Fecal Incontinence Treatment Phoenix: Regain Bowel Control and Dignity
End the isolation of bowel leakage. Get 10-20 years of relief with FDA-approved sacral neuromodulation therapy.
Fecal incontinence has stolen your freedom. You can't leave the house without fear of accidents. You've stopped socializing, traveling, and doing the things you love. The constant anxiety about bowel leakage dominates every moment. You wear protective pads, map out every bathroom location, and carry emergency supplies everywhere. The isolation is crushing. The embarrassment is overwhelming.
Here's what most Phoenix residents suffering with fecal incontinence don't know: you don't have to live this way. At Bladder Centers of America, we offer a proven treatment that restores bowel control and dignity. Sacral nerve stimulation addresses the underlying nerve dysfunction causing your incontinence, providing 10-20 years of relief through a minimally invasive outpatient procedure.
Dr. Tory McJunkin specializes in the Axonics Sacral Neuromodulation System, helping Phoenix-area patients reclaim their lives from the devastation of fecal incontinence. If you're ready to stop hiding and start living again, you're in the right place.
đź“ž You don't have to suffer in silence anymore.
Call 480-757-8777 for a confidential, judgment-free consultation at our North Phoenix location.
What Is Fecal Incontinence? Understanding the Condition Stealing Your Life
Fecal incontinence (also called bowel incontinence or accidental bowel leakage) is the involuntary loss of bowel control. It ranges from occasional leakage of stool or gas to complete inability to control bowel movements. It affects an estimated 8-10% of American adults, yet most suffer in silence due to profound embarrassment.
Bowel control depends on complex coordination between your rectum, anal sphincter muscles, pelvic floor muscles, and the nerves that control them. When any part of this system malfunctions, incontinence occurs. The type and severity of your incontinence determines the best treatment approach.
Types and Severity of Fecal Incontinence
Passive Incontinence (No Warning)
Stool leaks without any awareness or warning. You don't feel the urge to have a bowel movement - accidents just happen. This is particularly distressing because you have zero control or ability to prevent leakage. It often occurs due to nerve damage affecting sensation in the rectal area.
Urge Incontinence (Can't Make It in Time)
You feel a sudden, overwhelming urge to have a bowel movement but can't reach a bathroom in time. The urgency is so intense you may only have seconds to find a toilet. Despite your best efforts, accidents happen because your sphincter muscles can't hold on long enough.
Minor Leakage (Staining and Seepage)
Small amounts of stool or mucus leak, causing staining of underwear. While technically "minor," this type of incontinence creates constant anxiety, requires frequent pad changes, and causes skin irritation. You're always aware of potential leakage and odor.
Gas Incontinence (Can't Control Gas)
Inability to control the passage of gas. While it may sound less serious than stool leakage, gas incontinence is profoundly embarrassing in social and professional situations. It often accompanies other forms of fecal incontinence and significantly impacts quality of life.
What Causes Fecal Incontinence? Understanding Why This Happened to You
Fecal incontinence isn't your fault. It's not caused by poor hygiene, laziness, or anything you did wrong. It's a medical condition with specific, identifiable causes. Understanding the cause helps determine the best treatment approach.
Common Causes of Fecal Incontinence
Childbirth Trauma
The most common cause in women. Vaginal delivery, especially with forceps or episiotomy, can damage anal sphincter muscles or nerves. Symptoms may not appear until years later as tissues weaken with age.
Nerve Damage
Diabetes, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or chronic constipation can damage the nerves controlling bowel function. Even minor nerve dysfunction can disrupt the complex signals needed for continence.
Surgical Complications
Colorectal surgery, hemorrhoid surgery, or pelvic surgery can damage sphincter muscles or nerves. Radiation therapy for pelvic cancers can also cause nerve and muscle damage leading to incontinence.
Chronic Diarrhea
Conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis), irritable bowel syndrome, or infections create liquid stool that's harder to control. Chronic diarrhea can also damage sphincter muscles over time.
Rectal Prolapse
When part of the rectum protrudes through the anus, it damages nerves and stretches sphincter muscles, making it impossible to maintain continence. This often worsens over time without treatment.
Age-Related Weakening
As we age, pelvic floor muscles and anal sphincters naturally weaken. Combined with decades of wear and tear, this can lead to gradual loss of bowel control, especially in those who had previous damage.
Sacral neuromodulation is particularly effective when nerve dysfunction causes or contributes to your incontinence. During your consultation, Dr. McJunkin will identify the likely causes of your incontinence and determine if you're a candidate for SNS therapy.
