More Treatment Options Are Helping Patients Regain Control of Overactive Bladder

An estimated 33 million Americans live with overactive bladder, a condition that can disrupt sleep, affect daily activities, and significantly reduce quality of life. Many people assume frequent trips to the bathroom are simply part of aging and learn to live with the symptoms rather than seeking treatment.

 

However, there are more treatment options available today than there ever have been to help patients find relief and regain control of their lives.

 

“Overactive bladder simply means that you're going to the bathroom more frequently than you want to,” shared Dr. Nicholas Johnson, Urologist at Aspirus Health. “It's a frustrating problem, and it can get to the point where it really is a dominant factor in quality of life.”

 

There isn't always a single cause of overactive bladder. The condition becomes more common with age but may also be linked to neurological disorders, diabetes, prior pelvic surgery, certain medications, bladder irritation, and lifestyle factors such as excess caffeine or alcohol consumption.

 

For many patients, symptoms can be managed through lifestyle changes, pelvic floor therapy, and medication. However, those approaches do not work for everyone.

 

"It wasn't that long ago that if the medications failed and physical therapy wasn't enough, that was the end of what we had to offer," Dr. Johnson explained. "Now, with Botox injections or sacral nerve stimulation, there are more minimally invasive, effective treatments."

 

Botox injections can help relax the bladder muscle and reduce symptoms of urgency and frequency, while sacral nerve stimulation uses mild electrical impulses to help regulate the signals between the bladder and the brain. These therapies may provide relief for patients whose symptoms have not adequately improved with more conservative treatments.

 

Treatment options continue to evolve. Most recently, Aspirus Health began offering a permanent implant for tibial nerve stimulation. The therapy uses mild electrical stimulation to influence the nerve pathways involved in bladder control, helping reduce urgency, frequency, and other symptoms. Because the implant provides ongoing therapy without frequent office visits, it offers a convenient new option for some patients seeking long-term symptom relief.

 

Not every patient will need these advanced therapies, but for some, they can provide meaningful relief when other approaches have fallen short. "There are a great many of our patients who do end up using these therapies and get wonderful benefit from them," Dr. Johnson shared.

 

The first step is often talking with your health care provider. A proper evaluation can help determine whether symptoms are caused by overactive bladder or another condition and identify treatments that may help improve quality of life.

 

"Chances are really high that with a proper evaluation and investigation, there may be some combination of therapies which will lead to quality-of-life improvement," Dr. Johnson said.

 

To find a compassionate, expert Aspirus provider near you, visit aspirus.org to use the Find a Doctor tool.

---

• Previous Post
• Next Post

 

Back to all Posts