Bladder control is a more common problem than most realize

With treatment, incontinence doesn’t have to control your life

Do you feel as though you know where every public bathroom in Hampton Roads is located? Does every outing require a “pit stop” or two?

You’re hardly alone. According to a survey sponsored by the National Association for Continence, one in three people in this country suffer from bladder control loss. And an alarming 64 percent of those experiencing symptoms do nothing to manage their condition, opting instead to avoid certain situations or just hope they make it in time.

“I find a lot of patients go several years without mentioning it to their family physicians because they’re too embarrassed or don’t realize conservative treatments exist they can benefit from,” says Alecia Whiten, a physical therapist with Chesapeake General Hospital’s Rehabilitation Services Department. “They simply accept it as a part of aging.”

Not so. Incontinence can be caused by a variety of other problems including pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, obesity and such chronic diseases as diabetes, cancer, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s. Women tend to suffer from the problem more, but men with prostate problems also are susceptible. In either sex, some medications – including diuretics – and the recovery from certain surgeries may contribute to the condition.

When consulted, some family physicians prescribe daily kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Left to their own devices, many patients become frustrated when they see little progress and give up. It may be they’re just doing the exercise incorrectly.

With proper instruction and therapy, patients can learn to control incontinence, says Whiten, who oversees Chesapeake General’s incontinence program.

The program uses a painless form of biofeedback therapy to ensure that patients visually understand the exercises. As part of the treatment, they are fitted with computerized electrodes so they can actually “see” themselves performing the exercises.

As they do their pelvic exercises, Whiten coaches patients so they immediately know whether they’re doing them properly.

“They can see the contractions on the screen and whether they’re squeezing the right muscle and how strong it is getting,” she said.

Patients need to continue doing kegels at home, as well as return for weekly checkups for six to eight weeks.

“That’s all it usually takes for them to improve their quality of life,” she said, although kegels should become a regular exercise regimen for life.

“Each week, my patients can see their pelvic muscles getting stronger when we look at the progress they’ve made,” Whiten said. “But more importantly, we look at the functional things going on, like not having to wear pads anymore and going longer between voiding intervals. All of a sudden, they can do things they couldn’t do before. And when they go to functions, they don’t have to immediately know where the bathroom is.”

If you are among the 25 million Americans who suffer from incontinence, there is no need to suffer in silence. Make an appointment with your doctor today to discuss your symptoms and to find out how Chesapeake General’s Rehabilitative Services Department can help you. Call 757.312.6122 for more information.