You know the feeling. The sudden urge that comes out of nowhere. The mental math you do before every car trip, every dinner out, every long meeting: where is the nearest bathroom, and can you make it in time. Waking up at 2am. Then 4am. Planning your entire day around access to a restroom. Many people dealing with overactive bladder, urinary leakage, or fecal incontinence spend years managing symptoms on their own, assuming it is just part of getting older or something they have to live with. It is not. And too many people wait far too long to talk to a doctor about it, often out of embarrassment. But these are real, treatable medical conditions, and the treatments have come a long way. Introducing sacral neuromodulation in Artesia NM
If you have tried medications, pelvic floor exercises, or dietary changes and still are not getting your life back, there is an advanced option now available close to home. Artesia General Hospital is now offering sacral neuromodulation in Artesia, NM — sometimes called a bladder pacemaker — through two of our specialists, Dr. Michael C. Speck, MD, and Dr. Scott Beard, MD, FACOG, FPMRS. For patients in Artesia, Carlsbad, Roswell, and across southeastern New Mexico, this level of care is now available without the drive to Albuquerque.
What Is a Bladder Pacemaker? Understanding Sacral Neuromodulation
Sacral neuromodulation — most people find it easier to call it a bladder pacemaker — works by fixing a communication problem between your brain and your bladder.
Under normal conditions, your brain and bladder are constantly sending signals back and forth. Your bladder tells your brain when it is filling up. Your brain tells your bladder when to hold and when to release. When those signals get scrambled, the result is urgency, frequency, leakage, or difficulty emptying — even when there is no physical blockage or obvious cause.
A bladder pacemaker restores that conversation. A small device, about the size of a large coin, is placed just under the skin near your lower back. It sends gentle, continuous electrical pulses to the sacral nerves near your tailbone, which carry signals between the brain and the bladder. Think of it exactly like a cardiac pacemaker, which keeps the heart’s electrical signals on track. This one keeps your bladder’s signals on track.
Sacral neuromodulation has been FDA-approved since 1997. More than 300,000 people have been treated with it worldwide. Clinical studies report success rates between 67 and 85 percent across different conditions, and in one major study of 340 patients, 83 percent maintained meaningful improvement three years after receiving the implant.
What Conditions Does It Treat?
A bladder pacemaker may be the right option if you have been diagnosed with one of the following conditions and more conservative treatments have not given you adequate relief:
- Overactive bladder (OAB): the sudden, strong urge to urinate that is difficult or impossible to postpone, often with frequent trips to the bathroom day and night
- Urge urinary incontinence: leaking urine before you can reach the bathroom after feeling that urgent need to go
- Urinary retention: difficulty fully emptying your bladder even when there is no physical blockage (called non-obstructive urinary retention)
- Fecal incontinence: difficulty controlling bowel movements, including urgency or accidental leakage
These conditions are far more common than most people realize. Overactive bladder affects an estimated 30 million adults in the United States. Fecal incontinence affects nearly 19 million more. If you are dealing with one of these, you are in good company, and there are real solutions.
When Is a Bladder Pacemaker Recommended?
Sacral neuromodulation is not typically the first treatment your doctor will suggest, and that is by design. Most providers recommend working through other options first, and for good reason: many people find real relief from bladder training, pelvic floor physical therapy, and oral medications without needing a procedure at all.
But when those approaches stop working, or never worked well enough, or caused side effects you cannot manage — that is exactly when SNM becomes the right conversation to have. Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover sacral neuromodulation specifically because patients have already tried and exhausted conservative options first. You are not jumping ahead. You are taking the appropriate next step.
Ask yourself: have you tried lifestyle changes, bladder training exercises, or pelvic floor physical therapy? Have you taken medication for your bladder and found it either ineffective or hard to tolerate? If yes to either, you may already qualify.
How It Works: You Try It Before You Commit
Here is what surprises most people about sacral neuromodulation: you do not have to commit to anything permanent upfront. The procedure is done in two stages, and the whole point of the first stage is to make sure it actually works for you before anything lasting is placed.
