How Do You Treat Urinary Incontinence After Prostate Surgery?
Urinary incontinence — the involuntary loss of urine — is one of the potential side effects of prostate cancer surgery. The urinary sphincter may be damaged during prostate removal, compromising a man’s to hold on urine. This condition can be temporary, although about 5% of men have permanent urinary incontinence following prostate surgery. This quality-of-life issue can be managed. Kegel exercises can help the muscles damaged during surgery relearn the process of holding in urine. These exercises can be learned and practiced before prostate surgery and continued while the urinary catheter is in place, usually a period of about three weeks. Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic muscles. Squeeze your buttocks while tightening down on your pelvic muscles, just as you would if you were needing to hold in urine while waiting for a place to use the restroom. Kegel exercises should be done in five-minute periods hourly. Keep doing the exercises as long as urinary incontinence is a problem.
