We’re talking about overactive bladder syndrome. If you urinate more than 8 times in a day or get up more than 2 times in the middle of the night, its likely you have it.
Now ABC 2 news health reporter Kelly Swoope tells us about a new minimally invasive procedure to ease the pain, and frequency that comes with the condition.
Danielle Dace has reason to smile these days. Her pain has decreased and she spends less and less time worrying about her overactive bladder.
"You’d have to get up 2-3 times a night and you average by going to the bathroom 20 to 30 times a day."
Now the college student’s life has returned to normal. She underwent a procedure called neuromodulation.
"What the neuromdulation does is insert an electrode near the spine, through the skin near the spine and then attach to a battery which is interferes with signals coming from the bladder to the brain."
A battery pack, about the size of a pacemaker, is inserted in the patient’s rear-end to send the signal.
Dr. Conrad Duncan a Urogynecologist at Franklin Square Hospital has performed about 40 of these procedures. He says its a viable alternative for people living with overactive bladder.
"Knowing they have to go to a particular mall because they know where all the bathrooms are at that mall, or knowing they can't be in a plane or a car for more than an hour."
"These things do control your life and they don't go away, and its nice to have something to combat that."
Danielle says while some people may consider the surgery radical, she says it took less than an hour. The pain was minimal and her life is now restored to normal.
It’s wonderful, I’d recommend it to anybody."
Kelly Swoope 2 your health.
If you'd like more information about neuromodulation or other treatments for overactive bladder, you can contact Franklin Square Hospital center at 443-777-7900.
