Phoenix’s Sacral Neuromodulation Center for Bladder & Bowel Control
Advanced sacral neuromodulation — also known as a bladder pacemaker, bladder stimulator, or bladder implant — for overactive bladder, urge incontinence, fecal incontinence, nocturia, and urinary retention. Led by the #1 global provider of Axonics.
Finally stop planning life around the bathroom.
★ 5.0 · 127 Google Reviews · Center of Excellence · Medicare Accepted · No Referral Required · Phoenix, AZ
Conditions We Treat
Phoenix's SNM Center of Excellence — focused on advanced therapies for adults whose conditions haven't responded to behavioral therapy and medications.
Overactive Bladder
Urgency, frequency, nocturia. Affects ~1 in 6 U.S. adults.
Urge Incontinence
Sudden, uncontrollable leakage triggered by strong urge.
Fecal Incontinence
Loss of bowel control. SNM is a leading implanted therapy for appropriate patients.
Nocturia
Waking 2+ times nightly to urinate. Disrupts sleep and health.
Urinary Retention
Difficulty emptying. Non-obstructive cases respond to SNM.
You May Be a Candidate If…
Sacral neuromodulation is most often considered when conservative therapies have not provided enough relief. Many of our patients arrive with at least one of the following.
How Sacral Neuromodulation Works
Sacral neuromodulation — also called a bladder pacemaker, bladder stimulator, or bladder implant for incontinence — uses a small nerve stimulator for the bladder that delivers mild electrical pulses to the S3 sacral nerve. Sometimes referred to as sacral nerve stimulation or SNM therapy, this implant for overactive bladder and bowel symptoms coordinates the nerves that control bladder, bowel, and pelvic-floor function. We use the Axonics System (a Boston Scientific company) and Medtronic InterStim, the two FDA-approved SNM platforms.
External Trial
A few days wearing an external trial unit to confirm your symptom response — before any permanent commitment.
Permanent Implant
A minimally-invasive same-day outpatient procedure under local anesthesia with sedation. Many patients resume light activity the same day, depending on the procedure and physician instructions.
Programming
Settings fine-tuned over 2–8 weeks. The device is reversible — turn off or remove at any time.
You've planned life around the bathroom long enough.
Sacral neuromodulation has helped many patients reduce urgency, sleep through the night, and regain confidence — restful sleep, confident outings, and freedom from urgency. In the two-year ARTISAN-SNM clinical study, the largest of its kind:
of patients were satisfied with their therapy
of patients achieved ≥50% reduction in urgency incontinence symptoms
of patients reported discomfort at the implant site
Source: ARTISAN-SNM 2-year clinical study · Pezzella et al. (2021) · PMID 33508155
How Sacral Neuromodulation Compares
Not every OAB or incontinence treatment is right for every patient. Here is how the leading therapies compare in head-to-head meta-analyses.
| Treatment | Best For | What the Evidence Shows |
|---|---|---|
| Medications | First-line OAB | Only about 1 in 8 patients achieves durable symptom control. Anticholinergics are linked to increased dementia risk and falls in older adults. |
| Pelvic floor therapy | Stress / mixed symptoms | Helpful adjunct, but typically does not resolve neurogenic urgency or fecal incontinence. |
| PTNS | Office-based, no implant | ~0.8 fewer voids/day. Requires weekly visits for 12 weeks, then monthly maintenance indefinitely; only ~26% of responders maintain benefit at 3 years. |
| Bladder Botox | OAB / urge incontinence | Effective short-term, but 1.55× higher adverse-event rate and 1.58× higher early UTI risk vs. SNM. Requires repeat injections every 6–9 months. |
| Sacral Neuromodulation | OAB, urge incontinence, fecal incontinence, urinary retention | Ranked #1 of all third-line therapies in a 17-RCT meta-analysis: reduces frequency by 6.4–8.1 voids/day and incontinence by 8.9–10.96 episodes/day. Trial first, then a 15–20-year rechargeable implant if successful. |
Sources: Wang et al., Toxins 2020 (17-RCT network meta-analysis) · Eftekhar et al., Int Urogynecol J 2020 (SNM vs Botox).
Meet Our Specialist
Dr. Tory L. McJunkin
With his knowledge, procedural skills, and the use of neuromodulation technology, Dr. McJunkin has been able to help many patients who previously had little hope for a full life. He believes he is called to make people better, it’s in his nature, and he combines this calling with passion to deliver innovative treatments to the state of Arizona. Dr. McJunkin is the #1 Axonics physician in the world, having implanted more Axonics sacral neuromodulation systems than any other doctor.
