Couple with backpacks walking on the beach with a hill in the background

Start The JOURNEY TO RELIEF

Bladder control problems affect millions of people in Australia. There are many options for relief to discuss with a doctor. Visualise the journey with the Bladder Care Pathway, to help understand all of the treatment options available to regain control of life.

DOWNLOAD THE BLADDER CARE PATHWAY

Refer to technical manual and Instruction for Use (IFU) for complete list of indications, contraindications, warnings and precautions.

Step 1: Diagnosis

"What is happening to me?"

If experiencing symptoms of bladder control problems, it’s time to meet with a bladder control specialist. a doctor may ask for a symptom diary to be filled out to get a better idea of the daily experience and confirm diagnosis.

SYMPTOMS OF OVERACTIVE BLADDER (OAB) INCLUDE:

Urge incontinence

Going before reaching the bathroom
Experiencing frequent leaks
Using pads or protective garments

Urgency-frequency

Frequent, uncontrollable urge to go
Going more than 8 times a day
Feeling like the bladder is never empty

SYMPTOMS OF URINARY RETENTION INCLUDE:

Can’t tell if the bladder is full
Holding increasingly large amounts of urine
Weak or dribbling stream
Needing to use a catheter

Step 2: Lifestyle Changes

"What to try first?"

Conservative treatments are relatively simple educational and behavioural therapies that your doctor may recommend:

Bladder training: behaviour therapies attempt to increase the duration of time between urination.
Pelvic Floor muscle training: exercises which increase the strength of the pelvic muscles to aid in bladder contol.
Fluid management: a system of scheduled fluid intake limits the amount of urine in the bladder and allows scheduled urination.
Weight loss: reduces the amount of fatty tissue that can press on the bladder.
Intermittent catheterisation: the use of catheters systematically empties the bladder.
Absorbant pads: wearing pads catches the involuntary release of urine.

Step 3: Oral Medications

"Are there medications for OAB?"

If lifestyle changes fail to deliver the desired results, a doctor may recommend oral medications as the next step to help control the bladder control symptoms.

These treatments involve prescription medications that work by targeting nerve signals to the bladder to help control muscle contractions, typically tested over a period of 4 to 8 weeks for a doctor to assess if the medications are suitable for the condition.

STEP 4: ADVANCED THERAPIES

"what if the medications didn't work?”

These treatments should be used in cases where lifestyle modifications and medication have failed and OAB symptoms have not improved. A specialist is needed to prescribe these advanced treatments, and can range from being minimally invasive to requiring surgery.

MEDTRONIC BLADDER CONTROL THERAPY DELIVERED BY THE INTERSTIM™ SYSTEM

When a prospective patient is ready to try an advanced approach, Medtronic Bladder Control Therapy delivered by the InterStim™ system can help. It targets the nerves that control the bowel to help it function normally again.

Try it during an evaluation
Clinically proven to stop or greatly reduce bladder accidents
Resources and support available

Implanting an InterStim™ system has risks similar to any surgical procedure, including swelling, bruising, bleeding, and infection. Talk with the doctor about ways to minimise these risks. Complications can occur with the evaluation, including movement of the wire, technical problems with the device, and some temporary pain. The doctor or nurse will provide you with the information regarding how to operate the test device, and inform you of other precautions related to the evaluation and activity restrictions.

Find out more