Urinary Retention · Short answers
Can InterStim help urinary retention?
Yes, for some people. When the bladder doesn't empty because the nerve signals aren't working right, and not because of a blockage, InterStim may help restore more normal emptying.
The short answer
Yes, for some people. When the bladder doesn't empty because the nerve signals aren't working right, and not because of a blockage, InterStim may help restore more normal emptying.
A closer look
A trial comes first. It's often considered for people who rely on a catheter.
What you can do next
If you use a catheter and testing shows no blockage, ask whether InterStim fits.
How we talk about this in Johns Creek and Cumming
For people we see from Johns Creek, Duluth, Suwanee, Cumming and farther north in Forsyth, Dawson and Lumpkin counties, the clinical content is the same; the office you use is the one that fits the visit.
Where to read more
- Our page on this topic
- Johns Creek Clinic & Surgery Center
- Cumming Clinic
- Read this topic on learn.advancedurology.com
- Related page on advancedurology.com
Can InterStim help urinary retention?
Yes, for some people. When the bladder doesn't empty because the nerve signals aren't working right, and not because of a blockage, InterStim may help restore more normal emptying.
Can I discuss this at either office?
Yes. We see patients at the Johns Creek Clinic & Surgery Center and at the Cumming Clinic. Mention urinary retention when you book, and we will place the visit.
Book a visit with Advanced Urology today. Call 678-344-8900 or Book online.
What this visit looks like when retention is the question
At 10730 Medlock Bridge Rd, or at the Cumming Clinic, we will ask how long emptying has been difficult, whether you have needed a catheter, and which medicines you already take. A post-void residual and, sometimes, urodynamics or a cystoscopy help us see whether InterStim is even in the conversation.
How our urologists approach InterStim for retention
InterStim, on our nerve-stimulation page, is sacral-nerve stimulation, a small implanted system used for certain bladder-control problems, including, in selected people, urinary retention. It is not a first step for everyone who does not empty well. We will talk about a test stimulation, about living with a device, and about risks, and we will also look at other causes of retention before we recommend an implant.
When to call us, and who does this work here
Phone 678-344-8900 or book a visit if emptying has become unreliable or if a catheter has already been part of your year. If you suddenly cannot pass urine at all, go to a hospital emergency department. Dr. Neal Patel, who practices in Johns Creek and discusses bladder control in official videos elsewhere on this site, is one of the urologists who may see you; related reading includes our overactive-bladder page and the official InterStim video below.
An official video on InterStim and bladder control
This official Advanced Urology video covers how InterStim is used for overactive bladder. Retention is a related, more specific question, and we will tell you whether the same device family is reasonable in your case.
Watch: #003 - Rewiring Bladder Control: How InterStim Transforms Overactive BladderWhat the video covers. Titled "#003 - Rewiring Bladder Control: How InterStim Transforms Overactive Bladder." The public description covers overactive bladder disrupting daily life, and sacral neuromodulation, also known as InterStim, when medications and lifestyle changes have not provided relief.
Whenever a visit would help, the Johns Creek and Cumming teams are a phone call or a booked appointment away.