Urology Specialists of Georgia partners with Medtronic to provide our patients with the InterStim® System, the very best technology for treating Refractory Overactive Bladder. We have been nominated as a Center of Excellence by Medtronic for InterStim placement. Dr. Casey and Dr. Geary have been doing InterStim in various forms for the last ten years. In the last two years, they have developed a process that has led to above average success rates with InterStim placement, prompting Medtronic to note their experience as unmatched in the region.

What is Medtronic Bladder Control Therapy?

Medtronic Bladder Control Therapy (Sacral Neuromodulation delivered by the InterStim System) uses an implantable device to send mild electrical pulses to the sacral nerves, located near the tailbone. The sacral nerves control the bladder and muscles related to urination. If the brain and sacral nerves are miscommunicating, the nerves can’t tell the bladder to function properly.

The mild electrical pulses from Medtronic Bladder Control Therapy regulate the sacral nerves. This helps the brain and the nerves to communicate so the bladder and related muscles can function properly.

Medtronic Bladder Control Therapy is an option for managing the symptoms of overactive bladder for people who tried other treatments such as medications and behavioral therapy, and those treatments have not worked or were not well tolerated.

What Does the InterStim Process Look Like?

InterStim, also called Sacral Neural Modulation, is a procedure in which a tiny electrode is placed temporarily alongside your sacral nerve. The procedure is performed in the hospital or at the Surgery Center at our North Macon office without anesthesia in a quick manner with very little discomfort. After the temporary device is placed, you test the device at home for three to five days and record your progress. At the end of the trial, your temporary device is removed in the office. On the same sheet of paper, you can continue to track your progress. When you see the doctor, you will go over your record together and discuss the next step. If the trial was successful, then your doctor will discuss putting in a permanent device and ‘pacemaker’ under your skin where your improvement will hopefully be maintained permanently.