Stones River Hospital Offering Innovative
Therapy To Treat Bladder Control Problems



Stones River Hospital today announced it is offering an important treatment option for individuals suffering from bladder control problems who have not had success with common treatments such as medication.

As many as 33 million Americans suffer from bladder control problems and, as a result, often struggle with simple, everyday activities. Medtronic’s InterStim® Therapy provides another treatment option for addressing symptoms, such as leaking, urgency and frequency, allowing individuals to experience an improved quality of life.

“A diagnosis of overactive bladder or urinary retention often represents a significant impairment in quality of life, and many patients experience symptoms for a long time before they are comfortable discussing them with a doctor,” said Oscar Spivey, M.D., of The Specialty Clinic of Stones River Hospital.

“InterStim Therapy at Stones River Hospital will extend hope to urinary patients who were previously told their bladder control problem was not treatable or had not had success with other interventions, such as drug therapy, fluid and diet changes or pelvic floor exercises.”

InterStim Therapy is the only sacral nerve stimulation system available.  InterStim Therapy, which is similar to a pacemaker for the bladder, uses mild electrical pulses to target the communication problem  that exists between the sacral nerves (near the tailbone that control the bladder) and the brain to tell the bladder to work correctly.   

“Before InterStim Therapy, patients who do not respond to drug therapy were limited mainly to irreversible bladder surgery or a lifetime of absorbent pads,” said Dr. Spivey.  “InterStim Therapy has helped tens of thousands of patients overcome embarrassing leaking accidents, the overwhelming need to be close to a bathroom at all times and constant preoccupation with their bladders.”

InterStim Therapy provides another treatment option for addressing overactive bladder symptoms, such as leaking, urgency and frequency, allowing some individuals to experience relief from their symptoms. In addition to risks related to a medical procedure, complications from this therapy can include pain, infection, sensation of electrical shock, device problems, undesirable change in voiding function, and lead migration, among others.  

Dr. Spivey Will Discuss Bladder Control Problems
at a Free Luncheon Hosted by Cannon County Senior Center

On Wednesday, August 25th, Stones River Hospital and Medtronics will sponsor a free luncheon seminar that will be hosted by the Cannon County Senior Center.

Dr. Spivey will be the presenter of this seminar that will start at 11:30 and last approximately 1 hour.  Dr. Spivey will discuss urinary retention (inability to completely empty the bladder) and the symptoms of overactive bladder, including urinary urge incontinence (leakage) and significant symptoms of urgency/frequency.

He will share information on the InterStim Therapy now offered at Stones River Hospital - as well as other available treatments such as medications and behavioral therapy.

If you are planning to attend the seminar you are asked to RSVP with Jackie Head of the Cannon County Senior Center (so that arrangements can be made to have lunch provided to you at no charge).  Jackie can be reached at 615 563-5304.