Physical Therapy for Incontinance after Surgery

[EricE]

So I won the lottery last September when they found PC in most of my P and a lot of my seminal vesical as well. This eventually led to my choosing to have a radical robotic prostatectomy with non-nerve sparing. The surgery went fine but when the pulled the catheter out after surgery I found (Like most men) that I was incontinent. This is disturbing (I say in that it was horrifying). I knew it was likely and it was still horrifying. Perhaps there are those out there contemplating the same surgery and I have a recommendation.

Before you have surgery, have the surgeon refer you to a good physical therapist experienced in treating incontinence. It's not enough just to "do your kegels". Get a PT to teach you how to do the exercises right. It requires coaching.

I did not do this but I started PT about 6 weeks after surgery and after a few weeks I went from wearing several full diapers a day with maybe 7 or 8 pads to cutting that well in half. It has made a huge difference.

The surgeon is unlikely to recommend PT. You'll have to ask for it. But it helped me immensely and I am going to keep at it.

Good luck brothers and sisters

Eric

[greatjohn]

Good luck in the future...great advice!

[Shooter1]

I was lucky with the incontinence. Foley pulled and one week with diapers, moved to pads and by 6 weeks shields that only needed to catch a drip or two if I strained or forgot Kegels before standing. Blessed that was all I needed.

Doug-AZ

[MichaelDD]

Eric... SO TRUE. My other half is an OR nurse and she preached it to me from the time I left the Urologist's office. I also had robotic RP June 2016 Gleason 8 with invasion. For me this is a BIG part of pre-surgery and should be asked prior (over and over) if its being done. When they pulled my catheter not a drop after. I did 39 sessions of radiation 3 months later and my Radiologist was thrilled with this. I take a diuretic for blood pressure at night - since I was 18 and I'm 64 now. I sleep 8 hours with not getting up. Now if I flood my body with liquid then I NEED to go. That urgency there is different. Leakage never had it , pads never had them. A side note is they are a great sexual help too (( learning to control that muscle stops orgasm ejaculation)). I came back from surgery and within 2 months also could get a semi hard - erection. Also had "arousal feeling" down there. My partner was very helpful and understanding. I wasn't "full" but definitely a solid half plus even now. She with gentleness could get me to hard and dry orgasm. Viagra pushed it to full. I still do Kegel. Next step for me is HT/chemo. I know things will change then.

Good luck to you on your journey... Michael

[EricE in reply to MichaelDD]

And to you Michael. Thank you. Keep us posted on your health.

[Zytigadude]

I was fortunate when it came to the incontinence. I had non robotic RP and was dry after they removed the foley after 10 days. I just finished 40 treatments of radiation and I am still dry, but I have urgency and wake 4-5 times nightly to urinate. Before radiation I could sleep all night without getting up. This getting up 4-5 times per night is really taxing on my sleep. My RO said this will get better within the next 3-6 months. I sure hope so as I do like sleep. LOL

[Balsam01]

I second this excellent advice. A friend of mine recommended a pelvic focused clinic and I feel it made a difference. I really had to work at it. Now I go to the gym and do the exercises based on what the therapist taught me.

[MrsEricE]

Don't forget to ask for a physical therapist who specializes in treating incontinence. All physical therapists are good generalists but there is only a handful who go on further to develop specialties in something like incontinence. I am a physical therapist and specialize in treating lymphedema and spinal alignment to manage pain. Trust me, when I say, not all physician therapists are the same. I treat pelvic floor incontinence but I am not a specialist and am thrilled that EricE has found a really good one. And that he is compliant with doing his exercises. There are many more beyond Kegels. Good luck!

[j-o-h-n]

I tie mine in a knot....

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-o-h-n Monday 06/25/2018 2:02 PM ED