Ever Felt Like Your Bladder had a Mind of it’s Own
A Modern Approach with Ancient Roots for Bladder and Pelvic Floor Health
Let’s talk about something new (and exciting) that’s now available in the clinic – PTNT therapy, or Percutaneous Nerve Therapy.
For years, I’ve seen women suffer, feeling like their body is betraying them with frequent urination, urgency that sends them sprinting to the loo, or those little “oops” moments when they cough or sneeze. And let’s not forget the silent pain of pelvic discomfort, bowel struggles, or even pain during intimacy.
If you’ve been putting up with bladder leaks, urgency that rules your day, or discomfort in your pelvic floor, this might be the treatment you’ve been waiting for.
What Is PTNT ?
PTNT stands for Percutaneous Nerve Therapy, a modern treatment designed to calm an overactive bladder and restore healthy pelvic floor function.
But what makes it truly fascinating is its ancient-meets-modern origin.
In traditional Chinese medicine, we’ve always understood that the meridians in the legs are connected to the pelvic region. Energy, or Qi, flows through these channels, influencing the health of the organs and tissues below the waist.
Modern research now confirms what ancient medicine has known for centuries – that by gently stimulating a nerve in the lower leg (the tibial nerve), we can indirectly calm the nerves around the sacral area, which control your bladder and pelvic floor. It’s like sending a gentle, calming message to an overactive messenger system.
What Can PTNT Help With?
This isn’t just for one thing, it’s for a whole range of issues that can seriously impact your quality of life. Think:
Bladder issues:
Frequent urination (feeling like you’re always searching for a toilet)
Leakage when you cough, sneeze, or laugh
Strong or sudden urges to urinate (that panic moment of “I won’t make it!”)
Pelvic floor concerns:
Pelvic or lower back pain
Constipation or bowel leakage
Painful intercourse
Prolapse
Erectile dysfunction
For many of my clients, these symptoms aren’t just physical, they affect confidence, intimacy, sleep, and quality of life. PTNT offers a drug-free, gentle, and evidence-based option for relief.
What’s Involved in a PTNT Session?
Each PTNT session is calm and relaxing. We use very fine needles on specific points on your lower legs, lower abdomen, sacrum, or even the head. These needles are then connected to a mild electrical current that gently stimulates the nerves for about 30 minutes.
Then, a mild electrical current is applied. Most people describe it as incredibly relaxing, many even drift off to sleep during the 30-minute session! This gentle stimulation helps block those nerve signals that are causing unwanted bladder spasms or pelvic floor irritation.
The latest research is really promising, showing a 77% improvement in symptoms for people who received PTNT twice a week for six weeks (or once a week for 12 weeks).
Over the course of regular treatments, I’d expect to see the following positive changes: fewer trips to the loo, less leakage, and a general sense of peace in your pelvic area. Most then move to maintenance sessions every 4-8 weeks, to keep things ticking along nicely.
Who Should Avoid PTNT?
There are just a few situations where PTNT isn’t suitable:
If you have a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator
If you’re pregnant (although PTNT can be wonderful after childbirth to support pelvic floor recovery)
Over the next few weeks, I’ll share more about how PTNT can help with bladder care after childbirth, irritation linked to endometriosis, and even prostate issues. Keep an eye out!