"Before, I had to get up to use the toilet ten times a night. Once I lay down, I had to get up again. I couldn't sleep well at all. The first thing I did when going out was to look for the toilet sign... Now, it's different. I can go out happily with my wife and children again!" Mr. Li (a pseudonym), who is in his 40s, held his post-operative examination report and showed a long-lost relaxed smile on his face. Over the past year, he was plagued by stubborn urinary dysfunction. Conservative drug treatment had little effect, and his life was in a mess. It wasn't until he underwent sacral nerve stimulation surgery that he finally broke free from this "unmentionable problem".

Recalling those painful days, Mr. Li's tone was full of helplessness. A year ago, he suddenly experienced frequent urination and incomplete urination. At first, he thought it was a common urinary tract infection and took antibiotics by himself, but the symptoms not only didn't improve but became even more severe. Later, it developed to the point where he had frequent urges to urinate even after drinking a little water. The torment at night broke him down. He had to get up once every two hours on average, and sometimes he was awakened by the urge to urinate while still asleep. The next day, he felt dizzy and irritable at work, and his family was also affected.
Later, Mr. Li was diagnosed with stubborn urinary dysfunction. The doctor formulated a conservative drug treatment plan for him, but from the third month to the sixth month of taking the medication, the symptoms did not show any significant improvement. Instead, due to long-term medication, he developed gastrointestinal discomfort such as nausea and abdominal distension. "I was in a very painful state at that time." Until July this year, Mr. Li learned that the provincial hospital had carried out sacral nerve stimulation surgery, which could treat this stubborn disease, so he went there for treatment specifically.
On July 11th, Mr. Li completed the first-stage test and evaluation surgery for sacral nerve stimulation at the provincial hospital. The surgery went very smoothly. The doctor implanted a small temporary electrode in his sacral region, and then slowly adjusted the stimulation parameters through an external programmer. To his surprise, the effect was more obvious than expected. His urination frequency during the day decreased from one time per hour to two to three times per two to three hours. The urgency of urinary incontinence was significantly reduced, and it did not recur. The number of times he got up at night decreased from ten times to two to three times. "That was the first time in nearly a year that I slept for six hours," he said.
The first-stage test results were remarkable. The next step was to undergo the second-stage permanent implantation surgery. Just as Mr. Li was preparing to go to the provincial hospital again, a neighbor mentioned, "Our Yantai Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital can perform this surgery. Why go so far?" At first, Mr. Li was still a bit skeptical. So, he specifically came to the urology department of Yantai Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to inquire. He learned that the department could perform such surgeries and could provide postoperative traditional Chinese medicine services. He then changed his mind decisively: "Saving five hours of travel time, doing the surgery at home is not only convenient but also makes it easier for family members to take care of me!" 
On August 25th, Mr. Li came to the urology department of Yantai Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital for the surgery. Director Yu Jianyong combined the data from his first-stage test at the provincial hospital and formulated a personalized second-stage surgery plan for him. The entire surgery lasted only one hour and the doctor precisely implanted a small stimulator under the skin of his right buttock. The wound was only one or two centimeters, and the scar would hardly be visible after healing. "I could get out of bed and move slowly on the day of the surgery," Mr. Li said. What made him most satisfied was the convenience of the follow-up check-ups. "No need to travel long distances. I can adjust the parameters at the hospital whenever needed. It saved a lot of trouble." After the surgery, the nursing team of the urology department also provided him with traditional Chinese medicine therapies such as acupoint application to help him recover after the surgery.
Now, Mr. Li has been discharged from the hospital successfully. Before discharge, his urinary function had basically returned to normal: his urination frequency during the day was stable at 4-5 times, and he got up once or twice at night. Urinary incontinence had completely disappeared. "Next week, I plan to take my children to the aquarium. My child wants to go home with us this spring, but I was always afraid of inconvenience on the way and never dared to agree. Now, I can finally fulfill her wish," he said. Mr. Li smiled and said, "Now, I can finally enjoy the happy moments of being with my family like a normal person. The problem of urination seems like a trivial matter, but it directly affects the physical and mental health and quality of life of patients. The so-called sacral nerve regulation surgery is to install an 'intelligent pacemaker' on the bladder, allowing the disordered urination function to return to a normal rhythm. After years of innovation and development, this technology has now reached a relatively mature stage, being safer and more accurate. We carry out this mature technology because we hope to enable more patients to enjoy a high-quality life level." Director Yu Jianyong said. What is sacral nerve regulation surgery?
In simple terms, sacral nerve regulation surgery is like installing an "intelligent pacemaker" on the nerves of the bladder, intestines, and pelvic floor. It uses weak electrical pulses to stimulate and regulate the sacral nerves located near the sacrum, which are responsible for controlling the storage and urination of the bladder, the defecation of the rectum, and the functions of the pelvic floor muscles. When the signals of these nerves are transmitted abnormally, it leads to a series of functional disorders. Its function is to "correct" these erroneous signals, allowing the organ functions to return to normal, and it is an internationally recognized advanced therapy for stubborn lower urinary tract dysfunction. What are the advantages of sacral nerve regulation surgery?
1. Minimally invasive and reversible: The surgical trauma is small, and it does not damage the normal anatomical structure. 2. Adjustable: After the surgery, the parameters can be adjusted outside the body according to the patient's response, achieving individualized treatment. 3. Remarkable efficacy: It still has significant efficacy for patients who have not responded to traditional treatments or cannot tolerate the side effects of drugs. 4. Rigorous treatment process: Sacral nerve regulation surgery is carried out in two stages, ensuring that patients can benefit from the treatment. (1) The first-stage testing stage: The stimulation electrodes are precisely implanted into the target sacral nerve holes, and a temporary external stimulator is connected for testing. During this stage, the patient's symptoms usually improve significantly. (2) The second-stage permanent implantation: After the test is successful, the stimulator is permanently implanted under the skin of the buttocks, continuously emitting mild electrical pulses to regulate the signals of the sacral nerves. What is the applicable range of sacral nerve regulation surgery?
It is mainly for diseases that have not responded to conservative treatment: 1. Overactive bladder: manifested as urgent urinary incontinence, frequent urination, and urgency, and are unresponsive to behavioral therapy and drug treatment or cannot tolerate the side effects of drugs. 2. Non-obstructive urinary retention: The bladder cannot effectively empty urine, but is not caused by mechanical obstruction such as prostate enlargement or urethral stenosis. Patients often need catheterization. 3. Fecal incontinence: Intractable fecal incontinence that is ineffective for traditional treatments such as diet, drugs, and pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation. 4. Chronic constipation: Especially slow transit constipation, where other treatment methods are ineffective.