Interstim Therapy

What is InterStim^® Therapy for Urinary Control?

Medtronic InterStim^® System for Urinary Control is indicated for the treatment of urinary retention and the symptoms of overactive bladder, including urinary urge incontinence and significant symptoms of urgency-frequency alone or in combination, in patients who have failed or could not tolerate more conservative treatments

InterStim Therapy uses a small device to send mild electrical pulses to a nerve located in the lower back (just above the tailbone). This nerve, called the sacral nerve, influences the bladder and surrounding muscles that manage urinary function. The electrical stimulation may eliminate or reduce certain bladder control symptoms in some people. The system is surgically placed under the skin.

Self-Assessment Survey

This self-assessment survey may be helpful in determining whether you have bladder control problems that might be treatable with InterStim Therapy. If you answer "yes" to most of these questions, you may want to discuss InterStim Therapy as a potential treatment with your urologist or urogynecologist.

Please remember that only your physician can determine whether you might be a good candidate for this therapy. You may want to print this completed page and take it with you when you see your physician.

• Do you have to urinate more than 7 times per day?

• Do you continuously feel like you have to urinate?

• Do you get up more than once a night to go to the bathroom?

• Have you tried medication and had intolerable side effects, or was the medication not very effective?

• Have you tried physical therapy (biofeedback, e-stim, etc.) and it was not effective?

• Do you have accidents before reaching the bathroom?

• Do you wear absorbent undergarments for fear of an accident?

• Have you tried medication and had intolerable side effects, or was the medication not very effective?

• Have you tried physical therapy (biofeedback, e-stim, etc.) and it was not effective?

• Do you need to use a catheter to empty your bladder?

• Have obstructions (prostate, etc.) been ruled out as a cause?

• Have you tried medication and had intolerable side effects, or was the medication not very effective?

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