A method and system for treatment of incontinence, urgency, frequency, and/or
pelvic
pain includes implantation of electrodes on a lead or the discharge portion of
a catheter adjacent the perineal nerve(s) or tissue(s) to be stimulated. Stimulation
pulses, either electrical or drug infusion pulses, are supplied by a stimulator
implanted remotely, and through the lead or catheter, which is tunneled subcutaneously
between the stimulator and stimulation site. For instance, the system and method
reduce or eliminate the incidence of unintentional episodes of bladder emptying
by stimulating nerve pathways that diminish involuntary bladder contractions, improve
closure of the bladder outlet, and/or improve the long-term health of the urinary
system by increasing bladder capacity and period between emptying. Moreover, the
system and method allow a patient to be taught to receive one or more patterns
of neural stimulation that can be prescribed by a physician and administered without
continuous oversight by a clinical practitioner.