InterStim Therapy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure which is performed as an outpatient. The procedure takes less than 30 minutes under “twilight anesthesia”. This therapy is highly effective in treating pelvic floor dysfunction including:
- Overactive Bladder
- Urge Urinary Incontinence
- Non-Obstructive Urinary Retention
- Bowel/Fecal Incontinence
These conditions often occur as the result of a miscommunication between the pelvic floor and the brain. InterStim Therapy consists of the doctor implanting a lead containing small electrodes next to the sacral nerve, which innervates the pelvic floor. The lead is then attached to a small, internal pulsegenerator (IPG) which is the slightly larger than the diameter of a quarter. The IPG sends a gentle electrical pulsation to the lead which essentially “wakes up” the sacral nerve and helps it better communicate with the brain. As a result, the communication between the brain and the pelvic floor is now improved, and appropriate pelvic floor function is restored. As such, the patient will receive relief from his or her symptoms and experience improved quality of life.
While the talk of “nerves” and “implants” may seem intimidating at first to some patients, this procedure is actually quite common and carries extremely low risk. It is the only restorative treatment available for pelvic floor dysfunction.
InterStim Therapy begins with an in-office test that the patient will undergo to determine if the therapy will actually be effective or not. Therefore, you will know if InterStim Therapy will work for you before you actually have surgery. Further, InterStim is fully reversible, meaning that if for some reason in the future you decide you no longer want to receive the therapy, the implant can be completely removed. Finally, InterStim is the most durable therapy for pelvic floor dysfunction, meaning that its therapeutic effect lasts longer than any other treatment available.
Dr. Scolieri is one of the most experienced physicians in the state with this therapy. If you would like to learn more about InterStim Therapy before your office visit at Comprehensive Urology Institute, you may visit www.everyday-freedom.com.