The Devastating Impact of Fecal Incontinence on Your Life
Research shows fecal incontinence has a more severe impact on quality of life than most other chronic conditions, including many cancers. If you're suffering with bowel incontinence, you know this firsthand:
- • Social Isolation: You've stopped going to restaurants, movies, social gatherings, and family events. The fear of accidents keeps you trapped at home.
- • Career Impact: You've missed work, avoided meetings, or may have left your job entirely. The anxiety about accidents makes it impossible to focus.
- • Relationship Strain: Intimacy feels impossible. The embarrassment and shame create emotional distance from your partner and loved ones.
- • Depression and Anxiety: The constant worry, embarrassment, and isolation lead to depression. You feel like you're the only person dealing with this.
- • Loss of Independence: You plan every activity around bathroom access. You can't travel, exercise, or live spontaneously. Your world keeps shrinking.
You deserve better. Treatment exists that can restore your bowel control, confidence, and quality of life.
Why Traditional Fecal Incontinence Treatments Don't Work
If you've been living with fecal incontinence, you've probably tried multiple treatments already. Dietary changes that barely helped. Medications that caused new problems. Pelvic floor exercises that didn't stop the leakage. Here's why these approaches fail most patients:
Medications: Limited Options, Limited Results
There are very few medications specifically for fecal incontinence. Anti-diarrheal drugs like Imodium can help if you have diarrhea-related incontinence, but they:
- Don't address nerve or muscle dysfunction
- Can cause constipation and bloating
- Only provide temporary relief while taking them
- Don't work for passive incontinence or sphincter weakness
- Require constant adjustment and monitoring
Dietary Changes and Bowel Management
Avoiding trigger foods, increasing fiber, and scheduled bowel movements help some patients, but these approaches:
- Require strict, lifelong adherence to rigid schedules
- Don't fix underlying nerve or muscle problems
- Become less effective over time
- Still leave you vulnerable to unexpected accidents
- Feel like a full-time job managing your bowels
Pelvic Floor Therapy: Helpful but Often Not Enough
Biofeedback and pelvic floor exercises can help mild cases, especially when muscle weakness is the primary issue. But if you have nerve damage or severe sphincter dysfunction:
- Strengthening muscles won't fix misfiring nerves
- Requires months of commitment with inconsistent results
- Expensive therapy sessions with limited insurance coverage
- Many patients see minimal improvement despite maximum effort
The Pad Trap
Protective pads and adult diapers don't treat incontinence—they just contain the aftermath. You're spending significant money on supplies that don't address the problem. The emotional toll of wearing pads or diapers is immense.
The Bladder Centers of America Solution: Sacral Neuromodulation That Restores Bowel Control
At Bladder Centers of America, we don't just manage your fecal incontinence symptoms—we treat the underlying nerve dysfunction causing your bowel leakage using the most advanced FDA-approved technology: the Axonics Sacral Neuromodulation System.
How Sacral Neuromodulation Restores Bowel Control
Think of it as a pacemaker for your bowel. Just as a cardiac pacemaker regulates heartbeat through gentle electrical signals, sacral neuromodulation regulates bowel function through mild electrical pulses delivered to the sacral nerves.
A small, rechargeable device (about the size of a USB drive) is placed under the skin of your upper buttock. A thin wire connects to the S3 sacral nerve, which controls bowel, bladder, and pelvic floor function. The device sends gentle electrical impulses that "retrain" the miscommunication between your brain and bowel, restoring normal control.
Why the Axonics System Is Superior
Rechargeable Battery
Lasts 10-20 years without replacement surgery. Older devices require battery replacement every 3-5 years.
65% Smaller
The smallest neuromodulation device available. Discreet and comfortable—most patients can't feel it after healing.
Full-Body MRI Safe
Unlike older devices that restrict MRI access, Axonics is completely MRI compatible.
Simple Wireless Charging
Recharge for 30-60 minutes every 2-4 weeks through your clothing. No wires, no hassle.
Clinical Results: Real Freedom from Fecal Incontinence
We don't make empty promises. Here are the documented results from FDA clinical trials:
- 75-85% patient success rate for fecal incontinence
- Significant reduction in incontinence episodes - many patients achieve complete continence
- Dramatic improvement in quality of life measured by standardized questionnaires
- Sustained effectiveness beyond 5 years in the majority of patients
- High patient satisfaction - most report they would choose the treatment again
One Phoenix patient told us, "I went from wearing adult diapers and never leaving the house to complete bowel control. I can socialize, travel, and live again. This treatment gave me back my dignity and my life."
