An actor paralysed from the chest down following a motorbike accident is among the first patients participating in a trial of a new device designed to restore bladder control in individuals with spinal cord injuries. Josh Sher, known for his roles in television series including Vera, Game of Thrones, and Casualty, underwent extensive hospital treatment and surgeries in 2020 after his injury.

Sher, who experiences an overactive and hypersensitive bladder resulting in frequent urgency, was implanted with an epidural stimulation device at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, North London. The device works by delivering targeted electrical pulses to nerves responsible for bladder function, aiming to reduce the sensation of urgency and improve bladder control.

“After having the stim implanted, it cuts off the signals to the brain and gets rid of the urgency, which gives me the time to get to the bathroom,” Sher said. He added that the technology offers hope for those living with spinal cord injuries, especially as he prepares to become a father for the first time.

Early findings from the trial, involving eight participants with five completing the three-month home-based intervention, show promising results. Participants used the stimulator alongside pelvic floor muscle training, reporting a suppression of urgent urination and an average increase in bladder capacity of 100%.

“The surgery recovery was the toughest part,” Sher remarked, “but so far the results are very encouraging for people like me living with spinal cord injury.”

The trial is co-led by Professor Lynsey Duffell, who highlighted the significance of the findings. “We have made a big step forward towards life-changing benefits for people with spinal cord injury,” she said. “We have found a way to effectively switch off an overactive bladder contraction and seen a meaningful improvement in bladder capacity. Given the complex network of nerves at the base of the spinal cord, achieving such a specific effect with the stimulator is very encouraging.”

Approximately 105,000 people in the United Kingdom live with spinal cord injuries, with around 4,400 new cases diagnosed annually. Researchers at Stanmore are continuing to recruit patients for the ImPRESS trial, with full results expected in 2028.

The project receives nearly £300,000 in funding from the Injured Jockeys Fund through the charity Spinal Research. Louisa McGinn, the charity’s chief executive, emphasized the potential impact of the research: “Restoring functions like bowel and bladder control will make a huge difference to the quality of life for millions of people. We’re very excited to support this work.”