Start The JOURNEY TO RELIEF

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

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

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.

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. 

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.

PERCUTANEOUS TIBIAL NEUROMODULATION

This form of neuromodulation is used to treat overactive bladder, via the tibial nerve.

INJECTED MEDICATIONS

Intradetrusor Onabotulinumtoxina: this injection to the bladder muscle can temporarily relax contractions.