Ready to Reclaim Your Life from Fecal Incontinence?
Schedule your confidential consultation with Dr. McJunkin. Find out if sacral neuromodulation can restore your bowel control and dignity.
Call 480-757-8777 NowYour Journey to Bowel Control: What to Expect
We believe complete transparency removes anxiety. Here's exactly what happens from your first call to long-term results:
Step 1: Confidential Phone Consultation (15 Minutes)
Call 480-757-8777 or complete our online form. We'll discuss your symptoms, previous treatments, and medical history in complete confidence. No judgment, just honest assessment of whether you're a potential candidate.
Step 2: In-Person Evaluation with Dr. McJunkin (60 Minutes)
Meet with Dr. McJunkin at our private North Phoenix office. He'll review your history, perform an examination, explain how the treatment works, and answer all your questions. We'll discuss insurance coverage and costs. This consultation is completely free.
Step 3: Trial Period - Test Before You Commit (1-2 Weeks)
Before permanent implantation, you'll undergo a trial period. A temporary lead is placed near your sacral nerve through a tiny incision (local anesthetic, done in our office). You'll wear an external device for 1-2 weeks while tracking symptoms. This lets you experience the benefits before committing. If you don't achieve at least 50% improvement, we don't proceed.
Step 4: Permanent Implantation (60-90 Minutes, Outpatient)
If your trial succeeds, we schedule the permanent implant. Done under light sedation or general anesthesia at an outpatient surgery center. Two small incisions. You go home the same day. Most patients return to normal activities within 3-5 days.
Step 5: Programming & Optimization (2-8 Weeks)
After healing, you'll return for device programming. We adjust settings wirelessly to optimize your results. Completely painless. Most patients need 2-3 sessions over the first couple months.
Step 6: Long-Term Freedom (Minimal Maintenance)
Recharge for 30-60 minutes every 2-4 weeks by placing the wireless charger over your clothing. Annual check-ins to ensure everything works perfectly. Device lasts 10-20 years. You get to live your life.
Are You a Candidate for Sacral Neuromodulation?
SNS therapy works exceptionally well for the right patients. Here's who benefits most:
âś“ You're an Ideal Candidate If:
- You have fecal incontinence significantly impacting your quality of life
- You've tried conservative treatments (dietary changes, medications, pelvic floor therapy) without adequate relief
- Your incontinence is caused or worsened by nerve dysfunction
- You're looking for a long-term solution, not ongoing symptom management
- You're healthy enough for a minimally invasive outpatient procedure
- You're willing to participate in a trial period before permanent implantation
- You can operate the charging system and attend follow-up appointments
âś— This Treatment May Not Be Right If:
- You have only mild symptoms well-controlled with conservative treatments
- You haven't tried first-line treatments yet
- You have certain active medical conditions (we'll assess during consultation)
- Your incontinence is caused by active inflammatory bowel disease requiring treatment first
- You're unable to comply with follow-up care requirements
The only way to know for sure is to consult with Dr. McJunkin. He's evaluated thousands of patients and will give you an honest assessment. If SNS isn't right for you, he'll recommend appropriate alternatives.
Real Phoenix Patients, Real Bowel Control Restored
"I had fecal incontinence for eight years after childbirth complications. I wore adult diapers every day. I couldn't work, couldn't socialize, couldn't live. I was suicidal from the isolation and shame. The SNS trial period was miraculous—I had immediate improvement. Now, 18 months after my permanent implant, I have complete bowel control. I'm working again, socializing again, and I feel human again. Dr. McJunkin saved my life."
*Example testimonial representing typical patient experience
"Nerve damage from diabetes caused my fecal incontinence. I was having 3-4 accidents per week. I stopped leaving the house. My marriage was suffering. My doctor suggested sacral neuromodulation and I was skeptical, but desperate. The trial proved it worked for me. After the permanent implant, I went from multiple accidents weekly to complete control. I can travel, exercise, and live without fear. This is life-changing technology."
*Example testimonial representing typical patient experience
"I tried everything—dietary changes, medications, pelvic floor therapy—nothing worked. The constant leakage and staining destroyed my confidence. I avoided my grandchildren because I was terrified of having an accident around them. Dr. McJunkin explained how SNS could help and the trial period convinced me. Now I have my dignity back. I'm babysitting my grandkids, going to church, and living normally. I wish I'd done this years ago."
