I Gotta Go…Right Now!
Have you ever experienced a sudden, urgent need to urinate? Maybe you’ve been rushing toward the bathroom and experienced a little (or a lot) of leakage of urine when you’re “almost there.” There is a name for this kind of leakage - it is called urge incontinence. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy can HELP!
Often there are several contributing factors for these symptoms, below are some common factors:
Signals from the brain causing spasms of the bladder muscle (think sympathetic nervous system or “fight or flight mode”)
Scar tissue from a previous abdominal surgery that is limiting the bladder’s ability to expand
Food/fluid intake that is causing irritation of the bladder
Bathroom habits- You are frequently emptying your bladder and not allowing your bladder to regularly fill to it’s capacity
Fear about previous accidents or anxiety that is worsening your symptoms
Constipation of the bowels that is causing pressure on the bladder
Could there be an infection of the bladder?
What should I do? Just BREATHE, then call Shift Physical Therapy to get started. In all seriousness though, one of the first things that we will talk about with this type of incontinence is how to take back control of your bladder. The bladder doesn’t control the brain, we should be using the brain to control the bladder! Working on some simple breathing techniques and mindfulness activities can be a really helpful first step in taking back control of your bladder.
So, just breathing probably isn’t going to magically cure your bladder symptoms! This is a diagnosis that requires a very holistic and individualized approach to treatment. Ultimately, a pelvic floor physical therapist has tools to use and can help you manage each of these factors. They can also help provide additional resources in each additional area if needed for your unique situation. Noting the involvement of our nervous system above, perhaps having a chiropractor who is addressing your spinal alignment and it’s effect on your nervous system (spinal cord is our highway of information to/from the brain) can be helpful. Maybe if fears, anxiety, or excess stress are factors, having a mental health counselor to work with would be helpful. If food/fluid intake is a contributing factor, making dietary changes and working with a nutrition specialist may be helpful. Scar tissue or tight muscles may be addressed with a massage therapist or physical therapist. If there could possibly be an infection of the bladder, having appropriate testing and medical interventions if needed.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help identify if there are certain triggers that bring on your leakage. Sometimes pulling into the driveway after a long day of work, or running water to start your dishes, or putting your key in the door can be triggers for your strong urges. Giving you some strategies for your unique symptoms will help you overcome those strong urges and leakage episodes. Whatever your current symptoms might be, reach out and let us help you take back CONTROL of your bladder! Give us a call or email us for more information.
Written by: Renee Hancock, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
