You may find yourself planning your day around the nearest bathroom. When the urge hits, you rush, hoping you’ll make it in time. Even simple things like running errands or sitting through a movie can start to feel stressful.
Bladder leaks and sudden urgency aren’t just inconvenient. They can affect your confidence and limit your daily life.
If medications or other treatments haven’t helped, you might be wondering, “What is Axonics?”
Axonics is a type of sacral neuromodulation therapy that helps regulate the signals between your bladder and brain. For many people with incontinence, it offers a new way to reduce leaks and regain control.
How Your Bladder and Nerves Work Together
The bladder doesn’t operate in isolation. It relies on a network of nerves that relay information between the spinal cord and brain. These signals help the bladder:
- Store urine
- Recognize fullness
- Empty at the right time
The sacral nerves sit near the base of your spine and play a key role in bladder control. Even when the bladder and urinary tract look normal on tests, these nerves can still send the wrong signals. When that happens, the bladder may not behave the way it should. It may:
- Contract too often
- Send urgent signals before it’s full
- Fail to empty completely
- Hold urine longer than it should
When signals between the bladder and the nervous system aren’t sent or received properly, incontinence can happen.
What Is Axonics and How Does It Work?
If medications haven’t helped, or if they’ve caused side effects, your doctor may suggest a different approach. Instead of focusing only on the bladder muscle, this treatment works on the nerves that control the bladder. One option is Axonics therapy.
Axonics uses gentle electrical pulses to help the sacral nerves send clearer signals between the bladder and the brain. It doesn’t take over your bladder’s job. Instead, it helps steady the messages that control when you store and release urine. When nerve signals are more balanced, Axonics can:
- Reduce urgency
- Decrease urinary frequency
- Limit leakage episodes
- Improve bladder emptying
Who Is a Good Candidate for Axonics?
Before recommending Axonics, your urologist will carefully review your medical history, including:
- Symptom frequency and severity
- Test results
- Prior treatments
- General health and underlying conditions
Your doctor will also make sure your bladder symptoms are not caused by a physical blockage, such as an obstruction in the urinary tract. Axonics is designed to treat certain nerve-related bladder problems, so it’s important to rule out other causes first.
One unique feature of Axonics is that you can try it before committing to a permanent implant. During a short trial period, you can see how your symptoms respond to stimulation before deciding whether to move forward.
What Happens During the Axonics Trial?
To begin the trial phase, a thin lead is placed near the sacral nerves during a brief outpatient procedure. The wire connects to a small external stimulator worn outside your body. Once it’s activated, you’ll track changes in your:
- Urgency
- Frequency
- Leakage
Your doctor will review your results with you. If your symptoms improve enough, you may choose to move forward with the permanent device. If the Axonics trial doesn’t help, the temporary wire is removed, and your doctor will talk with you about other treatment options that may be a better fit.
How Is the Axonics Device Placed?
The permanent Axonics device is placed under the skin in the upper buttock during a short outpatient procedure. You may receive local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, depending on your needs.
The Axonics device is rechargeable and designed for long-term use. It is small, discreet, and MRI compatible. With routine charging at home, it can provide therapy for many years.
After the device is placed, you’ll return for follow-up visits so your doctor can turn it on and adjust the settings. These adjustments help improve comfort and bladder control. You’ll also have a handheld or smartphone controller that lets you make small changes at home within a safe range.
Most people notice gradual improvement after activation. For many living with incontinence, Axonics can lead to fewer leaks and better day-to-day confidence for years.
Some people feel mild tingling or pulsing when the device is on. This often improves as the settings are adjusted. Like any implanted device, there are risks, including discomfort at the implant site or the need for future adjustments.
One important benefit is that Axonics is reversible. The device can be turned off or removed if it no longer helps or if your needs change.
What Is Axonics and Could It Help You?
If bladder symptoms are affecting your daily life, you don’t have to manage them alone. Learning what Axonics is and how it works may help you decide whether this treatment is the right next step.
Our team cares for patients throughout the greater Eugene–Springfield, OR area. We take time to understand your symptoms, review your options, and guide you toward a plan that fits your needs.
You deserve to feel confident again. Schedule an appointment today and take the next step toward better bladder control.