Your Bladder Won't
Fully Empty. We Can Help.
Non-obstructive urinary retention — the inability to completely empty your bladder due to nerve dysfunction — is one of the conditions other physicians give up on. At Bladder Centers of America, it's one of the four conditions we're FDA-approved to treat with sacral neuromodulation. And it's one of the most life-improving procedures we perform.
Urinary Retention & SNM
What you need to know before your first call
What is urinary retention —
and why does the type matter?
Urinary retention is the inability to fully empty the bladder when urinating. It is not the same as incontinence — instead of leaking urine, the bladder holds onto it. But the consequences are just as significant: chronic discomfort, recurrent urinary tract infections, kidney stress, and a constant sense that you never quite "finished."
There are two fundamentally different types of urinary retention, and the treatment for each is completely different. The critical distinction is whether a physical blockage is causing the problem, or whether the issue is a nerve communication failure that prevents the bladder muscle from contracting properly.
Sacral neuromodulation treats the non-obstructive type — when the bladder's motor nerve signal is disrupted, causing incomplete emptying, even though there's no structural obstruction. This can occur after pelvic surgery, as a result of neurological conditions, or without any identifiable cause.
Dr. McJunkin evaluates every patient to confirm the retention is non-obstructive before considering SNM. If your retention has a structural cause, he will tell you honestly and direct you appropriately.
Physical blockage prevents flow
A structural obstacle prevents urine from passing through or out of the bladder.
- Enlarged prostate (BPH)
- Urethral stricture
- Bladder stones or tumors
- Treated by removing the obstruction
- SNM is not indicated
Nerve failure prevents contraction
No physical blockage exists — the bladder muscle simply can't receive or act on the signal to empty fully.
- Post-surgical nerve disruption
- Fowler's syndrome
- Neurological conditions (MS, Parkinson's)
- Idiopathic (no identifiable cause)
- SNM is FDA-approved for this type
Signs your bladder isn't
fully emptying when it should.
Urinary retention is often underdiagnosed because patients adapt to its symptoms without recognizing them as a medical condition.
Feeling like you never finish
A persistent sense that your bladder is never quite empty, even immediately after urinating. You void, but feel unsatisfied.
Weak or interrupted urine stream
Difficulty starting urination, a stream that stops and starts, or significantly reduced force — especially compared to how urination felt before.
Frequent small-volume voids
Because the bladder is never fully empty, it fills again faster — leading to frequent urination with small amounts each time.
Recurrent urinary tract infections
Retained urine becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. If you're getting UTIs repeatedly, incomplete emptying may be the underlying cause.
Pelvic pressure or discomfort
A constant low-level pressure, fullness, or discomfort in the lower abdomen — even when you've recently urinated.
High post-void residual on ultrasound
If a bladder scan has shown significant retained urine after voiding, that's objective confirmation of retention — and the starting point for an SNM evaluation.
Acute urinary retention is a medical emergency
If you suddenly cannot urinate at all and are experiencing significant pain or pressure, this is acute urinary retention — go to an emergency room immediately. The information on this page pertains to chronic, non-obstructive urinary retention, which develops gradually and is managed as a long-term condition. If you're unsure which applies to you, call us and we'll help you determine next steps.
What other treatments miss —
and why the nerve is the answer.
The bladder has lost its signal
In non-obstructive retention, the sacral nerve that tells the bladder to contract is either not sending the signal properly, or the bladder isn't responding. SNM recalibrates that communication — directly.
Catheterization is not a solution
Many patients with urinary retention end up using catheters daily or living with an indwelling catheter. Catheters carry significant infection risk and dramatically reduce quality of life. SNM can eliminate the need for catheterization in appropriate patients.
Other physicians often have no answer
Non-obstructive urinary retention is a condition that stumps many general urologists. It's uncommon, complex, and the treatment options are narrow. Dr. McJunkin has extensive experience specifically in this indication — it's one of the reasons patients travel from across the Southwest to see him.
SNM restores normal bladder contraction
Rather than working around the problem (catheters) or suppressing other symptoms, SNM targets the sacral nerve to restore the signal the bladder needs to contract fully and empty properly.
One of the few therapies with real evidence for non-obstructive retention.
Sacral neuromodulation was FDA-approved for non-obstructive urinary retention in 1999 — making it one of the oldest and most established SNM indications. For appropriate patients, it can restore the ability to empty the bladder naturally and eliminate dependence on catheterization.
From evaluation to empty —
here's exactly what to expect.
Three steps. Full transparency. You confirm the therapy is working before any permanent commitment.
Candidacy Evaluation
Dr. McJunkin reviews your history, imaging, and post-void residual volumes to confirm your retention is non-obstructive. This can often begin with a telehealth visit. If you're not a candidate, he tells you directly and discusses other options.
External Trial
A temporary lead is placed near the S3 sacral nerve. You track how well you're able to empty during the trial period. If improvement is meaningful, we proceed. If not, the lead is removed and you've lost nothing. Every patient completes this step first.
Permanent Implant & Freedom
A same-day outpatient procedure under local anesthesia. The Axonics device is placed and fine-tuned over 2–8 weeks. It lasts 10–20 years and is fully reversible at any time. Our team handles all insurance prior authorization at no cost.
Honest evaluation. Trial before commitment. You're always in control.
Dr. McJunkin is one of the few physicians in the country with deep experience treating non-obstructive urinary retention with SNM. He will tell you plainly whether you are a candidate — and if not, why, and what else might help.
Dr. McJunkin treats the cases other physicians can't solve.
Non-obstructive urinary retention is a specialty within a specialty. Dr. McJunkin's training at Mayo Clinic, textbook authorship on SNM, and status as the #1 Axonics provider worldwide by implant volume make him uniquely qualified for this complex indication.
Urinary retention questions,
answered directly.
What it looks like when
patients finally get answers.
"What an amazing difference this place has made in my life. This procedure and this office and staff has given me my life back."
"I found the staff professional and kind, explaining the process to me every step of the way. There was such a high level of customer service."
"Dr. McJunkin is amazing! The surgery center was top notch. My results have been great and I'm very thankful."
Medicare and most major plans
cover sacral neuromodulation.
No referral required. Our team handles your prior authorization and verifies your benefits before you commit to anything.
Blue Shield
Coverage applies when medical necessity criteria are met — including confirmed non-obstructive retention and prior failure of conservative management. Call us to verify your benefits →
SNM treats the full spectrum
of bladder and bowel nerve dysfunction.
There are answers out there.
Let's find out if SNM is yours.
Free consultation — telehealth available. No referral needed. Dr. McJunkin evaluates every retention case personally.