couldnt do much without leaking.
So I went from carrying a change of clothes for my daughter to carrying a change of clothes for me, Murphy said.
Stress urinary incontinence is caused by weakness in the pelvic floor. About one in three women have it at some point in their lives. Childbirth is the main cause.
What happens is the urethra loses support that it used to have and so women will leak typically starting with coughing and sneezing, lifting, laughing, jumping that kind of activity, Dr. Ravi Bukkapatnam, a urologist at Tampa General Hospital explained.
Ravi used Bulkamid to put a stop to her problem. The Bulkamid bulking agent is injected into the urethral wall.
Its a clear gel that is easily injected and can take shape and can really bolster the urethra. People have been trying to fix stress incontinence for the last 30 plus 40 years, Ravi said.
Bulkamid has finally fixed Murphys problem.
Enjoying playtime without worry.
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What Happens After The Male Sling Procedure
Following your surgery, you may have a catheter exiting from the urethra for a short period of time. The catheter is in place to allow you to empty your bladder since there may be swelling after surgery that makes it difficult to urinate. After the swelling goes down, you will gradually be able to urinate on your own and empty your bladder well. However, your normal pattern of urination may not return for a few weeks. You can resume a normal diet after surgery.
What Does The Procedure Involve
The male sling is a treatment for male stress urinary incontinence. It involves placement of a synthetic sling that supports the waterpipe . The procedure will involve a cystoscopic examination of the urethra and bladder and an incision in the area behind the scrotum , with two further small cuts in the groin crease.
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Should You Have Surgery
If your symptoms are making your life difficult, surgery may be the answer. You need to think about a few things:
Your age. If youâre young, keep in mind that bladder prolapse can happen again. Even if you have surgery now, you may end up needing another operation down the road. If youâre older, any other health issues you have may affect your decision.
Your plans about having children. If you want more children, itâs best to hold off on surgery until you decide your family is complete.
Your general health. Surgery has some risks, such as infection, blood clots, or problems with the anesthetic. If you have a heart condition, diabetes, or breathing difficulties, any of these things could make an operation riskier. So could smoking or obesity.
Also, talk with your doctor about the chances that surgery could cause new problems. You might develop urinary incontinenceâ urine leaking out without your control. Sex might become uncomfortable, and you might feel pain in your pelvis.
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How Are Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures Performed
The most commonly used and effective treatments for urinary incontinence, both male and female, imply a small procedure. These are more effective and definitive than non-invasive techniques. For each specific patient, the pros and cons of each type of treatment have to be considered. These procedures use anaesthetic, but patients are usually discharged from hospital on the same or next day.
Surgical procedures and the way they are performed depend on the technique chosen. Some are performed endoscopically, such as bulking injections, while others involve making a small incision in the skin.
The most common treatments are the following:
- Bulking injections
- Insertion of inflatable or non-inflatable suburethral slings
- Artificial urinary sphincter.
Some surgeries, such as the insertion of an artificial sphincter, may be recommended for some patients, e.g., when changes to cognitive or motor capacity exist
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Ravi used Bulkamid to put a stop to her problem. The Bulkamid bulking agent is injected into the urethral wall.
Its a clear gel that is easily injected and can take shape and can really bolster the urethra. People have been trying to fix stress incontinence for the last 30 plus 40 years, said Ravi.
Bulkamid has finally fixed Nicole Murphys problem.
I am ecstatic. I love my new urethra. I love the fact that I can be active with my daughter, Murphy said with a smile.
Enjoying playtime without worry.
Doctors say there are minimal if any, side effects compared to sling surgery for urinary incontinence. Bulkamid was approved by the FDA in December.
Contributors to this news report include: Emily Gleason, Executive Producer Chris Tilley, Videographer Roque Correa, Editor.
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Benefits And Side Effects Of Using A Pessary
Most women find they are able to successfully use a pessary for two years or more without requiring surgery for their condition.
There are sometimes mild side effects from pessary use, such as vaginal irritation, foul-smelling discharge, and urinary tract infections. However, because the pessary is removable, any side effects experienced can usually be corrected quickly.
Its possible to have intercourse with a ring pessary in place, though most women prefer removing it for sexual activity.
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What Should You Ask Your Surgeon
Talk with your surgeon before you agree to have surgery. Make a list of questions that you want to ask. You might ask:
- Why this type of surgery has been chosen for you? How well it will work?About the details of the surgery.
- What is your best option if you have not yet completed your family?
- What are the risks?
Why The Procedure Is Performed
Implants can help both men and women.
Men who have urine leakage after prostate surgery may choose to have implants.
Women who have urine leakage and want a simple procedure to control the problem may choose to have an implant procedure. These women may not want to have surgery that requires general anesthesia or a long recovery surgery.
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Surgery For Female Urinary Incontinence
If behavior modification and pelvic floor exercises dont resolve the symptoms of stress incontinence or are not the preferred primary option for these symptoms, your doctor at NYU Langones Center for Female Pelvic Medicine may recommend surgery, which can cure the condition in most women. There are two main categories of surgery, and the kind thats right for you depends on the type of incontinence and the severity of your symptoms.
If stress incontinence is so severe that its interfering with your daily life, you may be a good candidate for a surgical treatment. Doctors encourage women to put off surgery until after they are done having children, because additional pregnancies can cause urinary incontinence to return.
Control Your Urge To Urinate
You may be able to control, or suppress, the strong urge to urinate, which is called urge or urgency suppression. With this type of bladder training, you can worry less about finding a bathroom in a hurry. Some people distract themselves to take their minds off needing to urinate. Other people find that long, relaxing breaths or holding still can help. Doing pelvic floor exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor also can help control the urge to urinate. Quick, strong squeezes of the pelvic floor muscles can help suppress urgency when it occurs, which may help you get to the toilet before you leak.
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Peeing when you dont want to can make life stressful. If you pee when you cough, exercise or laugh, or find yourself urgently needing to go to the toilet and not getting there in time, it can be difficult to talk about and cope with, and you may find it embarrassing.
Thankfully, however, there are various things that can help. In some cases, if you and your doctor have already tried non-surgical treatments , or your doctor identifies that your condition needs a different type of help, you may need surgery or a medical procedure.
So read on to learn about surgical treatments and procedures for some of the common types of urinary incontinence, including stress, urge and overflow incontinence.
Begin By Talking To Your Doctor
What should you do if youre experiencing bladder problems? First, speak up. People often dont bring up issues of incontinence with their clinical providers, either due to embarrassment or because they feel there are no available options that can helpor that surgery may be the only option, says Tomas Griebling, M.D., professor of urology and senior associate dean for medical education at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. But the symptoms can almost always be eased, Hochman says.
So start by working with a general practitioner, who can determine whether there may be an underlying cause for your symptoms. Urgency, incontinence, and urinary frequency can be caused by urinary tract infections or kidney stonesor, in men, a prostate infection or prostate enlargement. Medication you take to treat other conditions, such as anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, insomnia, and pain, can also lead to bladder leaks.
Your doctor might ask you to keep a diary of how often you urinate, when you have leaks, and how much liquid you consume. That will help define the problem and pinpoint the triggers.
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