Whether you’ve visited a gastroenterologist near you for hemorrhoids or attempted to scour Google for answers on your abdominal pain, you’ve likely come across various procedures for diagnosing what’s going on in your GI tract.
From colonoscopies to endoscopies to hemorrhoid banding, we’ve become all too familiar with the procedures performed by your local GI clinic. However, Charleston GI is introducing a new diagnostic method: InterStim therapy.
What is an InterStim procedure, and how does it work? Keep reading to find out!
Understanding Bladder and Bowel Incontinence
Before addressing a new treatment method, it’s essential to understand the initial problem.
Bladder or bowel incontinence occurs when you have difficulty controlling the passage of urine or stool. Various muscles and nerves help control the flow of urine and the release of stool; therefore, many conditions could be responsible for damaging these nerves and muscles.
Conditions that can lead to bladder or bowel incontinence include:
Depending on the root cause, bladder and bowel incontinence can be a short-term problem or a long-term ordeal and can result in a limited quality of life for those suffering in silence. If you have bladder or bowel incontinence, talk to a GI doctor near you.
What is InterStim Therapy?
InterStim Therapy is an FDA-approved treatment for those suffering from bladder and bowel incontinence. The treatment involves a device roughly the size of a pacemaker placed under the skin in your hip area.
In the same way a pacemaker uses electrical pulses to keep the heart beating steadily, an InterStim device sends tiny electrical impulses to the sacral nerves. These mild pulses help reinforce the communication between your pelvic floor muscles and the brain, reducing the symptoms of overactive bladder or bowel incontinence and giving you your life back.
However, this outpatient procedure may not always be presented as an initial treatment method for those with bladder or bowel incontinence symptoms. After an initial consultation with a GI doctor, suggested changes to your diet, medication, or physical therapy may be implemented first, followed by InterStim therapy if your bowel or bladder control problems persist.
Who Is Considered a Good Candidate for InterStim Therapy?
InterStim therapy can be an excellent option for those who have long suffered from difficulty controlling the output of their bodily fluids. Ideal candidates for the InterStim implant are those suffering from the following symptoms:
Increased urgency or frequency of urination or bowel movements
Talk to one of our gastroenterology specialists to determine if an InterStim device is right for you.
Reclaim Your Life with Help from Charleston GI
Bladder or bowel incontinence has the ability to reduce your quality of life, leaving you feeling ashamed, embarrassed, and alone.
But not anymore.
At Charleston GI, we are introducing this new procedure to help give a voice to those suffering silently from uncontrollable bowel movements and urination.
We have four convenient Charleston, SC, area locations to choose from: West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, and Carnes Crossroads. No referral is needed – schedule your appointment today with Charleston GI!
