Stress Incontinence Recovery

Stress incontinence is defined as the unintentional loss of urine induced by an activity that puts stress on the bladder, such as lifting something, sneezing or coughing. This condition occurs when there is a problem with the muscles that control the bladder. Factors such as childbirth or prostate cancer surgery may cause these muscles to lose tone. Other factors that can lead to stress incontinence include urinary tract infections, diabetes, obesity and consuming too much caffeine or alcohol.

Treating Stress Incontinence

• People with stress incontinence may feel embarrassed and stop participating in social events or activities like exercise out of fear. Your doctor will need to identify the underlying cause before helping you recover from stress incontinence. In some cases, if the cause is treated, the stress incontinence resolves. If this becomes a chronic condition, treatments and therapies can cut down the number of incontinent episodes or end them.

Behaviorial Therapies

• Your doctor may recommend limiting the amount of fluid you drink each day or time it so you drink only when you're not planning on engaging in physical activity. Since alcohol and caffeine are diuretics, you may need to eliminate them entirely. Your doctor may also recommend going to the bathroom more often. Voiding your bladder frequently reduces the stress placed on those muscles. A series of pelvic floor exercises called Kegels can strengthen the muscles around the bladder. You can learn these from your doctor or physical therapist and practice them on a regular basis.

Devices and Surgery

• A vaginal pessary is a ring-shaped device that is placed inside the vagina to support the bladder. On a more temporary basis, you could also use a urethra plug, which acts in the same manner as a tampon. If nothing else works, surgeries to close the urinary sphincter or support the bladder neck are a possibility. The least invasive involves injecting collagen, gel or synthetic sugar into the upper urethra, adding extra pressure that can help with the opening and closing of the sphincter. In the most severe cases, artificial sphincters or an artificial sling to support the bladder are created.