First: A Trial Period With No Commitment
The first stage is a short trial period. Your provider places a thin wire near the sacral nerve through a small needle entry in your lower back. That wire connects to a small external stimulator you wear on a belt under your clothes. You go about your normal routine, and the device delivers gentle stimulation while you keep a diary tracking your symptoms.
A successful trial means at least 50 percent improvement in your symptoms. If you do not see that improvement, the wire is removed in a quick in-office procedure and nothing permanent was ever placed. If you do see improvement, you move to the next step.
Then: A Small Permanent Implant If It Works
If the trial goes well, the permanent implant is a straightforward outpatient procedure, typically completed in 30 to 45 minutes under local anesthesia with sedation. The small pulse generator is placed just beneath the skin near the upper buttock area.
After the procedure, you receive a handheld programmer that lets you adjust your stimulation settings within the range your provider sets. Most people are back to light daily activities within a few days. Your AGH care team will see you for follow-up visits over the first several months to fine-tune your settings until everything feels right.
One more thing worth knowing: the device can be turned off or removed at any time. This is not a permanent, irreversible change to your body. If you ever decide you want it out, that is an option.
| Bladder pacemaker: key facts FDA-approved since 1997 — over 25 years of clinical use More than 300,000 patients treated worldwide Two-stage: short trial first, permanent implant only if it works Outpatient procedure — you go home the same day Fully reversible: can be turned off or removed at any time Full-body MRI compatible with the Axonics F15 system Covered by Medicare and most major insurance when conservative treatments have been tried first Success rates of 67–85 percent across major clinical studies |
Are You a Good Candidate?
You may be a strong candidate for sacral neuromodulation if you have been diagnosed with overactive bladder, urge incontinence, urinary retention, or fecal incontinence, and at least one of the following is true:
- Behavioral changes and bladder training have not provided lasting relief
- You have completed pelvic floor physical therapy without enough improvement
- Medications have not worked well for you, or the side effects were not worth it
- You want a long-term solution that does not involve a daily pill
SNM is generally not recommended if you are pregnant, have a demand-type cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator, have a physical urinary blockage, or if your incontinence is primarily stress-type, meaning it happens when you cough, sneeze, or exercise rather than from urgency. Your provider will do a full evaluation to make sure it is the right fit before moving forward.
Both men and women can benefit from sacral neuromodulation. While most of the published research involves female patients, Dr. Speck has specific experience offering SNM to male patients through AGH’s urology practice.
Bladder Pacemaker Care at Artesia General Hospital
For patients in Artesia, Carlsbad, Roswell, and across southeastern New Mexico, getting access to a bladder pacemaker used to mean a significant drive to a larger city. That has changed. AGH now offers sacral neuromodulation through two experienced specialists, each approaching the therapy from their own clinical specialty.
Dr. Michael C. Speck, MD — Urology
Dr. Michael C. Speck, MD is a board-certified urologist offering sacral neuromodulation for both male and female patients through AGH’s urology program. He sees patients in both Artesia and Carlsbad. If your symptoms are primarily bladder-related, or if you are a male patient experiencing bladder or bowel control issues, Dr. Speck is your starting point.
Dr. Scott Beard, MD, FACOG, FPMRS — Urogynecology
Dr. Scott Beard, MD, FACOG, FPMRS is a fellowship-trained urogynecologist and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgeon. He offers sacral neuromodulation as part of AGH’s women’s health and urogynecology program. If your overactive bladder, urge incontinence, or pelvic floor symptoms are part of a broader women’s health picture, Dr. Beard is the right specialist.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Your first visit is a consultation, not a procedure. Either Dr. Beard or Dr. Speck will review your symptoms and medical history, ask about treatments you have already tried, and discuss whether sacral neuromodulation is the right fit. If it is, you will talk through the trial process and what to expect. There is no pressure to decide anything in that first visit. The goal is simply to get the right information so you can make an informed choice.
| Ready to find out if a bladder pacemaker is right for you?Call Artesia General Hospital at 575-748-3333 to request a consultation with Dr. Beard or Dr. Speck. Our team will help match you with the right specialist based on your symptoms. |
Frequently Asked Questions about sacral neuromodulation in Artesia NM
What exactly is a bladder pacemaker?
