Are oral medications not working for you? Your doctor may recommend injections of neuromodulators into the bladder. These products are made of proteins that target nerve receptors.
Such injections are also recommended if you have incontinence secondary to a neurological problem.
A neuromodulator acts on the nerve endings in the bladder wall and helps reduce uncontrolled bladder contractions and urgency. This results in a reduction of urine leakage and frequent urges to urinate.
Its effect starts 2 to 10 days following the injection and lasts on average 6 to 9 months. The effectiveness and duration varies from person to person. It can be reinjected as many times as necessary, with an interval of 3 months between injections.
Procedure: Neuromodulator injections into the bladder
The urologist begins by inserting a urinary catheter followed by a local anesthetic into the bladder. You may feel some discomfort.
An instrument called a cystoscope is inserted through the urinary tract, and then, using a small needle inserted through the cystoscope, the doctor injects 10 to 20 times into the bladder wall. You may feel a slight tugging or pressure, but there is no need to worry, as the procedure is painless. The procedure takes less than 5 minutes.
