Incontinence

Our Approach

Incontinence is typically caused by bladder spasms or weak pelvic floor or sphincter muscles. Franciscan Health’s professionally trained staff will examine each patient's special needs and create an individualized treatment program. Our process utilizes behavior modification, pelvic muscle strengthening or electrical stimulation to help bring the problem under control trying to alleviate the embarrassment, worry and isolation that incontinence can cause.

Incontinence care includes:

• Post void residual check
• Bladder scan
• Routine Foley and Suprapubic catheter changes
• Urethral self-catheter teaching
• Electrical stimulation therapy
• Biofeedback training
• EMG study

Urge incontinence

Urge incontinence occurs when there is a strong, sudden need to urinate. The bladder then squeezes, or spasms, and the body loses urine. Symptoms of urge incontinence include not being able to control when you pass urine; having to urinate often during the day and night; and needing to urinate suddenly and urgently.

Common causes of urinary incontinence include:

• Bladder cancer
• Bladder inflammation
• Something blocking urine from leaving the bladder
• Bladder stones
• Infection
• Brain or nerve problems, such as multiple sclerosis or stroke
• Nerve injury, such as from a spinal cord injury
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Weakened pelvic floor muscles

For men, specifically, urge incontinence may be due to:

• Bladder changes caused by an enlarged prostate, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
• An enlarged prostate blocking urine from flowing from the bladder

In many cases or urge incontinence, no cause can be found.

Stress incontinence

The pelvic floor muscles control bladder functions and the sphincter controls bowel functions. If either set of muscles become weak, urine can pass when pressure is placed on the bladder. This stress incontinence occurs when the bladder leaks urine during physical activity or exertion; this may happen when a person coughs, lifts something heavy, or exercises. The main symptom of stress incontinence is leaking urine while:

• Physically active
• Coughing
• Exercising
• Having sexual intercourse
• Sneezing
• Standing