TROY, Mich. – Millions suffer from urological problems. They try traditional treatments like sacral nerve stimulation to treat their pelvic or urinary pain, fecal or urinary incontinence -- but still the problem persists. However, now a Michigan doctor has pioneered a treatment that could be the solution these patients are searching for.
"For months, my daughter and I went from doctor to doctor to doctor," explained Donna Pelto.
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"Right away we knew something was wrong, we just didn't know what," said Becky Petrie, Donna's daughter.
However, Donna knew how to describe her debilitating pain.
"You get your charcoal briquettes to the point where they're red and they're hot, and then stick them up in between your legs. That's what it feels like," Donna explained.
Urologist Dr. Kenneth Peters pioneered an outpatient procedure that would relieve her pain.
"We've developed a way to place the electrode at the pudendal, which is a nerve that comes further deeper into the pelvis," said Peters, who is Chairman of Urology and Director of Beaumont Women's Urology Center, Beaumont Health System in Michigan.
An electrical pulse generator is connected to the electrode and implanted in the patient's buttock.
"It is a pacemaker for the nerves that control a lot of functions of the pelvis such as the bladder, the bowel, and the pelvic floor," Peters said.
The device sends a signal to the brain to ignore abnormal signals that cause bowel and urinary issues, or pelvic pain like Donna's. The level of relief is remotely controlled by the patient.
Since receiving the treatment, Donna says she feels a major difference.
"Every patient I see for the first time, I tell them they're going to be better because I believe it 100 percent," Peters said.
This procedure is not to be seen as a cure, but it is successful nearly 85 percent of the time in providing at least a 50 percent relief in symptoms.
Additional Information:
Pelvic pain is easy to identify because it is the lowest part of the pelvis and abdomen. This type of pain may be considered very intense and the pain is known to travel to the thighs, lower back, or buttocks. This pain is common in women and men and can come about from musculoskeletal sources, or from urinary or reproductive systems. (Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pelvic-pain/MY00124)
CAUSES: Women are more likely to experience pelvic pain more than men, but it is not unheard of for men to experience the same pain. In women, pelvic pain can stem from an issue in the reproductive organs. The pain may also arise from internal organs such as the colon or bladder. Common causes in men and women are:
- Broken pelvis
- Kidney stones or infection
- Bladder disorders
- STDs
- Nerve conditions
- Hernia
- Intestinal disorders (Source: webmd.com/pain-management/guide/pelvic-pain)
SYMPTOMS: When symptoms occur, a person may find relief in lying down or resting. Pelvic pain may become extreme if one is standing for a long period of time or during exercise. Typical signs and symptoms are a constant severe pain, pressure in pelvis area, intermittent pain, and cramping or sharp pain. If any symptoms are to last more than six months, then pain can be described as chronic. (Source: mayoclinic.com/health/chronic-pelvic-pain/DS00571/DSECTION=symptoms and http://women.webmd.com/causes-symptoms-chronic-pelvic-pain)
NEW TREATMENT: A pacemaker for the pelvic region of the body is now being used to control patient's pain. The pudendal nerve stimulation is a new treatment that stimulates the pudendal nerve to improve the function of internal organs. This method is preferred over the sacral nerve stimulation because there are no side effects to other parts of the body. The procedure is done as an outpatient as doctors place a small electrode in the pudendal nerve near the pelvis. Once the procedure is over, patients are able to control the stimulation of the nerve by a click of a button. (Source: neuromodulation.com/pudendal-nerve and http://womenshealth.beaumont.edu/pudendal-neuromodulation)