Why patients travel for Dr. McJunkin's expertise
- #1 Global Provider of Axonics (a Boston Scientific company) bladder stimulation
- Author and Editor of the textbook Sacral Neuromodulation for the Treatment of Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction
- 55+ peer-reviewed journal articles and textbook chapters
- Has trained 1,000+ physicians in neuromodulation and other techniques since 2007
- Former Mayo Clinic faculty; triple board-certified in interventional pain, anesthesiology, and functional medicine
What Our Patients Say on Google
5.0 stars · 127 verified Google reviews
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
No pressure, no committing to surgery on day one. The first visit is a conversation.
Your story, in your words
We review your symptom history, prior treatments, and what's been tried. Bring your voiding diary if you have one.
Honest candidacy review
Dr. McJunkin walks through whether SNM is the right next step, and what alternatives make sense if not.
A clear plan
If SNM is appropriate, we schedule the trial phase. Our team handles your insurance prior authorization.
Telehealth available for the initial consultation. We send the video link 24 hours before your appointment.
Insurance & Getting Started
No referral is required. Medicare and most major commercial plans cover sacral neuromodulation when medical necessity criteria are met. Our team handles your prior authorization. Your first appointment can be a telehealth visit — no need to travel for the initial consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sacral neuromodulation the same as a bladder pacemaker or bladder stimulator?
Yes. Bladder pacemaker, bladder stimulator, and sacral neuromodulation all refer to the same FDA-approved therapy. A small nerve stimulator for bladder and bowel control is implanted near the sacral nerve and delivers gentle electrical pulses to help regulate bladder and bowel function — similar in concept to a cardiac pacemaker, but for the urinary and bowel pathways. Common brand names include Axonics and Medtronic InterStim.
What is a sacral neuromodulation trial, and is it reversible?
A sacral neuromodulation trial is a short test phase — typically one to two weeks — using a temporary lead and an external stimulator. You go about your normal life and track whether your urgency, leakage, frequency, or bowel symptoms improve. Only patients who experience meaningful improvement during the trial proceed to a permanent implant. The trial is fully reversible: the temporary lead is removed in the office at the end of the trial period.
What does Bladder Centers of America treat?
Bladder Centers of America treats overactive bladder, urinary urgency incontinence, urinary frequency, nocturia, fecal incontinence, and non-obstructive urinary retention in Phoenix, Arizona, with a clinical focus on sacral neuromodulation.
What is sacral neuromodulation?
Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is a minimally-invasive FDA-approved therapy that delivers gentle electrical pulses to the S3 sacral nerve, the nerve that coordinates bladder, bowel, and pelvic-floor function. We use the Axonics System (a Boston Scientific company) and Medtronic InterStim.
Who is a candidate for sacral neuromodulation?
Adults with overactive bladder, urgency urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, or non-obstructive urinary retention may be candidates — especially when medications, behavioral therapy, or other advanced treatments have not provided enough relief. Sacral neuromodulation for overactive bladder and sacral neuromodulation for urinary incontinence is FDA-approved and Medicare-covered when medical-necessity criteria are met. Patients first complete a short test phase before deciding whether to proceed with a permanent implant.
Can I try it before getting an implant?
Yes. Every patient first completes a short external trial — a few days wearing a removable test stimulator — to confirm symptom response before any permanent commitment. If the trial doesn't produce meaningful improvement, the lead is removed and you've lost nothing but a few days.
Do I need a referral?
No. Bladder Centers of America accepts self-referrals. Some HMO plans require a PCP referral for the visit to be covered — call the plan's member-services number before scheduling if you're on an HMO. Medicare, most PPO plans, and most Medicare Advantage plans do not require a referral.
Does Medicare cover sacral neuromodulation?
Yes. Medicare covers SNM for urinary urgency incontinence, urgency-frequency, non-obstructive urinary retention, and fecal incontinence when medical-necessity criteria are met (typically prior failure of conservative therapy and medications). Most major commercial plans — Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare — also cover SNM under similar criteria.
What's the difference between Axonics and Medtronic InterStim?
Both Axonics and Medtronic InterStim are FDA-approved sacral neuromodulation systems that stimulate the S3 sacral nerve. Dr. McJunkin implants both and helps each patient choose the device best matched to their anatomy, MRI needs, charging preference, and treatment goals.
Is the procedure painful?
Most patients describe both the trial and the permanent implant as surprisingly comfortable. Both are done under local anesthesia with sedation. There's some implant-site soreness for 1–2 weeks, typically managed with over-the-counter analgesics. Opioids are rarely needed.
Ready to see if you’re a candidate?
Most patients start with a short consultation and, when appropriate, a temporary external trial before making any permanent decision. Your first appointment can be telehealth.