How I Stopped My Urge Incontinence With a TENS Unit (Exact Parameters Shared!)
If you’ve ever found yourself racing to the bathroom—or worse, not making it in time—you know how frustrating urge incontinence can be. For years, I thought this was just something I had to “live with” after babies. But I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be that way.
Recently, I added a simple tool to my bladder-brain retraining strategies (the same ones I teach in my Stop Peeing Your Pants course) and the results were chef’s kiss: my urge incontinence disappeared. That tool? A TENS unit. Yep, the same little device people often use for muscle soreness or pain relief.
Why a TENS Unit for Bladder Leaks?
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) works by delivering gentle electrical pulses through your skin. When applied in the right way, it can actually calm the nerves that trigger urgency and frequency. This approach is sometimes called TTNS (Tibial Nerve Stimulation), and research shows it can be a great option for overactive bladder and urge incontinence.
For me, combining TENS therapy with consistent bladder retraining strategies created the perfect 1–2 punch. My brain relearned that I was in charge—not my bladder!
The Exact TENS Settings I Used
Here’s where most blogs stop short, but I know you want the nitty-gritty details. So here are the exact parameters I followed:
Frequency (Hz): 20 Hz
Pulse Width (μs): 200
Intensity (mA): I tolerated level 3.5, but you should always go up to what feels comfortable for you
Duration: 20–30 minutes
Schedule: Daily, for 6–12 weeks
I placed the electrodes on my ankle (for tibial nerve stimulation), kicked back with a book or show, and let the TENS unit do its work.
What Happened Next
Within just a few weeks, I noticed fewer “I need to pee right now!” moments. My bladder urgency calmed down, my confidence went up, and by the end of the program, I felt like I had control again. Was it magic? No. It was consistency, strategy, and giving my nervous system a chance to reset.
Should You Try It?
If you’ve been battling urge incontinence, adding a TENS unit might be worth exploring. Of course, everyone’s body is different, and you’ll want to talk with your healthcare provider before starting. But from one mama to another, I can say this simple tool gave me freedom I didn’t think I’d get back.
If you’re curious about the bladder-brain retraining strategies I paired with my TENS therapy, check out my Stop Peeing Your Pants course. It’s packed with step-by-step guidance you can use right away.
I would love to invite you to my course Stop Peeing Your Pants , where you can get rid of this problem all together, and become leak-free in 90 days or less! We really shouldn’t have an issue with holding our bladder and there is always a deeper cause. For example, when I was dealing with urge incontinence, my root cause was the food/drinks that were in my diet because there were so many bladder irritants I was consuming. I lead you through all of this, the education, workouts, and have a plan on a calendar, a 1:1 session with me, private facebook group for Q & A’s! Check out both tier options below!
