Living Leak-Free: How Axonics® Therapy Helps Stop Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence affects millions of adults in the United States, including 50% of women. Just because reduced bladder control is common, though, doesn’t mean you have to grin and bear the symptoms. 

Our expert team at Houston Pain Specialists, led by board-certified pain management specialist Hui Kang, MD, offers Axonics® therapy to bring you lasting leakage relief.

November is Bladder Health Awareness Month, making it a prime time to learn about this minimally invasive treatment. 

Here’s a look at how Axonics therapy works and the benefits to look forward to. 

Urinary incontinence basics

Anyone can develop urinary incontinence, but your odds are heighted if you’ve given birth, gone through menopause, or reached your senior years. These factors may reduce bladder control by weakening your pelvic muscles or negatively affecting nerves involved with urination.

Certain medical conditions, such as pelvic floor disorders, stroke, and an enlarged prostate, fuel urinary incontinence, too.

Common urinary incontinence symptoms include:

• Leaking urine when you exercise, laugh, or sneeze
• Having strong and sudden urges to urinate
• Frequently dribbling urine

Urinary incontinence is usually diagnosed through a comprehensive exam, during which you discuss your urinary symptoms and overall health. Your provider may recommend particular tests, such as a bladder ultrasound or stress test, to confirm your diagnosis. 

Tracking your symptoms in a journal leading up to your appointment can help your doctor as well.

How Axonics therapy helps

Axonics therapy uses electrical stimulation to improve bladder control. Also known as sacral neuromodulation therapy, Axonics therapy is gentle and minimally invasive. 

It involves implanting a small device that sends electric impulses to your sacral nerves. Once that process starts, nerve communication between your brain and bladder improve, leading to less incontinence.

Axonics therapy can treat numerous incontinence issues, including:

• Chronic fecal incontinence
• Overactive bladder
• Non-obstructive urinary retention
• Urinary or bowel urge incontinence
• Urinary urgency-frequency

While it won’t cure urinary incontinence, Axonics therapy can help manage and minimize your bladder leaks. Research by Axonics showed that the treatment brings clinically significant improvements for 93% of urinary incontinence patients within two years.

Axonics therapy is a long-term therapy that requires very little maintenance. Each Axonics device lasts an estimated 10-20 years. From there, you can receive a new device for continued care if desired. Thankfully, most health insurance plans cover Axonics care.

To get started toward incontinence relief or find out if you’re a candidate for Axonics therapy, contact our Houston, Texas, office today to schedule an appointment. Axonics treatment starts with a 14-day trial period to make sure it works well for you.