Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS): The Painless Path
Here’s news: your ankle may affect your bladder! The posterior tibial nerve, which sits just behind your ankle, mingles with the bladder nerve and affects urinary incontinence.
PTNS at ChristiMD Medical Group aims to retrain the bladder nerve via that tibial nerve, for a calmer bladder and improved control.
Treatment Details
Treatment type
Surgical/Nonsurgical
Treatment frequency
12, then 1 every 3-4 months
Treatment time
25-30 minutes
Downtime
Zero downtime
What It Treats
Overactive bladder
Spastic bladder
Urge incontinence
How PTNS Works
Step 1
First, contact ChristiMD Medical Group for an initial consultation.
We'll talk with you openly and honestly about your concerns, and whether previous exercises and treatments have helped. Choosing PTNS doesn't preclude other approaches, and works well for patients who prefer non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical overactive bladder treatment.
Step 2
During each in-office procedure, a tiny needle is gently tapped into the area behind the ankle, next to (not into), the posterior tibial nerve.
The needle then connects to a neuro-stimulator to send messages to your bladder nerve.
Step 3
Once the needle is inserted and connected, you rest with your foot propped up for about 20 minutes while the treatment stimulates the posterior tibial nerve.
The sensation travels from your ankle to the spinal column where it connects with the bladder nerve in the S3 nerve root.
You may experience a buzzing feeling in your foot during the procedure, but it does not hurt.
Step 4
At the conclusion of the treatment, the needle is removed.
The recommended course is one 20-minute session, weekly, for 12 weeks. After the initial 12-week period, treatments are every 3 weeks for 4 months. Each patient is different, and the exact treatment schedule is individualized for you.
Benefits of PTNS Treatment in Houston, TX
Non-invasive and pharmaceutical-free
Outpatient visit
Zero downtime
Reduction in frequency & intensity of urges to pee
Reduction in "accidents" from sudden need to urinate
Real results
Results of PTNS
A few weeks into PTNS treatment in Houston, TX, almost every patient notices a big difference in the number of trips to the bathroom and urine leakage.
Learn More
a passionate, experienced medical team
About ChristiMD Medical Group
ChristiMD Medical Group provides a trustworthy and welcoming space for men and women alike, offering the most advanced medical treatments available under one roof. Dr. Christi is double board certified in urology and urogynecology, with over 26 years of experience.
We’ve helped thousands of patients across Texas experience positive, life-changing results. Better doctor. Better techniques. Better results.
Get started
Request a consultation to meet with our team and explore treatments to best address your unique concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, posterior tibial nerve stimulation is painless. The needle is similar to an acupuncture needle, and the nerve stimulation is often compared to a “buzzing feeling” in the foot.
Though practically every person with overactive bladder or spastic bladder syndrome is a candidate, anyone with a pacemaker or nerve damage should probably not have PTNS. Be sure to talk with Dr. Christi about your history before approaching the treatment.
Some of the most popular treatments women (and men) choose along with posterior tibial nerve stimulation include pelvic floor training, Emsella Chair treatments [link], and medications.