The treatment of urinary incontinence ranges from simple measures to more complex treatments. This is best thought as levels of treatment.
Level 1 – Lifestyle changes and pelvic floor exercises
By decreasing your caffeinated fluid intake (Coffee, Tea, Cola drinks) many patients will improve their urinary incontinence. Weight loss can be very affective as can stopping smoking. In many patients pelvic floor exercises are very important in improving continence. Simply avoiding diuretics can give relief.
Level 2 – Medication
If you have predominately urge urinary incontinence then some medications can be very affective in improving your symptoms. These are drugs called anti-cholinergics and stop the nervous impulses to your bladder.
Level 3 – Minimally invasive treatments
If other treatments have not been successful urge urinary incontinence can be treated with either nerve stimulation (percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation or PTNS) or intravesical botox injections. PTNS is a non-operative technique, whereas intravesical botox involves a cystoscopy operation with injections of botox inside the bladder. Intravesical botox can be performed under general anaesthetic as a daycase, or there is the option of having it performed under local anaesthetic as an outpatient procedure. These treatments will need a complete discussion with your consultant before they are offered.
Level 4 – Surgery
Many surgical treatments are available for urinary incontinence. The appropriate treatment will depend on your particular symptoms and circumstances. We tailor all our treatments to our individual patients needs after detailed assessement.
What next?
If you would like to discuss treatment for urinary incontinence then please contact us and book a consultation with Mr Sam Liu or Mr Lyndon Gommersall.
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