Fort Worth UrogynecologyUrogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
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Treatment

Sacral Neuromodulation

A simple, well-established therapy that helps restore normal nerve signals to the bladder or bowel — with a test period built in, so you know it's working before anything permanent is placed.

For overactive bladder For urgency leakage For urinary retention For bowel control

? What it actually is

Your bladder and bowel get their "go" signals from nerves in your lower back. Sometimes those signals get scrambled — kind of like a walkie-talkie with static. That's what causes sudden urges, leaks, trouble emptying, or trouble controlling your bowels.

Sacral neuromodulation fixes the static. We place a small device — about the size of a large coin — just under the skin in your lower back. It sends a soft, steady signal that helps those nerves talk to your bladder or bowel the right way again. Think of it like a pacemaker, but for your bladder instead of your heart.

Here's the best part: you try it before you commit to it. You're never guessing whether it'll work — you'll already know.

Not to be confused with PTNS (posterior tibial nerve stimulation) — a related but simpler in-office therapy using a small electrode near the ankle, with no implant involved. We offer both, and can help you figure out which fits your situation.

1 The trial — testing it first

A

A short outpatient procedure to place a temporary lead

We do this at the surgery center, using real-time X-ray guidance (fluoroscopy) to make sure the lead is placed exactly right. Most patients only need IV sedation for this — not general anesthesia.

B

A few days of testing, on your own schedule

You go home the same day with a small external device connected to the temporary lead. You keep a simple bladder diary during this trial period, just as you would have before the trial — so we can directly compare the two.

C

We review your diary together

You come back to the office a few days later and we go over it together. If your symptoms improved by at least half compared to before the trial, that's a strong sign this therapy works for you — and we move forward with the permanent device.

The whole point of the trial: you and your doctor make the decision together, based on real evidence from your own body — not a guess.

2 The permanent device

If the trial goes well, we place the permanent device in a second same-day outpatient procedure. This one is done under general anesthesia, so plan on taking it easy for about 24 hours afterward while it fully wears off.

The device we use has a battery built to last 10 to 20 years without ever needing to be recharged — a figure we've seen borne out in our own long-term patients, not just on paper — one less thing to manage, and comparable in size to other systems on the market.

It's also fully compatible with MRI scans anywhere in your body. Older systems limited patients to head-only scans, or ruled out MRI entirely — with the system we use now, that's never a concern.

Recovery: You can resume light activities almost right away. Plan to avoid heavy lifting and bending for several weeks afterward while everything settles into place.

3 Who this can help

Sacral neuromodulation is FDA-approved and well-established for several conditions we treat:

Overactive bladder

Urgency, frequency, and waking at night that hasn't responded to other treatments

Urgency incontinence

Leaking that comes with a sudden, hard-to-control urge to go

Urinary retention

Difficulty fully emptying your bladder

Bowel control

Accidental bowel leakage that hasn't improved with conservative measures

✓ Ready to talk it through?

Every patient's situation is a little different. Call the office and we'll help you understand whether this is a good fit for you.

Call (817) 923‑5559 Office hours Monday–Friday, 8:30am–5pm  ·  Complete your new patient form
(817) 923‑5559