Step 2: Long-term InterStim Therapy
If your trial assessment is successful, you and your doctor can discuss long-term InterStim Therapy. InterStim Therapy is an FDA-approved treatment that has been shown to be safe and effective for people who have not had success with other treatments.
In a clinical study, doctors found that nearly half of patients with urge incontinence who received InterStim Therapy were completely dry after 6 months, and many others have experienced greatly reduced symptoms.1
How Does InterStim Therapy Work?
InterStim Therapy works with the sacral nerves, located near the tailbone. The sacral nerves control the bladder and muscles related to urinary function. If the brain and sacral nerves don’t communicate correctly, the nerves will not tell the bladder to function properly, which can cause bladder control problems. InterStim Therapy targets this communication problem by stimulating the nerves with mild electrical pulses.
How Is Long-term InterStim Therapy (step 2) Different from the Trial Assessment (step 1)?
The difference between the trial assessment and long-term InterStim Therapy is the type of neurostimulator used and its location. During the trial assessment, you wear a temporary, external neurostimulator on your waistband. In long-term InterStim Therapy, the long-term neurostimulator is placed under your skin during a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure, so the neurostimulator is internal rather than outside your body. You control the neurostimulator with an external patient programmer that works like a remote control to turn the stimulation up and down or on and off.
References
- Single-stage Implant Clinical Trial, Medtronic Clinical Summary for InterStim Therapy.
Next: Answers to Common Questions
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Watch How InterStim Therapy Works
InterStim Therapy
How It Works