​<span style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;">A new treatment procedure, Sacral Nerve Stimulator (SNS), to help patients with chronic dysfunction of the urinary, bowel and pelvic floor conditions has been introduced in the region at Aga Khan University Hospital.</span><br style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;"/><br style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;"/><span style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;">Along the spinal cord and through the lower back, there is the sacral area.  Here, nerve paths split off and go in different directions, some to the pelvic area.  The muscles in the pelvic floor, urethral and anal sphincter and bladder muscles are controlled by the brain through nerves that run from the sacral area. Sensations such as fullness in the bladder, or rectum are also relayed to the brain via these nerve routes.</span><br style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;"/><br style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;"/><span style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;">Dr Thikra Sharif, Pain Medicine Specialist and Head of the Pain Management Unit at the Aga Khan University Hospital, explained, “Sacral nerve stimulator is a reversible treatment for patients with bladder and bowel control difficulties, chronic pelvic pain problems and who have had conservative treatments which have not worked.”</span><br style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;"/><br style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;"/><span style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;">“Majority of these patients are unable to know when urine or stool comes out and often use diapers. This affects them psychologically and is very embarrassed to talk about the problem. With the new sacral nerve stimulator treatment now offered at Aga Khan University Hospital, most of them will be able to go about their daily activities without any difficulties and need for assistance.”</span><br style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;"/><br style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;"/><span style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;">“This procedure is carried using a small device (a neurotransmitter) that is implanted under the skin in the upper buttock area. The device sends mild electrical impulses through a lead that is positioned close to a nerve located in the lower back (the sacral nerve) which influences the bladder, the anal sphincter and the pelvic floor muscles.”</span><br style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;"/><br style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;"/><span style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;">“By stimulating the sacral nerve, a signal that manipulates a contraction within the pelvic floor is sent. Over time, these contractions rebuild the strength of the organs and muscles within it which in turn effectively alleviates all symptoms of urinary and faecal disorders and in many cases eliminates them completely.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;">”</span><br style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;"/><br style="font-family: helvetica; color: #222222;"/>