Publication

By Chana Albracht, PT, MPT, COMT

"I have to run to the bathroom every 30 minutes. My bladder controls my life!"

"I thought this was just a normal part of getting older."

"I can talk to my friends about absolutely anything, except this!"

"Isn't this just what happens after you have kids?"

"I'm so afraid I will have an accident in public that I just stay home and don't go out anymore."

I hear comments like these all the time from the clients I work with. They have urinary incontinence (UI) or urinary frequency, and many feel embarrassed, depressed, frustrated and hopeless. Often, I hear of a complete change in their daily routine to accommodate their bladder and its bad habits. Far too often, they have accepted their condition as just a normal part of aging that they must "learn to live with."

Statistics show that up to 45% of women will have UI in their lifetime and are twice as likely as men to develop UI. Often it is associated with other medical conditions, such as urinary tract infections, hormone imbalances after menopause or pelvic floor weakness after childbirth. But just because it is common, it should not be accepted as normal and inevitable.

Don't Live With It—Speak Up

We were not born with bladder control. This is encouraging—meaning that in most cases, we can relearn the skills needed to improve control of our bladder. How? As a physical therapist with experience treating these conditions, I have used a number of successful techniques to help patients accomplish the goal of relearning bladder control.

Bladder-control techniques include timed voiding, urge suppression, pelvic floor muscle strengthening and biofeedback. In addition to physical therapy treatments, other options are available, such as medications and even surgical interventions, if needed.

Are you ready to regain your confidence and resume your normal activities without fear of accidents and embarrassment? The many advertisements for incontinence medications and protective undergarments have contributed to increased dialog about incontinence, but many women are still hesitant to discuss their problem. It is more common than you may think, so speak up!

Be proactive and talk to your primary care provider about your symptoms. They can help determine what is causing your incontinence and work with you to find the best solution.

Categories: Bladder Control