9th Jun, 2023
Urge incontinence, which is characterized by an uncontrollable and sudden urge to urinate, is a distressing condition that significantly impacts quality of life for millions of people around the world. Traditional treatment options for urge incontinence, which includes medications and behavioral therapies, may not deliver the results people hope for. But there is an alternative, and it's proving to offer the type of long-term relief… Read more »
26th May, 2023
Most of us are familiar with the concept of a pacemaker for a faulty heart rhythm. But how does the same technology work in the treatment of incontinence? How, specifically, does sacral neuromodulation stop bowel and bladder leakage? Understanding the Role of the Pacemaker If we think of the heart as a complex muscle and nerve system, we know that sometimes that system goes awry.… Read more »
3rd Mar, 2023
In a recent post for Sixty & Me, Dr. Sasse discusses the impact of urinary incontinence. This is a condition that affects millions of people in the U.S. alone, and many millions more worldwide. Many of them struggle in silence as small leaks turn into the complete loss of bladder control. Incontinence is often chalked up to age or the result of chronic health conditions,… Read more »
24th Feb, 2023
Overactive bladder (OAB) and urinary incontinence, or bladder leakage, are common medical conditions that can negatively impact a person's quality of life. Medications are often prescribed as the first line of treatment for this condition, but despite their widespread use, they often fail to resolve the problem. Worse, these medications can also cause cognitive problems in seniors as a side effect, posing a serious drawback… Read more »
11th Nov, 2022
Sometimes people become aware of a problem that seems like it is gradually getting worse with age. We all start to notice aches, pains, and limitations, and the same can be true for bladder health. Bladder symptoms are often related to some degree of loss of function of the pelvic floor, the muscles and nerves that help us with control and emptying of the bladder… Read more »
27th Oct, 2022
For so many, incontinence is an issue that creeps up gradually. Over time, there is an increased need to urinate more often and leakage becomes commonplace. To manage, many people simply make accommodations to their lifestyle. They begin paying close attention to the location of the nearest bathroom, for example, or they start using pads or diapers, or they scale back their social lives to… Read more »
14th Oct, 2022
It's certainly encouraging that published studies of sacral neuromodulation show a success rate of around 90%, particularly considering that reflects excellent results for individuals who have tried other forms of treatment first. But it's the stories from patients themselves that have the most impact. Statistics are wonderful, but they make it easy to overlook the people behind the numbers. Dr. Sasse's patient Sue recently had… Read more »
30th Sep, 2022
Overactive bladder, leakage and incontinence can start at any age, but as progressive conditions, they will worsen with time. Well-meaning tips for "stopping leaks" can provide advice to potentially slow down that progression, but by the time most people are needing real help, the first-line therapies and even the very best tips simply aren't enough. The good news is that treatments to resolve overactive bladder,… Read more »
29th Oct, 2021
The short answer is yes, sacral neuromodulation is covered by Medicare and all insurance plans for the treatment of urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence, and overactive bladder. Sacral neuromodulation is highly effective and well proven to restore bladder and bowel control. Excellent peer-reviewed scientific publications examining the treatment options have shown sacral neuromodulation to be the most effective treatment that we have today for incontinence. Medicare… Read more »
1st Oct, 2021
The research is very clear that sacral neuromodulation is the best effective way to resolve bladder and bowel leakage. But stories from patients whose lives have truly been changed from this technology are far better than statistics. Take Dr. Sasse’s patient Denise, who began experiencing bladder control issues for the first time in her late forties. It’s a condition that progressively worsened, one she managed… Read more »