The pelvic floor muscles play an important role in urinary function. Under normal circumstances, they provide support to the bladder, help us maintain continence, allow us to urinate when we want to, and for the most part, we don’t have to think about our bladder unless we have the urge to urinate. When pelvic floor muscles become dysfunctional symptoms can occur and the bladder can become a nuisance in our everyday lives. Bladder symptoms are quite common, but not normal, and pelvic floor physical therapy can help.
Normal Bladder Function
- Normal urination frequency is six to eight times in a 24-hour period
- Leaking urine is never normal
- Bladder urge should not feel like a five-alarm fire
- Normal voiding time is roughly 20 seconds
- Starting the urinary stream should be easy and quick
- Bladder urgency should go away after voiding
- Increasing our fluid intake should increase the amount we urinate, not the frequency
- Normal bladder capacity is 300 – 600ml
- People under 60 years old may wake once per night to urinate, over 60 years old twice per night
- Pain before, during, or after urinating is never normal
Associated Diagnoses
Bladder symptoms are commonly associated with pelvic floor dysfunction and other diagnoses. Syndromes such as Endometriosis, Vulvodynia, Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome, Pudendal Neuralgia, Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome/Male Pelvic Pain, post-prostatectomy complications, the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, and postpartum women often have bladder issues.
Associated Diagnoses
Bladder symptoms are commonly associated with pelvic floor dysfunction and other diagnoses. Syndromes such as Endometriosis, Vulvodynia, Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome, Pudendal Neuralgia, Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome/Male Pelvic Pain, post-prostatectomy complications, the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, and postpartum women often have bladder issues.
Diagnostic Challenges
Pelvic floor dysfunction can mimic the feelings of sexually transmitted infections and prostate and/or urinary tract and bladder infections which can lead to diagnostic confusion. It is common for people to feel certain they have an infection and then feel perplexed when the tests return normal. Bladder leaking is so common in women that it has become normalized, thereby making women less likely to seek help. Women are often told ‘it’s because you just had a baby’ or ‘it’s normal at your age’. Many men undergoing prostatectomy are not warned that up to 80% of men have post-surgical urinary incontinence. Regardless of your individual situation and underlying causes, an evaluation with a pelvic floor physical therapist is beneficial.
Diagnostic Challenges
Pelvic floor dysfunction can mimic the feelings of sexually transmitted infections and prostate and/or urinary tract and bladder infections which can lead to diagnostic confusion. It is common for people to feel certain they have an infection and then feel perplexed when the tests return normal. Bladder leaking is so common in women that it has become normalized, thereby making women less likely to seek help. Women are often told ‘it’s because you just had a baby’ or ‘it’s normal at your age’. Many men undergoing prostatectomy are not warned that up to 80% of men have post-surgical urinary incontinence. Regardless of your individual situation and underlying causes, an evaluation with a pelvic floor physical therapist is beneficial.
Treatment:
How We Can Help You
If you are experiencing bladder dysfunction you will benefit from an evaluation with a pelvic floor physical therapist to determine the role pelvic floor dysfunction may be playing in your symptoms. Bladder dysfunction can be associated with pelvic floor muscles that are too tight, and/or too weak, or they may be discoordinated and do not function properly. It is important to understand that historically people were told to ‘do your kegels’ for bladder health. If your pelvic floor muscles are too tight, kegel exercises may actually make your symptoms worse, which is why we advise working with a pelvic floor physical therapist to ensure proper rehabilitation. The pelvic floor muscles may need to be lengthened before they are strengthened. During the evaluation, the physical therapist reviews your history and symptoms with you, what you have been diagnosed with in the past, the treatments you have undergone and how effective or not effective these treatments have been. Importantly, we understand what you have been going through and that most people are frustrated by the time they get to see us.
During the physical examination the physical therapist examines muscles, tissues, joints, nerves, and movement patterns. Once the examination is complete your therapist reviews your findings with you. The physical therapist creates an assessment which explains how you developed your symptoms and creates short and long-term goals for your treatment plan. Typically, the frequency of physical therapy treatment is one to two times per week for roughly 12 weeks. You are given a home exercise program to compliment your in-person sessions, and your physical therapist will help to coordinate your recovery with the other members of your treatment team. We are here to help you recover and live your best life!
Treatment:
How We Can Help You
If you are experiencing bladder dysfunction you will benefit from an evaluation with a pelvic floor physical therapist to determine the role pelvic floor dysfunction may be playing in your symptoms. Bladder dysfunction can be associated with pelvic floor muscles that are too tight, and/or too weak, or they may be discoordinated and do not function properly. It is important to understand that historically people were told to ‘do your kegels’ for bladder health. If your pelvic floor muscles are too tight, kegel exercises may actually make your symptoms worse, which is why we advise working with a pelvic floor physical therapist to ensure proper rehabilitation. The pelvic floor muscles may need to be lengthened before they are strengthened. During the evaluation, the physical therapist reviews your history and symptoms with you, what you have been diagnosed with in the past, the treatments you have undergone and how effective or not effective these treatments have been. Importantly, we understand what you have been going through and that most people are frustrated by the time they get to see us.
How Can We Help You?
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At its heart, Pelvic Pain Explained is the story of how patients develop pelvic pain, the challenges patients and providers face throughout the diagnosis and treatment process, the difficult task of sifting through the different available treatment options, and the impact that an “invisible” condition has on a patient’s life and relationships, and much more.