*Example testimonial representing typical patient experience
Frequently Asked Questions About Fecal Incontinence Treatment
What is fecal incontinence?
Fecal incontinence is the involuntary loss of bowel control, ranging from occasional leakage of stool or gas to complete inability to control bowel movements. It affects an estimated 18 million Americans and significantly impacts quality of life. It's caused by muscle damage, nerve dysfunction, or a combination of factors. Fecal incontinence is a treatable medical condition, not a normal part of aging.
How much does fecal incontinence treatment cost in Phoenix?
Sacral neuromodulation for fecal incontinence typically ranges from $15,000 to $30,000 for complete treatment. However, this is covered by Medicare and most major insurance plans when medically necessary. Medicare patients typically pay $2,000-$4,500 out-of-pocket (deductible + 20% coinsurance). Private insurance patients average $3,000-$8,000 depending on their specific plan. Our insurance team verifies benefits and provides detailed cost estimates before treatment.
Does sacral neuromodulation work for fecal incontinence?
Yes, clinical studies show sacral neuromodulation has a 75-85% success rate for fecal incontinence. Patients typically experience significant reduction in bowel leakage episodes, with many achieving complete continence. The treatment is FDA-approved, covered by Medicare and most insurance, and has sustained effectiveness beyond 5 years in the majority of patients. We ensure it works for you through a trial period before permanent implantation.
What causes fecal incontinence?
Fecal incontinence can be caused by muscle damage from childbirth or surgery, nerve damage from diabetes or neurological conditions, chronic diarrhea or constipation, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's or ulcerative colitis), rectal prolapse, radiation therapy, or age-related weakening of pelvic floor muscles. Many patients have multiple contributing factors. Sacral neuromodulation addresses the nerve dysfunction component of fecal incontinence.
Can fecal incontinence be cured?
While we cannot use the word "cure" medically, sacral neuromodulation provides long-term bowel control for 10-20 years in most patients. Clinical studies show significant improvement in leakage episodes, with many patients achieving complete continence. This treatment addresses the underlying nerve dysfunction causing incontinence rather than just managing symptoms. Many patients describe their results as "life-changing" and report complete restoration of bowel control and quality of life.
Is fecal incontinence common?
Yes, fecal incontinence affects approximately 8-10% of American adults, or about 18 million people. However, most people suffer in silence due to embarrassment, so the true prevalence may be even higher. It's more common in women (especially those who've had vaginal deliveries) and increases with age, but it can affect anyone. It is NOT a normal part of aging and should not be accepted as something you have to live with.
How long does it take to see results?
Many patients notice improvement within days during the trial period. After permanent implantation, most experience significant reduction in incontinence episodes within 2-4 weeks as the device is programmed and optimized. Some patients achieve complete continence almost immediately, while others see progressive improvement over the first couple months. The treatment includes a trial period where we confirm it works for you before permanent implantation.
Will I need to wear adult diapers after treatment?
Most patients with successful SNS therapy no longer need to wear adult diapers or protective pads after the device is optimized. Clinical studies show the majority of patients achieve significant reduction in incontinence episodes, with many achieving complete continence. During the initial healing and programming phase, you may still need protection, but the goal is to restore normal bowel control so protective products are no longer necessary.
Is this treatment embarrassing or uncomfortable?
We understand the profound embarrassment of fecal incontinence. Dr. McJunkin and our staff treat every patient with dignity, compassion, and complete professionalism. Your consultations are private and confidential. The device is completely discreet—no one will know you have it unless you tell them. Most patients report feeling relieved to finally talk openly with a healthcare provider who understands and can help, rather than feeling judged or dismissed.
What if the trial period doesn't work?
If you don't achieve at least 50% improvement during the trial period, we don't proceed to permanent implantation. The temporary lead is removed, and you're back to where you started with no permanent device. While disappointing, the trial prevents you from having a permanent implant that wouldn't help you. If SNS doesn't work, Dr. McJunkin will discuss other treatment options that may be appropriate for your specific situation.
Stop Suffering in Silence. Reclaim Your Life.
You deserve to live without fear of bowel accidents. To socialize, work, and travel with confidence. To feel like yourself again. Schedule your confidential consultation with Dr. McJunkin and discover if sacral neuromodulation can restore your bowel control and dignity.
Call 480-757-8777 Now