Why Put Up With Bladder And Bowel Control Problems?

There is no good answer to that! Urinary incontinence is more common in women than men, with a ratio of 4:1 (women: men). Unfortunately 2 out 3 women who suffer from bladder control problems do not seek help, as they see it as a normal female problem and think nothing can be done.
Incontinence is actually a symptom where one of the mechanisms which usually keeps us continent (no unexpected bladder or bowel leaks) is not working correctly. How bladder and bowel control problems present and the symptoms you have, varies according to the cause. A thorough assessment is essential to highlight all the signs and symptoms and possible causes. This then allows us to plan an appropriate treatment approach. It is never too late to address these types of issues or begin a strengthening or retraining program.

Why Physiotherapy?

Specially trained Physiotherapists like Leanne Wait have specialised skills and knowledge to facilitate your regaining of control of your bladder and bowel thus limiting embarrassment, inconvenience and further deterioration in quality of life.
Physiotherapy is essentially a conservative approach to treatment and management but may also help enhance the results of surgery, medication and pessary use.
Physiotherapy treatment is more than simple exercises. If it were that simple no one would have any problems with bladder or bowel control or require treatment. As there are a variety of signs and symptoms and presentations there are also a variety of treatment options.
From a Physiotherapy perspective these may include, pelvic floor strength training, urge management strategies, simple dietary modification, toileting techniques, biofeedback, neuromuscular electrical nerve stimulation, education, bladder retraining, timed toileting, core strengthening and lifting, coughing, sneezing and bracing techniques.
There are many options to be explored. Part of the specialised physiotherapist’s role is to demystify the issues which are not often talked about, to provide you with the information skills and knowledge which you require to be able to regain as much control over your bladder and bowel as is possible, in order to enhance your quality of life.

What do you need to do before getting treatment?

Nothing. Leanne Wait at Havelock Physiotherapy takes referrals from you the affected person, from your GP or from the Specialists.

So what is stopping you from taking control of your bladder and/or bowel?
Generally these problems do not resolve on their own and it is NEVER too late to start to regain control and your quality of life.

Continence Concerns – synopsis of conditions

Women

Urgency – overwhelming desire to urinate
Urge Incontinence – pre- and post-surgical. Inability to control the desire to urinate, ausing some level of urinne escape. Also associated with frequency at times – frequent visits to the toilet, voiding small volume.
Stress Incontinence – inability to stop leakage of urine when exercising, coughing, sneezing, laughing etc
Prolapse – heaviness and dragging feeling in the pelvic area, often worse by the end of the day
Overactive Bladder – Combination of symptoms including urgency (overwhelming desire to urinate, frequent urination and Nocturia – visiting the toilet in excess of twice a night.
Bowel Control and Constipation – Loose uncontrolled bowel movements or diarrhoea, or Constipation or Haemarrhoids and fissures
Painful Intercourse – Pain on deep or entrance penetration. May prevent altogether intercourse or use of tampons
Pre- and Post-Surgical – Optimising recovery from surgery, particularly gynaecological or urological surgery

Men

Post-Prostatectomy Continence Control
Post-Void Drip
Constipation
General Continence Bladder/Bowel

Children – Common Issues

Daytime Wetting over age 5
Bowel Control and/or Constipation (Sneaky Poos)
Bedwetting over age 7

Pregnancy

Effective pushing during labour
Perineal massage education
Pelvic Floor education
Incontinence Prevention
Post-pregnancy – Regaining pelvic floor control – bowel, bladder, continence and core control, return to exercises