Constipation and Sacral Nerve Stimulation?

Posted by jlstjohn @jlstjohn, Oct 5 6:43am

Has anyone had experience with sacral nerve stimulation for treating constipation? My colorectal surgeon brought it up as a possible option for my case, but he said some do not respond to it. I also have pelvic floor dysfunction, which is likely the main contributor to my evacuation struggles. I have been through pelvic floor physical therapy twice, but have not had much success with it. I do depend on a tool my therapist recommended called a pelvic wand, but now I am dealing with significant hemorrhoids, as well, so the surgeon thinks we may need to try the SNS.

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John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Oct 5 7:56am

Hello @jlstjohn, There is another older discussion in a different group on the sacral nerve stimulator that might be helpful to read members experience.
-- Anyone have experience with having a Sacral nerve stimulator?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-have-experience-with-having-a-sacral-nerve-stimulator/

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Oct 5 5:50pm

Tagging a few members who may have some information or experience with sacral nerve stimulation for constipation in themselves or someone they know @astaingegerdm @jenatsky @shirl48 @p95 @wdywms @cathyas.

wdywms | @wdywms | Oct 5 7:55pm

This summer I saw a Mayo GI PA in the hopes of getting the sacral nerve stimulation, & she said it did not work for IBS-D. Sad face. I have Pelvic Floor Dysfunction too.

p95 | @p95 | Oct 7 10:08am

In reply to @lisalucier "Tagging a few members who may have some information or experience with sacral nerve stimulation for..." + (show)

@lisalucier
I'm sorry, I can't help. Mine was for fecal urgency and too many BMs, not constipation.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Oct 15 12:28pm

Hi @jlstjohn - you mentioned not having much success with pelvic floor physical therapy. I had pelvic floor therapy for bladder prolapse, but I finally "failed" therapy and was basically told I was done. I guess I'm just not coordinated in those regions, and sometimes I would push/pull in the opposite way as I was instructed, but not at all on purpose.

What have you decided about the sacral nerve stimulation?

jlstjohn | @jlstjohn | Oct 16 6:58am

Thank you for sharing your experience with pelvic floor PT. I have felt like a huge failure because I could also not coordinate my muscles as they should. I guess a lifetime of doing it wrong makes reversing it much more difficult. I have an appointment in January regarding the sacral nerve stimulation. First I need to address chronoc internal hemorrhoids in a few weeks with the colorectal surgeon. I hope I make it to the appointment, they are getting worse :(.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Oct 16 9:30am

In reply to @jlstjohn "Thank you for sharing your experience with pelvic floor PT. I have felt like a huge..." + (show)

@jlstjohn - no problem. I remember leaving the last pelvic floor therapy appointment feeling very down, like I'd failed a class or something. I guess another way to look at it is that the therapy failed me - it just didn't work for me. It ultimately all turned out okay. I had prolapse surgery, which is what I really needed, anyway.

You mentioned dealing with hemorrhoids. Those are painful. I wanted to point out that you might check out other Mayo Clinic Connect discussions on this topic so you can see what others have dealt with and what has given them relief:

- What works for severe hemorrhoids? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-works-for-severe-hemorrhoids/

- In-office hemorrhoid ablation, anybody? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/in-office-hemorrhoid-ablation-anybody/

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