Women's Health

Incontinence and Pelvic Pain Program

Urinary incontinence and pelvic pain are becoming more commonly diagnosed conditions. In fact, more than 25 million adults experience accidental urine leakage, and an estimated 23 billion dollars are spent each year on treatment and related products. It's important to know that these are not conditions that you simply have to live with. In fact, with an accurate diagnosis and proper medical care, urinary incontinence and pelvic pain can be treated and, in most cases, cured.

Do you

Experience leakage when you cough, sneeze or laugh?
Frequently wake up during the night to go to the bathroom?
Have the feeling that your bladder is still full after urinating?
Limit activities because of your urge to go to the bathroom?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you could benefit from conservative treatment for your bladder.

Women shouldn't be ashamed of incontinence. A number of effective treatment options are available today including many that don't require surgery.
- Brandi, Physical Therapist RPI

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence is a condition that involves the involuntary loss of urine. The risk factors associated with urinary incontinence include smoking, high impact physical activity, pregnancy, diabetes, stroke, menopause, pelvic muscle weakness, immobility due to trauma or chronic degenerative disease, surgery, diminished cognitive skills and prescription or over-the-counter medications. The Incontinence and Pelvic Pain program offers treatment in the following areas of incontinence:

Stress Incontinence: The most common form of incontinence, involving accidental urine leakage during normal activity. Stress incontinence occurs when the urethral sphincter (the valve that controls urinary flow) or the surrounding pelvis muscles have been weakened by gravity, injury, childbirth, prostate surgery or other event.
Urge Incontinence: A disorder characterized by an overwhelming urge to urinate even through the bladder may contain only a small amount of urine. Patients with urge incontinence often cannot get to the bathroom in time.
Overflow Incontinence: A condition that involves frequent or constant dribbling as well as urgent and frequent urination. Overflow incontinence is often caused by a blockage such as an enlarged prostate or growth that inhibits the bladder from emptying completely.

Pelvic Pain and Pelvic Floor Disorders

Many women suffer from pelvic pain. The distressing pain experienced by many women could be a condition known as pelvic floor tension myalgia or in layman's terms, a spasm of pelvic floor muscles. This "sling" of muscles forms the bottom of your abdominal cavity and supports your pelvic organs, bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum. Symptoms include pelvic pain, urinary frequency or urgency, pain during intercourse and pressure or heaviness. Pelvic floor tension myalgia is the most common type of pelvic floor dysfunction that can be easily diagnosed during a pelvic exam and is very treatable.

Women with pelvic floor dysfunction often have structural changes in their spine or pelvis. The most common symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction include: pain with sitting or standing, vaginal pain, pain with urination, rectal pain, and difficulty getting up from a seated position.

How RPI Can Help

RPI's Incontinence and Pelvic Pain Program uses physical therapy to strengthen and correct imbalances in the pelvic floor thus allowing patients to regain control over their bladder and/or reduce pain. RPI works with the referring physician to determine the best option for each individual patient. Patients are evaluated and treated by one of RPI's female therapists.

Treatment Options

Pelvic Muscle Rehabilitation: Special exercises, (known as Kegel exercises) are used to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic Muscle Rehabilitation training also helps patients isolate and control pelvic muscles. Electrical stimulation may be used to strengthen weak pelvic muscles.
Behavior Modification: Scheduled voiding and bladder re-training allows patients to gradually increase the time between trips to the bathroom.
Urinary Control Products: There are several urinary incontinence treatments available by physician prescription.
Manual Therapy: Realigning pelvic bones and the spine releases the tension in muscles that attach to the pelvis.
Patient Education: Patients are taught exercises that can be done at home to help correct the problem.

To make an appointment, call RPI at 314-644-1978 and ask to be scheduled for our Incontinence and Pelvic Pain Program.

(You will receive a Patient Information packet with a questionnaire in the mail. This packet needs to be filled out and brought with you to your first appointment.)