When I ask my patients if they have ever experienced, or are currently experiencing urinary incontinence, they sometimes reply, “no…not at all.” I then proceed to ask if they EVER lose a little urine while coughing, sneezing, or jumping on the trampoline with their kids. Invariably they reply, “Well….yes, I have 4 kids, I thought that was normal.” My reply to that is that may normal, but it is not healthy. In fact, many times this ailment is indicative of other underlying problems. Many times they also have lower back pain, pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, or dyspareunia. Also, many times the urinary incontinence is not the primary reason for which they came to physical therapy – only a symptom to make a diagnosis.
Many times we hear our patients saying they do their “kegel” exercises, but that “doesn’t help.” Many times it takes more than kegel exercises to decrease incontinence. Often times we find abdominal restrictions causing decreased mobility of the kidney, bladder, uterus that is causing excess pressure on the bladder – insomuch that it can’t withhold the urine in the bladder – and thus lose control during the excess pressure during coughing, sneezing, or exercising.
Release of these abdominal/pelvic organs helps the bladder hold more pressure and be able to withstand the excess pressures frequently required of it. In many of our patients, they see benefits after just one visit – and many have fully overcome incontinence through therapy alone. However, there are some that have a pelvic floor that is so weak that even therapy cannot help and surgery is required. Some patients need therapy, even after surgery to help with this ailment.
No matter if you have had surgery or not, it brings us great joy helping people improve their quality of life by regaining full bladder control and not have to deal with incontinence anymore.
Give us a call, and we can extend your time between bathroom breaks!