What Are the Treatments for Post-Prostate Surgery?

Once a surgical option is chosen for a chronic prostatic condition, the patient must focus on post-surgical care. Though each physician and patient are different, some routine steps will be necessary to help ensure a positive outcome. The patient will need to stay comfortable, take the appropriate medications and follow up with the surgical staff when necessary.

The Prostate

• The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. Considered an accessory organ, meaning you can function without it, it “lies just below the urinary bladder, where it surrounds the base of the urethra,” according to the textbook "Comprehensive Medical Terminology."

Prostate Surgery

• Prostate surgery could be necessary for any number of conditions. Some men suffer from an enlarged prostate gland. Others have chronic prostatitis, a habitually inflamed prostate. A number of men, each year, are diagnosed with prostate cancer.

  Several surgical options are available. One such surgery is the Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP). It is a surgery that involves cutting and detangling the tissue surrounding the prostate. A more radical surgery is the prostatectomy, which is the complete removal of the prostate gland.

Positioning To Ease Pain

• After the surgical procedure, the patient will be uncomfortable. If he lies down, instead of sits, it will help relieve some of the discomfort. In the sitting position, a lot of our body weight is forced onto the pelvic region. If you stretch out, however, the weight is more evenly distributed, and the nerves and tissues surrounding the prostate are more relaxed. If it is necessary to sit, prostatic cushions are available. These cushions are designed to keep the prostate’s nerves from being trapped, decreasing the pain.

Exercises For The Bladder

• Some men complain of the inability to control their bladder after surgery. Much like Kegel’s exercises for women, men can be taught a pelvic clenching technique. These exercises increase bladder control, therefore decreasing urine leaks when coughing, sneezing or doing other routine activities.

Medications

• Medication will be necessary for post-surgical pain management.

  A variety of medications is common for patients leaving the hospital after surgery. Pain medication is usually prescribed to decrease, or altogether alleviate, pain related to the surgery. A doctor might suggest laxatives to avoid constipation. Becoming constipated can put pressure on the surgical site, causing more pain and swelling. There are oral tablets that some doctors prescribe to prevent the growth of cancer cells. Even if the surgery is considered a success, this precaution might be taken to avoid the formation of new malignant cells. According to a study at the Duke Prostate Center and the Urology Section at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, statins to keep the cholesterol low are sometimes ordered. A report on the study in the journal "Cancer" says that prostate cancer surgery patients who use statins for cholesterol reduce the likelihood of their cancer recurring by 30 percent.

Follow Up

• Because every physician is different, it is extremely important for each patient to keep regularly scheduled appointments after surgery. The doctor will give specific instructions and run tests to check the patient's condition.