A bladder pacemaker is a common way to describe sacral neuromodulation (SNM). It is a small implantable device, similar in concept to a cardiac pacemaker, that sends gentle electrical pulses to the sacral nerves near your tailbone. Those pulses help restore normal communication between your brain and your bladder or bowel, reducing symptoms of urgency, leakage, frequency, or retention.
Is sacral neuromodulation painful?
Most people describe the stimulation as a mild tingling or buzzing sensation. The trial phase and implant procedure are both performed under local anesthesia with sedation, so you will not feel the procedure itself. Some soreness at the implant site is normal for a week or two afterward and is easily managed with over-the-counter pain relief.
What is the success rate?
Clinical studies report success rates between 67 and 85 percent depending on the condition being treated. In one landmark study of 340 patients, 83 percent who received a permanent SNM implant for overactive bladder maintained meaningful symptom improvement at three years of follow-up.
How long does the device last?
AGH uses the Axonics F15, which carries the longest recharge-free battery life of any sacral neuromodulation device on the market, with an expected lifespan of approximately 20-plus years. And because it is recharge-free, there is no charging pad, no recharging schedule, and nothing to manage. Once the implant is in place, you simply go about your life.
Can I have an MRI with the implant?
Yes. The Axonics F15 used at AGH is full-body MRI compatible, which was a significant limitation of older SNM devices. If you ever need an MRI for any reason, including completely unrelated conditions, you can generally do so safely. Just make sure to tell the imaging team about your implant ahead of the scan.
Who is not a good candidate?
SNM is generally not recommended if you are pregnant, have a demand-type cardiac pacemaker or implantable defibrillator, have a physical urinary obstruction, or if your incontinence is primarily stress-type rather than urgency-type. Certain neurological conditions may also require additional evaluation before proceeding. Dr. Beard or Dr. Speck will work through this with you at your consultation.
Is it covered by insurance?
Medicare and most major private insurance plans cover sacral neuromodulation when conservative treatments have been tried first and the procedure is medically indicated. Coverage details vary by plan. Our team can help you verify your benefits before any procedure takes place. Call 575-748-3333 with questions.
How long is recovery?
Recovery from the permanent implant is generally quick. Most people return to light daily activities within a few days and resume full normal activity within two to four weeks. Your care team will give you specific instructions, including temporary limits on bending and heavy lifting while the site heals.
Can it be reversed or removed?
Yes. The device can be turned off with the handheld programmer at any time. If you decide you want it removed, that is a straightforward surgical procedure. This reversibility is one of the key reasons many people choose SNM over other advanced options like Botox bladder injections, which require repeat procedures and cannot be adjusted between treatments.
What is the difference between sacral neuromodulation and a TENS unit?
A TENS unit delivers electrical stimulation through pads placed on the outside of the skin. It is an external device, effects are temporary, and it is mainly used for short-term pain relief. Sacral neuromodulation is an implanted device that delivers continuous, targeted stimulation directly to the sacral nerves for lasting bladder and bowel control. They are not the same thing and are not interchangeable.
Stop Planning Your Day Around the Nearest Bathroom
Overactive bladder, urge incontinence, and bowel control problems affect millions of people, but far too few ever get real treatment. If you have spent months or years just managing symptoms rather than solving them, it may be time for a different conversation.
Artesia General Hospital now offers sacral neuromodulation — the bladder pacemaker therapy that has helped over 300,000 people regain control of their bladder and bowel function. Dr. Beard and Dr. Speck see patients from Artesia, Carlsbad, Roswell, and throughout southeastern New Mexico. You do not have to travel far for this level of care. Call us at 575-748-3333 to schedule a consultation, or ask your primary care provider for a referral.
Learn more about our urology services and our women’s health and urogynecology program on our website.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Scott Beard, MD, FACOG, FPMRS and Dr. Michael C. Speck, MD Updated June 2026
También ofrecemos atención en español. Llame al 575-748-3333 para obtener más información.