Are Kegels Worthwhile?

Exercising Kegels before and after robotic prostatectomy worked for me. Remember to close them just before you cough or sneeze.

I had the 5 proton radiation treatments at Mayo Phoenix. I started getting slight dribbles and a half dollar size wet spot in bed after a night's sleep 310 days after radiation. Started using a thin shield once a day and a pad at night. My next appointment with my urologist he said to do Kegels. Three months later I am dry as my backyard in Phoenix. I can even wash dishes without getting the urge to stop and pee before finishing them. Just did a couple of set while writing this.

I definitely believe in kegels. I did Pelvic Floor PT before and after my RALP in Aug 2022. I had ZERO leaks, drips, whatever.

Two years later, I still do kegels a few times a week.

I had RALP 8/23/2022, did kegels and other Pelvic Floor PT before and after surgery.

Now, 9/26/2024, I still do them several times a week.

Hello.
I started doing Kegel exercises in late September last year, and the learning video provided to me was from a hospital in our country. But I did it for ten months and it didn't work. So from the time I left the hospital until the end of July this year, my incontinence dropped from 100% to 80%. This 20% is not completely controllable and is at night when sleeping, although still incontinence is only less. Hold it in and pull it out of the bathroom when you need to.
In light of this situation, I started looking for advanced medical technology hospitals online in early August to solve my incontinence problem. After less than a month of searching, we finally found the real Kegel exercise video and text explanation. These include articles and videos from the Mayo Clinic, the Library of Congress, and the Royal Library.
Through ten days of comparative videos and articles to explore understanding and practice, I basically achieved the correct practice. After 20 or so days of normal practice, urinary incontinence is only 70%.
The effect is quick, it may be that you have done irregular Kegel exercises before, but some muscles have been exercised, and the effect is a little earlier in accordance with regular Kegel exercises.
My difficulty now is that I have a language barrier to communicate with you. I write your reply in Chinese first, then translate it into English, and then send it to you. In fact, as long as you send me the information I need, I will translate it and read it.
Another difficulty is that I can't watch some science and technology videos from abroad, so I'd better ask you to download them and send them to me via email, especially the Kegel teaching videos. This Kegel tutorial video I'm watching right now, it's a brief overview without specific methods, steps, etc.
My urinary incontinence should be the bladder problem, I suspect that the compression muscle is too active, and the operation of the pubic bone and ligament and muscle connection damage, and now lack of exercise, not strong enough to cause! How to exercise them shows that it is necessary.
Thank you very much.

Hard to quantify but I also have had some urinary function changes after proton therapy some 14 months ago. So minor that I wonder if it isn't simply part of the aging process but....

Have started doing some kegals but because it really isn't a big issue, I forget to do them rather often.

I'm not sure if Kegels were the answer but I've been through a rollercoaster ride with my leakage issues post-surgery 1/2023. It's been a struggle, going from three heavy pads a day to finally just one light pad. I tried everything - Kegels, physical therapy, and even considered surgery at one point. But it seems like persistence not giving up doing Kegels has paid off for me. Just when I thought things were getting worse during radiation treatment, suddenly 3 months after radiation I was down to 1 light pad a day. So maybe there is hope after all for all of us, even after almost two years of dealing with this. Hang in there and keep up with those Kegels - you never know when all the hard work will pay off.

I was very touched to see your post. You and I both had surgery in the same year and January.
Kegel exercises are certainly useful and very good. Strictly speaking, it is zero cost.

I am in the Phoenix area. Anyone recommend a pelvic floor specialist?

Good question Mary . I am not a doctor so , no medical advise form me , just personal experience and talking to hundreds of men with PC in support groups . I believe everyone holds their urine differently somewhat. Kegals are very beneficial for some , not so much for others I have gleaned . Post operation I did not have problems with Urine leaks . So grateful . It wont hurt and improves muscle response ...but I didn't do them per se . I think your general fitness and age have a lot to do with post operation development . Let us know how your husband does and fill us in along the way ! God Bless ! James on Vancouver Island .