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Sacral nerve stimulation
- Minimally invasive day-case treatment
- Effective relief for a range of urinary and bowel conditions
- Lasting help to restore your usual function
SACRAL NERVE STIMULATION AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
Having problems with bladder and bowel control can seriously affect your confidence and stop you doing the things you love. The skilled and compassionate multidisciplinary team at HCA UK is here to help, and 97% of our patients say they’d recommend us for spinal care.
Sacral Nerve Stimulation (SNS), sometimes called Sacral Neuromodulation (SNM), is a proven treatment for bladder and bowel control problems. It can help to regulate your bladder and bowel movements and improve your quality of life.
Your specialist team will implant a small, battery-powered neurostimulator device under your skin in your lower back. This will send gentle electrical impulses to your sacral nerves, helping to improve the co-ordination between your brain and your bladder, bowels, pelvic floor and sphincter muscles. This is turn allows you to better regulate your bladder, bowel and pelvic floor function.
The battery typically lasts ten to twenty years and can be replaced in a minor procedure whenever needed.
Your specialist team will implant a small, battery-powered neurostimulator device under your skin in your lower back. This will send gentle electrical impulses to your sacral nerves, helping to improve the co-ordination between your brain and your bladder, bowels, pelvic floor and sphincter muscles. This is turn allows you to better regulate your bladder, bowel and pelvic floor function.
The battery typically lasts ten to twenty years and can be replaced in a minor procedure whenever needed.
Sacral nerve stimulation can help to treat chronic bladder and bowel control problems with great outcomes.
The most common conditions we treat with sacral nerve stimulation are:
- An overactive bladder causing frequency and urgency symptoms
- Urinary incontinence causing the involuntary or uncontrolled leakage of urine
- Urinary retention due to a high tone non relaxing sphincter (Fowler’s Syndrome) most commonly in young women
Sacral nerve stimulation for bowel frequency and urgency has also been proven to deliver good results for some patients suffering a loss of bowel control, also known as faecal incontinence, and for patients suffering from chronic constipation.
Your consultant is likely to recommend sacral nerve stimulation if more conservative approaches such as medication, physiotherapy or lifestyle changes haven't improved your symptoms.
This is usually a two-step procedure.
Most people will first have a short evaluation phase (2-3 weeks) with a temporary lead to check if stimulation improves their symptoms – this is sometimes called a sacral nerve stimulation trial.
If the results are promising, you can then choose to have a permanent implant. Both parts of this procedure will take about an hour.
- For the evaluation phase, you’ll have a mild anaesthetic, and the electrical wire will be placed under your skin alongside your sacral nerves, accurately guided using an X-ray. The lead is then tunnelled under the skin and attached to an external battery, which you'll wear on a belt for the next 2-3 weeks. This will gently stimulate your sacral nerve. Your consultant will then analyse the results, supported by a bladder or bowel diary that you’ll be asked to keep before and during this phase.
- If the trial results look positive and your consultant thinks that a more permanent neurostimulator implant could help you long term, they’ll arrange for you to come in again for a separate day case procedure. You’ll again be given an anaesthetic, and your specialist will convert the external battery to a permanent battery (pacemaker) which will sit under the skin of your lower back.
Many of our patients experience significant improvement in bladder or bowel control with sacral nerve stimulation. That includes reduced urinary and bowel frequency and urgency, and a better quality of life.
Risks include infection, bleeding and discomfort at the implant site. The lead can sometimes also move after the battery has been implanted and you may need further surgery to adjust or replace the device.
Your consultant can talk you through all the risks and the benefits, helping you to make the best decision, on balance, for you.
Risks include infection, bleeding and discomfort at the implant site. The lead can sometimes also move after the battery has been implanted and you may need further surgery to adjust or replace the device.
Your consultant can talk you through all the risks and the benefits, helping you to make the best decision, on balance, for you.
140+
leading urologists and genitourinary specialists
97%
of urology patients rated care as ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’*
96%
of urology patients recommend us to friends and family*
Fast access to specialists
Appointments bookable online or by phone
Expert urology and gastroenterology treatments
From specialist bladder and bowel consultants
State-of-the-art diagnostics
With results in as little as 48 hours
YOUR SACRAL NERVE STIMULATION JOURNEY
What to expect
Our compassionate urology and gastroenterology consultants know how difficult it can be to live with unwelcome bladder and bowel symptoms, and they’re here to help.
This two-phase procedure helps our specialists to make a carefully considered decision about whether a permanent implant could be the right course of action for you.
Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these to you and answer any questions you have. They'll also tell you how to prepare for each step of your procedure.
This two-phase procedure helps our specialists to make a carefully considered decision about whether a permanent implant could be the right course of action for you.
Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these to you and answer any questions you have. They'll also tell you how to prepare for each step of your procedure.
01
GP referral
If you have distressing bladder or bowel symptoms, your GP will ask about your medical history, your lifestyle and your general health to get a better view of any potential treatment options that could help.
02
Specialist referral
If this approach isn’t effective, your GP will refer you to our specialist urology or gastroenterology team to explore whether sacral nerve stimulation may help. This is two-step procedure. First, you’ll have an evaluation and then, if the results are promising, a more permanent implant.
03
Evaluation
Your consultant will ask you to keep a diary of your usual bladder and/or bowel movements for a short period. After that they’ll make an appointment for you to have a temporary stimulation wire fitted:
- Your lower back near your sacral nerve under a day case anaesthetic
- You'll wear this battery on a belt for the next 2-3 weeks
- You’ll be asked to keep a diary of your bladder or bowel movements during this time
This a minimally invasive surgery, so you should have a fast recovery and be able to go home the same day. Your consultant will analyse the results and compare your diary notes to determine whether a permanent implant could be right for you.
04
Implant
If your consultant thinks that a more permanent neurostimulator implant could help you long term, they’ll arrange for you to come in once again for surgery as a day case patient to have a sacral nerve stimulator permanent implant placed, under anaesthetic.
This is also minimally invasive surgery, so you should have a fast recovery and be able to go home the same day. Both the evaluation and implant elements of this procedure take about an hour.
This is also minimally invasive surgery, so you should have a fast recovery and be able to go home the same day. Both the evaluation and implant elements of this procedure take about an hour.
05
Aftercare
Sacral nerve stimulation recovery times vary but you should usually be back doing the things you love within 1-2 weeks following surgery. Our specialist teams will be here for you long after your procedure has been completed, offering personalised advice and care.
We’ll continue to monitor your condition and ensure that the implant behaves as it should and stays in the right place. If you have any issues, we’ll help to expertly resolve them.
We’ll continue to monitor your condition and ensure that the implant behaves as it should and stays in the right place. If you have any issues, we’ll help to expertly resolve them.
Where can I get a sacral nerve stimulation evaluation and implant?
This process can be carried out by our urology and gastroenterology consultants based at our outpatient centres and hospitals across London and Birmingham, where you’ll receive a rapid evaluation, expert treatment and exceptional care.
Accessing private healthcare
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
Sacral nerve stimulation FAQs
This is a minimally invasive procedure so while sacral nerve stimulation recovery times vary, but most patients go home the same day after both phases of this procedure.
You’ll able to get back to light activities within a few days, and you’ll make a full recovery in two to four weeks.
You’ll able to get back to light activities within a few days, and you’ll make a full recovery in two to four weeks.
Before your evaluation, your consultant will ask you to keep a simple diary of your bladder and/ or bowel movements. They'll also ask you to do this during the evaluation phase too so they can compare the difference.
It’s just a simple record that helps them decide whether a permanent implant could be the right course of action for you.
It’s just a simple record that helps them decide whether a permanent implant could be the right course of action for you.
The implanted battery typically lasts ten to twenty years, although it varies from patient to patient. When it runs out, it can be replaced in a minor procedure.
The sacral nerve stimulation scar following surgery is usually small and situated in your upper buttock/lower back. You’ll also have a very small scar where the lead is inserted near your tailbone.
Sacral nerve stimulation side-effects may include some minor discomfort at the site where the sacral nerve stimulation device is implanted following your surgery. This should settle over a few days although the site may remain sensitive for up to six weeks as scar tissue develops. Once it forms, the discomfort will begin to fade. The risk of long-term discomfort is small, and your consultant will be happy to discuss it with you.
Sacral nerve stimulation side-effects may include some minor discomfort at the site where the sacral nerve stimulation device is implanted following your surgery. This should settle over a few days although the site may remain sensitive for up to six weeks as scar tissue develops. Once it forms, the discomfort will begin to fade. The risk of long-term discomfort is small, and your consultant will be happy to discuss it with you.
“Mr Ockrim is very straightforward in his approach but also very sensitive to patients needs and gives time to answer all questions and concerns. I value his competency greatly and couldn’t wish to be in better hands for surgery. Thank you.”
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*Based on patient satisfaction questionnaires at HCA UK hospitals in 2025