Display Patient Information Leaflets

Date issued: March 2024

For review: March 2026

Ref: A-616/SS/Colorectal/Sacral Neuromodulation Post Operative Advice

PDF: Sacral Neuromodulation Post Operative.pdf [pdf] 235KB

Check wound site for the following signs of infection:

•  Redness to the wound area.

•  Wound area is warm or hot to touch. 

•  You have a temperature.

•  You feel unwell.

•  Please call 111 if over the weekend and overnight if you have any concerns and call us during the week as we will need to arrange   a review with you.

1. Check dressing daily to observe for any soiling, but please do not remove the dressing. Please apply a supplied dressing over the top of the existing dressing. Please contact us if you have any concerns or call 111 or the GP if out of hours. 

2. Please only have a strip wash and do not shower / bathe for the duration of the 2-week trial phase. This is to prevent infection and movement of the external lead. 

3. Please turn your SNS device off when driving as this could invalidate your insurance if you have an accident. Please also check with your insurance company. 

4. Please refrain from any sports, exercise, or sexual intercourse during the trial period. This is to prevent lead movement. 

5. Pain relief: please take regular analgesia, you have had a local anaesthetic for your battery change. This will wear off and you may feel some discomfort for the next few days in that area. Please take your normal pain relief such as Paracetamol as usual and speak to your GP if necessary.

6. If you experience any unusual tingling in your leg / foot, please check your settings first and if required turn your device down. If this does not resolve the tingling sensation, please turn your device off for 24-48 hours to see if this helps. If this does not resolve the sensation, it is unlikely to be related to your device and please speak to your GP. Please inform us with any concerns. 

7. Please contact the Medtronic telephone support number on +44 (0)1923 205101 Monday – Friday 09.00 – 16.00 for any programming queries, handset issues or charging issues before contacting either Annie or Sharon. 

You will be contacted several times during the trial period, to review your progress and to ask you to change the programme on your device. This is to see if a particular programme works better at managing your symptoms. 

You will also be asked to complete a further 2-week diary of your symptoms during the trial. This is very important as we will ask you for the details when we follow you up during your trial. 

You will be given the date for your next surgery to either remove the battery and lead or proceed to a full implant. This will be performed at Tavistock Hospital under local anaesthetic. Tavistock Hospital will contact you direct regarding your admission details. Please arrange for someone to collect you from Tavistock as you will be unable to drive.

If you have any queries or concerns post operatively, please contact Annie or Sharon on 01752 431166 for any other SNS queries.