Hi' Has anyone had any experiance with Interstim therapy by Medtronic. I am a c-5 complete c-6 partial about 16 years out. I used to where a texas cath and leg bag but had one UTI after another. Under the advice of my Uroligist I started self cathing. The only problem was I could only hold about 100cc's and then void during a urodynamics test. So now I am taking Sanctura 20mg twice a day, Rubinal Forte 2mg twice a day and oxytrol patch 3.9mg by weekly and I still cant make it through the night. I've talked to him about Botex injections but he thinks there to expensive and insurance won't cover it. My only other option would be a bladder augmentation and I'd be back with the UTI's. So if you know anything about Interstim please let me know.
Thanks,
Jay K.
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Iterstim Theapy
- By jaykay40
- Posted May 27, 2008 at 3:06 pm · 4 replies
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- By FuschiaFan
- Posted May 28, 2008 at 12:20 am
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Interstim is appropriate for very few people with SCI. It does not allow you to void on your own...you would still have to cath. It MAY help to decrease your bladder spasms and increase capacity, but not if your bladder has shrunk. The device is expensive, and so is the surgery, and many insurances will not pay for it for SCI as it is not FDA approved for that population.
If you go this way, you should do some reading on the Interstim discussions over at CareCure.org, and also be sure that you have a trial external implantation and try it for at least 2 weeks before you have the full surgery. I know many people who did this and then had it removed as it did not help them.
Have you tried Ditropan solution instillations after your cath (1-2X daily)? Have you been tried on one of the anticholenergic side effect tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine in addition to the meds you are on?
Botox injections are expensive, but we have had great success with them. Even if you have to russel up the money for the drug yourself (insurance should pay for the cystoscopy procedure), you may find it well worth while. Alternatively, look for a SCI bladder Botox research project (there are a number going on) and see if you can get accepted as a subject.
- By jaykay40
- Posted May 28, 2008 at 7:52 am
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Thanks FuschiaFan,
You Have been very informative. Do you know of any Botox Reseach projects going on in either the Northeast or Southwest like around Arizona.
Thanks again' Jay K.
- By FuschiaFan
- Posted May 28, 2008 at 9:00 am
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Not right now (unless you are a veteran) but you can keep an eye out at www.clinicaltrials.gov
- By neurotech
- Posted June 2, 2008 at 6:56 pm
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Jay,
I have a similar problem. I did the Botox treatments and the insurance company paid for it, but your doctor needs to submit the proper codes. It did not work out for me. With Botox treatments, I was able to get off all oral bladder meds but I had to go back every 6 mo. and had too many episodes of autonomic dysreflexia. So I stopped and am back on oral meds.
Regarding the InterStim, have your visited this website? http://www.medtronic.com/neuro/interstim/
They can connect you with people who have used the device and connect you with a train physician to see if you are a candidate. It is an implanted device so there are considerations before proceeding.
Hope that helps.
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