About Axonics® Sacral Neuromodulation Therapy

Rebecca McCrery, MD, FPMRSUrogynecologist

How does Sacral Neuromodulation benefit patients?

I find that patients are able to live their lives like they were previously living them, before they had this condition. Most of the patients I’ve implanted have been very happy with the therapy. Not everybody has 100% results, but they do have a rather significant improvement in quality of life. That’s really what we’re looking for.

What are some advantages of Sacral Neuromodulation?

I think patients love not taking a medication, if possible. A lot of patients feel like if they take a medication, then they’re chasing side effects. I think they’d be willing to put up with the side effects and the expense involved with medications if they were getting the results they were looking for, but many times they fall short in that regard also. Patients would ultimately like to have a therapy that is efficacious and has minimal side effects. Sacral Neuromodulation fits the bill, in that regard, for a lot of patients.

One of the advantages of Sacral Neuromodulation is that we can do a test and figure out if somebody responds to the therapy before we do an implant. I think it’s really helpful to get an idea whether this is going to be a therapy that’s going to get the results one’s looking for before committing to an implant.

How do your patients respond to the option of Sacral Neuromodulation?

A lot of patients are excited to have another option that doesn’t involve another medication. It does make sense to question that if you’ve tried a number of medications, is another one really going to be that much better? Having something that’s totally different is exciting for patients. It’s nice to have something that works through a different mechanism of action than medications. That resonates with a lot of patients as to why this might be a reasonable option to consider. I’ve got some patients where it takes a little warming up to, for them to embrace the idea of a therapy like this. A therapy like this isn’t for every patient who walks in the door. Once again, my job is to give a patient options, and kind of figure out what’s going to work for their life and their situation. Then, let them go in a direction that works for them.

How has Axonics Therapy impacted your patients’ quality of life?

I find that patients are able to live their lives like they were previously living them, before they had this condition. It’s amazing how many patients will say, “Now I can go out to dinner and not worry about where the bathroom is. I can go to the store and not worry about where the bathroom is.” They will start venturing away from wearing black pants only. Patients are able to do things that keep them healthy and loving life. They’re often able to engage with grandchildren, engage with their spouses—do things that are considered normal.

Kevin Benson, MD, FPMRSUrogynecologist

Who are good candidates for Sacral Neuromodulation?

I think there are a lot of good candidates for Sacral Neuromodulation—in fact, a great deal more than we usually think about. Many view Sacral Neuromodulation as the last option, as the treatment you offer if everything else fails. My view is just the opposite. I move a patient onto Sacral Neuromodulation earlier, recognizing the high efficacy, understanding the long-term data, and knowing the great satisfaction this therapy provides for patients.

What are some of the differences between Sacral Neuromodulation and other advanced therapies?

I personally view Sacral Neuromodulation as a restorative therapy, while I view the other therapies as basically destructive or obliterative therapies. If I want a paralytic agent, Botox is the choice. But more often I want something that creates more sound out of the symphony, that allows all the sections to work together and allows everything to come up to its natural potential; then Sacral Neuromodulation is the choice. And that’s the difference.

The fact that there is a trial with Sacral Neuromodulation I think is the greatest, you might say, safety valve in this whole process. And that means that I always tell patients you’re not committing to this for 5 years; you’re committing to it for 2 weeks and they get to evaluate whether or not the therapy is right for them. This is very empowering for patients.

How is the Axonics System different?

What we have with the new Axonics System is a better way to help. The device is smaller, physically fits in their body much more easily, and the patient remote is very easy and intuitive to use. I think it’s a more dynamic, patient-friendly therapy option that fits better with most of my patients.

With the Axonics product, you might say it’s using smart technology to constantly adjust and to make up for that change in resistance in the body tissue to provide the exact degree of stimulation that a patient needs.

How has Axonics Therapy impacted your patients’ quality of life?

The quality of life improvement has been dramatic, and it’s been fast. Of the patients that I’ve worked with so far, with the Axonics product I would say that within a week or two these patients were already seeing huge improvements in their quality of life. And it appears, as we’re following them, that improvement has continued to increase even further with time.

We’ve had a number of patients who have come in who have been profoundly affected by it—people who wanted to be physically active, people who wanted to go back to running, people who want to do things with their family, people who want to take trips. All of the things that mean stuff to us in life, they are resuming those things. And most importantly they are having confidence to do it.

Axonics^® Therapy—Life-changing results. Long-lasting relief.

What Is Sacral Neuromodulation?

Sacral Neuromodulation is a guideline-recommended therapy that restores normal control of the bladder and bowel. Sacral Neuromodulation is indicated as a treatment option for patients with:

Overactive Bladder

Bowel Incontinence

Urinary Retention

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