Overactive Bladder? This Nerve Stimulation Treatment May Help

Image of a person standing up making a pose like they need to use the restroom.

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a chronic condition where someone feels a strong, sudden urge to urinate that may cause leaking even if their bladder isn’t full. OAB is common, affecting 33 million adults in the US.

Normally, when your bladder is full, your brain sends signals that it is time to urinate. When you’re ready to go, the bladder muscle squeezes and moves the urine out through the urethra. There is a sphincter in the urethra that opens and allows the urine to flow out. When your bladder is not full, most people don’t have a strong urge to urinate, and their bladder is relaxed.

When your bladder is functioning normally, signals in your brain let you know your bladder is getting full, but you can wait to pass urine. When someone has OAB, they may not be able to wait to get to the bathroom. People with OAB feel a sudden, urgent need to go even when the bladder isn’t full.

OAB is a chronic condition, meaning, while it cannot be cured, it can be treated. The good news is there are many treatment options for OAB. We always want to try lifestyle and behavioral changes first to see if these are effective at managing symptoms. When these changes aren’t enough to help with symptoms, medications or minimally invasive therapies may be a good option.

What is Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS)?

Posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is one of many treatment options for OAB. PTNS is an in-office procedure where a very thin needle (about the size of an acupuncture needle) is placed near the ankle to stimulate the tibial nerve. Stimulating the tibial nerve causes stimulation of the nerves around the bladder that lead to the brain. This is how PTNS can lead to decreased urgency and frequency.

PTNS is a 30 minute in-office treatment. Treatments are completed once weekly for 12 weeks followed by once-a-month maintenance treatments.

PTNS Frequently Asked Questions

Is the procedure painful?

We anticipate a feeling of pulsing, tingling or a vibration sensation along the ankle or foot. Sometimes the toes will move with stimulation, but the procedure should never be painful! The stimulation is customized for each treatment to patient’s sensations and response.  

When will I start seeing results?

Studies show, overall, 60-80 percent of patients feel improvement in OAB symptoms with PTNS. Results are not usually immediate, and for many patients, they start to see improvement around six treatments. For some people, it may take the full 12 sessions to see improvement.

Is PTNS new?

PTNS has been around since the early 1980s.

How do I know if PTNS is the right treatment option for me?

There is no one treatment that is right for everyone. Many consider PTNS because medications have been ineffective, cause side effects or are unaffordable. A discussion with your health care provider is needed to decide if PTNS could be a good treatment option for you.

Ready to find relief? Talk to your primary care provider about your symptoms and ask for a referral to learn whether posterior tibial nerve stimulation may be right for you.

Austyn Otten, F.N.P.C., M.S.N., is a nurse practitioner at MyMichigan Urology in Midland.

Sources:

Taylor & Francis Online

The Journal of Urology (Online)