Incontinence
is often the leading reason for nursing home placement with approximately
one half of all residents being incontinent. A persistent myth is that
incontinence is a natural part of the aging process, or that nothing
simple can be done to fix the problem.
Unfortunately,
many people do not seek medical assistance because they are embarrassed,
resigning themselves to using diapers or pads. Incontinence is a treatable
condition and nearly 90% are improved or cured with proper treatment.
Since
there are several types of incontinence and causes for voiding
dysfunction, the first step is to receive the right diagnosis. Most of the
time this can be done by a thorough discussion with your doctor and a
focused physical exam. In some cases, cystoscopy (looking inside the
bladder with a flexible telescope), ultrasound or urodynamics may be
indicated. Urodynamics is the study of urination, the storage and emptying
of urine. Urodynamics testing is a pain-less way of trying to reproduce in
a laboratory setting, the conditions of the voiding problem, while
measuring the various factions of the bladder and other related organs.
After
diagnosis, a determination is made for the best therapeutic option. In
many cases, this means non-surgical therapy such as biofeedback exercises.
There are other methods available such as bladder training, timed voiding,
Kegel exercises (pelvic floor exercises), maintaining a voiding diary,
hormonal implants or instruction and guidance in new products and
appliances. Finally, there are many surgical treatments and relatively
simple procedures that have been recently developed.
