Has anyone tried percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation for lower urinary tract symptoms or bowel/GI issues?

[Rhyothemis]

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) involves electrical stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve via a TENS unit with one pad electrode placed near the ankle and a small needle electrode placed a few inches above along the tibial nerve. It has been used to treat overactive bladder (OAB) / lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) which include frequency, urgency, incontinence and pain. It has also been used, less commonly, to treat chronic constipation and fecal incontinence. Transcutaneous (using just an pads for both electrode) tibial nerve stimulation has also been used for treatment of bladder dysfunction and fecal incontinence.

[ReverendBadger]

Hi, although this is an old post I see you are still active 2 months ago so will comment.

I am just working trough the research for my personal trial of transcutaneous stimulation to deal with my neurogenic bladder. I start with the postulation that all my bladder issues are due to MSA so the cause is brain dysfunction not a failure of a bladder component or local nerve. i.e. if I could have a brain transplant the LUT would work fine.

Symptoms currently exhibit high variabilty day to day. Can go from a frequency of 15 micturations in 24 hrs to retention next day. High PVR confirmed with ultrasound in range of 200-400ml, very typical of MSA, frequency,nocturia,OAB,DO,DI, urgency,urge incontinence - I've got the lot.

[Rhyothemis in reply to ReverendBadger]

I'm sorry to hear about your LUTS, they sound quite severe.

Though MSA is a disease of the CNS, part of the CNS is the spinal cord. So a brain transplant alone may not fix LUTS from MSA, unless it also includes a spinal cord transplant.

Sakakibara has suggested that pathology in some MSA cases starts in the sacral spinal cord:

jstage.jst.go.jp/article/in...

youtu.be/dgY6Ai1KcHs(Not working as expected?)

However other conditions can cause lower urinary tract symptoms, including small fiber neuropathy.