Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence can come in many forms. In simple terms, it is when you are unable, for whatever reason, to prevent urinary leakage. Sometimes you are aware you are leaking and sometimes you may not be until you check you underpants later in the day. The amount of leakage also varies and the cause behind it can be one issue, or many issues in combination that result in leakage.
The main types of urinary leakage are:
Stress incontinence: urine leaks when you exert pressure on your bladder, for example, sneezing, coughing, lifting something heavy.
Urge incontinence: you have a sudden, intense urge to urinate, which leads to leakage
Overflow incontinence: you experience frequent or constant dribbling of urine due to your bladder not emptying completely
Functional incontinence: you have a physical or mental impairment preventing you from getting to the toilet in time, for example, severe arthritis that limits your mobility
Mixed incontinence: you experience more than one type of incontinence, this phrase is usually used to describe a combination or stress and urge incontinence
The type and severity of incontinence you have, as well as the underlying cause, will help the physiotherapist tailor the right treatment plan for you. REMEMBER, no leakage is normal, and you do not have to ‘just live with it’. Book in for a consultation to learn more about how to resolve you incontinence issues.