Tag Archives: Urinary Incontinence

Exercise, Health and Wellness, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Health Etobicoke, Pelvic Health Physiotherapists, Physiotherapy, Registered Physiotherapist Mississauga, Registered Physiotherapy Mississauga, Seniors, Urinary Incontinence

Post Prostatectomy Incontinence

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post-prostatectomy-incontinence

Post-prostatectomy-incontinence is a common problem after radical prostatectomy. Patients report that this is the symptom which most disrupts their quality of life. Up to 75 percent of men experience a short period of mild incontinence. This is particularly after removal of the catheter that was placed during surgery. Most patients regain total urinary control after radical prostatectomy. However, this can take up to a year to achieve. Apparently, a small percentage (2% to 4%) experience permanent incontinence. Following radical prostatectomy, men who experience post-prostatectomy-incontinence may express concerns about visible wetness, urine odor, and the type of clothing that can be comfortably worn.
post-prostatectomy-incontinence
Types of Urinary Incontinence

The two types of post-protatectomy incontinence following prostate surgery are:
• Stress incontinence – Stress incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine that can occur during physical activity, like lifting a heavy object, or when you laugh or sneeze. These . activities put increased “stress” or pressure on the bladder.
• Urge incontinence – Urge incontinence is the sudden need to urinate due to bladder spasms or contractions.

What Can Be Done to Treat post-prostatectomy-incontinence after Prostate Cancer Treatment

• Pelvic floor exercises: Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles when you squeeze them
• Stop urinating mid-stream. These exercises can be combined with biofeedback programs that help you train these muscles even better.
• Supportive care. This treatment includes behavioral modification. This includes drinking fewer fluids, avoiding caffeine, alcohol, or spicy foods, and not drinking before bedtime.

People are encouraged to urinate regularly and not wait until the last moment possible before doing so. In some people, losing weight may result in improved urinary control. Supportive care also involves changing any medications that interfere with incontinence.

• Neuromuscular electrical stimulation.

This treatment is used to retrain and strengthen weak urinary muscles and improve bladder control. With this treatment, a probe is inserted into the anus and a gentle current is passed through the probe at a level below the pain threshold.This causes a contraction. The patient squeezes the muscles when the current is on. After the contraction, the current is switched off.

As you can see, there are many things that can be done to treat post-prostatectomy-incontinence. PhysioNow has trained pelvic Health Physiotherapists ready to help you get started on regaining your life. It is hard to talk about these symptoms, and harder yet to find somebody who can help. Our therapists are sensitive and discreet. You will be treated in a quiet private room and your privacy will be fully respected. Get started today! Call today and ask for a pelvic health physiotherapy consultation at PhysioNow.

General Category, Health and Wellness, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Health Physiotherapists, Physiotherapy, Registered Physiotherapist Mississauga, Registered Physiotherapy Mississauga, Seniors, Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Tract Infections

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Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections typically occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra. Bacteria then begin to multiply in the bladder. The most common UTIs occur mainly in women and affect the bladder and urethra.
• Infection of the bladder (cystitis).
• Infection of the urethra (urethritis)

Symptoms

• A strong, persistent urge to urinate
• A burning sensation when urinating
• Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
• Urine that appears cloudy
• Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored — a sign of blood in the urine
• Strong-smelling urine
• Pelvic pain, in women — especially in the center of the pelvis and around the area of the pubic bone

Check out this video for more information: http://www.webmd.com/women/guide/your-guide-urinary-tract-infections#1

Lifestyle changes:

Urinary tract infections can be painful. You can take steps to ease your discomfort until antibiotics treat the infection. Follow these tips:
• Drink plenty of water. Water helps to dilute your urine and flush out bacteria.
• Avoid drinks that may irritate your bladder. Avoid coffee, alcohol, and soft drinks containing citrus juices or caffeine until your infection has cleared. They can irritate your
bladder. These drinks tend to aggravate your frequent or urgent need to urinate.
• Use a heating pad. Apply a warm, but not hot, heating pad to your abdomen to minimize bladder pressure or discomfort.
• Wear cotton underwear on a daily basis. Cotton underwear allows more air movement to occur. This keeps the urethra dry.
• Do NOT wear thongs. They track bacteria from your anus forward to your vagina (to the underwear section).

