MS-incontinence, pelvic floor training, tips?

[fbz]

Hi!
Like i think most of us do, I denied for my neurologist and myself that I have incontinence. And I really believed it until yesterday when I went to the gym, and as I was jumping up and down had a little leak. Then I started to think, google and came to the conclusion that I do have problems with peeing, typical problems for us with MS. For now the problems are manageable, just very little leakage when I jump and only urgency sometimes.

But I do not want the problems to get worse yet (I'm only 22), and I read an article that said that pelvic floor training reduced theese symptoms. Now I wonder if you have any training programs for this?

/Fanny
(since I'm from Sweden I hope you'll excuse my english and that you'll understand everything)

[Gerard314]

Ditto for me Mexthecat: That's a common finding, because kegel exercise can only strengthen the pelvic floor muscles which are not the sole contributors to urinary continence.  When you are relatively young and not too enthused about spending the rest of you years in adult diapers you'll naturally be searching for better results.  I'm having some success with a diet higher in fruits, vegetables and dietary fiber.  I know this sounds counterintuitive (that it would keep your digestive system flowing) but there is evidence that types of constipation lead to UI.  You can still be constipated and have somewhat regular BMs because your colon will still be highly plugged up.  Google Dr. Steven Hodges or "constipation and UI" and see if you think it will help.
I also hear that esp. in the case of prostate issues you can have a weak "valve muscle" and perhaps this is not the same as a pelvic floor muscle.  

[fbz]

Thankyou for all the nice answers, think I'm going to tell my neuro after all :) the links are great btw! Good to have people to talk to about these problems!

[sllowe]

Fbz,

Adding on a welcome to you! Nice to have you. Ugh, 22 and having to deal with this - not good. Those links are excellent write-ups - hope you have a chance to read them.

I can't jump or it all flows. Found out years before my diagnosis when a girlfriend and I decided we were going to get in shape and jump rope during lunch break. Almost my whole bladder emptied - i was in shock. I blame mine on my 3 kids, hahah And, not my MS. But, who knows.

Kegal exercises are good for men and women for the pelvic floor strengthening regardless of the cause. The weaker it gets, the more problems. Least these exercises can be done sitting down, and anytime, anyplace.

Nice to have you with us - if you have a chance please add your name to our two threads here "who is dx'd" and "DMD users."

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Who-is-Diagnosed/show/697976

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/DMD-Users-Past--Present---Copaxone--Rebif--Avonex--Betaseron--Tysabri--other/show/1193746

See you around!
-shell

[Lulu54]

that's a good technique for handling retention and it does work for some people. I wish it worked for everyone - me included!  I and a few others around here have to use intermittent self-catherization to finish emptying our bladder.  It's not as bad as it sounds and it keeps the urine from backing up into the kidneys.

You are right that constipation and bladder problems can be interconnected.   I'm glad that technique helped your son.  We all  have to do whatever we can to control this problem otherwise it can control us.

[ku111]

I know my son is only 12 but he has a neurogenic bladder (not diagnosed yet) but when we went to urologist I did learn some interesting things.  The first thing they did was check on x-ray for stool in colon.  I was very confused.  He explained to us that many people have even more problems when constipated.  He wanted my son on increased fiber to keep bowels moving (he had constipation problems before the bladder and he became ill).  He also put him on Ditropan to help and we did bladder retraining last summer.  He goes to bathroom every 2-2 1/2 hours and the counts to 10 or says ABC's to empty the rest.  Oddly enough, the rest leaks out and saves him the embarrassment of it down his pants.  He says girls need to stand up do slow 10 count or ABCs and then sit down and leak out the rest.  He also told us kegel exercise would do litle for us.  It has helped a lot because this was definately a huge problem for my son.  I don't know if any of this is helpful.  I wish you the best!

[Lulu54]

Hi and welcome, I had to laugh when I read you denied it to your neuro, because that is exactly what I did, even though I had major incontinence issues. I just didn't know it could be connected to the MS. I have done the pelvic floor trraining - it did little good.

Yes, this can be a problem with MS.  But what you are describing can also be a result of the jumping, stress incontinence. You will never see an older woman jumping on a trampoline, MS or not, because it is going to cause the bladder to leak. LOL

Your English is great - I'm glad you stopped and asked this quesiton.  We need to discuss these problems often around here to remind everyone this can be a normal part of living with MS.
welcome, Lulu

[rendean]

There are several Health Pages written by Quix and several other members. These pages are found on the right hand side of the first page of the forum. Quix wrote two articles on incontinence. Below are the direct links to the incontinence pages:

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple%20Sclerosis/The-Neurology-of-Bladder-Incontinence/show/758?cid=36

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/Urinary-Incontinence-PT---Part-Deux/show/760?cid=36


I hope this help explain how the incontinence develops.


Ren

[teenyturner]

I have chronic frequency and urgency with some incontinence.  I get frequent UTIs.

Is this a neuro symptom?

I told my neuro doc and my oncologist but they didn't seem to hear me....anyone have that problem too?  Deaf doctors!


Regards

[Dagun]

Hi Fanny,
I have had the "normal not ms" leak, witch happens when you sneeze or jump or something like that, I did the exercises for that and it got better. But when I got the "ms" incontinence (I think it must be that), it was just like when I have period (? not sure of my english here) the leak happened without me feeling it right away, it went on for nearly two weeks. But you should see a doctor to find out witch one it is. I hope this gets better.

My best,
Dagun

[maxthecat9196]

Hi Fanny,

I can understand not wanting anyone to know, especially at your age.  I am so sorry you have to deal with this so young.  Pelvic floor training and kegels did nothing for me.  If your bladder issues are due to ms, you really need to call you doctor.  I take oxybutnin for this particular problem, and it works.  

Good luck, Sweetie.  I hope you feel better.
Tammy