Free yourself from Peeing yourself!
Peeing yourself — It is a topic that remains sensitive to this day and is usually discussed in secret, dismissed as part of ageing, or simply ignored altogether. Although urinary incontinence is becoming a more widely accepted issue, bladder control problems are still something many people are reluctant to talk about.
Incontinence is a delicate subject, so, understandably, some may be hesitant to bring it up to their doctor. Others might even rationalize bladder leaks as an unfortunate outcome of childbirth or getting older. The truth is any woman can find herself plagued with incontinence. Physical ailments, underlying medical conditions, and everyday habits can contribute to leaks. Likewise, certain drinks, foods, and medications act as diuretics by stimulating your bladder. Despite the fact that urinary incontinence is common, it is not something you have to live with!
Like many physiotherapy concerns, pelvic floor physiotherapists try to improve the brain’s connection to the muscles. Poor muscle connection makes it difficult to distinguish between a good contraction and a faulty one. While quite often the best defence against incontinence is “kegel†exercises, many women need to learn how to RELAX their pelvic floor first. A pelvic floor that is continuously active is known as a hypertonic or overactive pelvic floor. Numerous activities can lead to a hypertonic pelvic floor, including overworking your core, holding on to bladder or bowel movements for too long, or even unconsciously tightening your muscles when you are stressed or anxious.
Over time, a hypertonic pelvic floor will become increasingly difficult to contract and relax as it is always slightly engaged. In such cases, the muscles can become weak and difficult to coordinate, making passage of stool, passing urine, and engaging in sexual activity strenuous. For this reason, it is important to note that contracting pelvic floor muscles that are already tense may worsen the problem.
This is where physiotherapy can help — a complete evaluation of your pelvic floor with a trained physiotherapist will assist in formulating a treatment plan that will address your specific needs. Multiple strategies are available and can be tailored to remedy your individual concerns.
Whether you lose a few drops of urine with an unexpected sneeze, or, you feel an uncontrollable urge to go with no restroom nearby – having trouble managing your bladder is incredibly distressing. Scheduling your entire existence around the availability of a bathroom due to fear of leaking is no way to live!
So, if you have any of these symptoms – why suffer? Help is available! Book an appointment today with your local pelvic floor physiotherapist (Kate in our Saint John office, and Steph in our Moncton office) and get yourself on the road to recovery.