Physiotherapy Treatment

Physiotherapists that are trained in pelvic floor dysfunction can greatly improve a UTI patient’s quality of life. A typical approach includes training pelvic floor musculature, manipulative techniques and local heat. It also includes breathing and relaxation techniques. Lastly, treatment includes postural education, muscle coordination reeducation, and behavioral therapy.

• Reverse Kegel Down training
• Dynamic ROM program including dynamic stretching and core exercises
• Pain education
• Internal pelvic muscle work including trigger point release techniques
• Connective tissue mobilization

If you suffer from urinary tract infections, consider getting a consultation from one of our pelvic health physiotherapists today. They can help! Please call Physionow to book an appointment and get back to living a comfortable life!

Exercise, General Category, Health and Wellness, Manual Therapy, Pelvic Health, Registered Physiotherapy Mississauga, Seniors, Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence

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Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine. This condition is more common among women than men. An estimated 30 percent of females aged 30-60 are thought to suffer from it, compared to 1.5-5 percent of men. 3.3 million Canadians have Urinary Incontinence.
– 1 in 4 women
– 1 in 9 men
Only 1 in 12 people tell a health care worker, WHY?
– Embarrassed
– They think it is a Private Issue
– Some think it is an Inevitable part of aging….IT IS NOT!
This issue has a lot of Social Consequences like decreased self esteem.It also causes impaired emotional status, depression and isolation. It impedes social and physical activity. It has a heavy economic burden on patients, families and society (Hunskaar, 1991, Temml, 2000).

Risk Factors for Urinary Incontinence
Gynecological or urinary surgery
• Chronic Illness
• Medication
• Smoking
• Chronic straining
• Obesity
• Post menopausal (hormone changes)
• Over 40 (1 in 3)
• Pregnancy and Birth
• Multiparous: having had more than one child
• Obstetric trauma (forceps, suction, tearing)

Types of Urinary Incontinence

• Stress: This is the most common type of urinary incontinence. It is a loss of small to moderate amounts of urine with exertion – with coughing, sneezing, jumping, running, laughing, changing position etc. Often this is due to weakness of the pelvic floor muscles.
• Urge This is a loss of urine (sometimes large amounts), following an urgent need to empty the bladder. The urge can be extremely strong and impossible to ignore.
• Overflow This consists of a loss of urine due to over-filling of the bladder. This is because the bladder is unable to empty properly.
• Functional: A loss of urine due to physical problems preventing the person from reaching the washroom in time.
Mixed: A combination of stress and urge incontinence.

Physiotherapy treatments of Urinary Incontinence

The goal of Physiotherapy is to teach you to regain control of your bladder. Treatment will always involve a lot of education. Registered Physiotherapy for Pelvic Health will teach you simple measures. TheseUrinary Incontinence can make a big impact on your bladder control.
Pelvic Health Treatment is often focused around the pelvic floor muscles. These are considered as a basket of muscles that support organs against gravity and intra–?abdominal pressure and vaginal/rectal walls.
Other Pelvic Health techniques may include bladder retraining, postural re-education, exercises for the abdominals and other ‘core’ muscles. A home exercise program will always be an important part of your Pelvic Health treatment. Electrical stimulation with sensors is used to increase pelvic floor muscle strength in cases of marked weakness.

You can check out this link to learn more about Urinary incontinence: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165408.php.

If you would like to learn more about Urinary Incontinence or book an appointment with one of our Pelvic Health Registered Physiotherapists, please contact PhysioNow. We can Help!!

Urinary Incontinence

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