PTNS treatment advice needed fo 15 year old

[halftime]

Hi. Can anyone tell me about PTNS treatment; if you have tried it, did it help or not. More about the nuts and bolts of how it is supposed to improve things and is that sustained and permanent? Have seen it mentioned sometimes on posts here but trying to decide whether to push for this as never mentioned by any of the multitude of medical professionals who have seen son over last 9 years. . But advice has been basic and repetitive, even when followed for years to no avail, so fact it has never been mentioned is unlikely to be anything to do with whether it could be useful! Any info/ advice gratefully received....thanks.

[fuzzalert]

Hi there

My son had PTNS last year. Long haul getting the funding for it

My son was 9 at the time and has an overactive bladder (daytime only wetting) He’s been on medication since he was 5; oxbutinin, tolterodine and Vesicare. Frequency has most definitely reduced over the years and output volumes have gone from 20/50mls to the occasional over 200/250mls.

He still had extreme urgency and following traumatic urodynamics test medical staff finally witnessed what I’ve been saying for years, he just does not get the message to go, the message gets there but only at the last minute!

My understanding of PTNS or how the urology nurse explained it to me was that the small currents are being sent up to the bladder and restarting it. I know that’s vague but I held on to that hope that it would restart my sons bladder. Unfortunately for him it didn’t but the nurse spoke of it being successful for varying aged kids with day and night time issues. She also said TENS is similar and in theory would do the same job. Sadly it’s not offered at our hospital as I would’ve preferred that.

The set up my son had was 12 week course. Same day every week. If we missed a week they gave him two sessions in one week instead. A tiny acupuncture needle is put into the ankle area which is connected to a small machine that sends the current upwards. The higher level they can handle the better inthe long run apprantly. They lie there reading a book or playing on their “device” for 30mins. Needle is removed. No blood as it’s so small and that’s it. The nurse did say they’ve got a teenage boy who’d had the treatment a year before which worked for him, but if he ever felt like symptoms were returning he comes back for a one-off-top-up!

From my point of view I have no regrets going through with it as we were at the end of our options. The urodynamics is NOT fun. I won’t go into detail and I think because my son has become a bit anxious about needles he worked himself up a bit about the PTNS but was fine lying there for 30mins each time with no pain or discomfort

I hope that helps in some way even though it’s probaly not the most positive outcome but Better I’m honest and it has worked for numerous other children under this hospital

[halftime in reply to fuzzalert]

Hi fuzzalert,

Thank you so much for your really full and comprehensive explanation. I'm sorry this was not really successful for your son. He's quite young; do you think it had enough value to try it again at a later date if his issues are still continuing? Or the TENS if it became available near you? I had no idea that TENS was that similar. My son is 15; soon to be ditched out into adult services and then it'll be even more difficult to get any help. I'm going to ask about both at his next appt. Thank you for taking the time to reply to me.