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Urine Retention: Tight Pelvic Floor Muscles & Stretches

Posted by terwifwoods @terwifwoods, Nov 27, 2021

Hello,

I am a forty some year-old man who was otherwise healthy until a few months ago. I had no known medical issues and would work out at least five days a week. I have been dealing with urinary retention and voiding dysfunction. I have seen two urologists, general practitioners, and a physical therapist. I have also had a cystoscopy and continue self-catheterization. I have a lot of questions, but one thing is for certain: I have a tight urethral sphincter muscle and a tight pelvic floor. I have been doing pelvic floor stretches and general stretching of my hips religiously for at least two months. I have not noticed any results regarding my ability to urinate and void more effectively.

Here's the million dollar question:

Have ANY MEN out there with urinary retention issues had any success with doing pelvic floor stretches? If so, what worked best, and what was the time frame?

***It has been difficult to find studies/articles and other men willing to discuss urinary and pelvic floor issues. Time to speak up fellas!

Thanks!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Men's Health Support Group.

wa34937 | @wa34937 | Apr 19, 2022

My PSA consistently hovers around 1.0, my annual digital inspection reports normal age related prostrate enlargement. My cardiologist/internist has encouraged me to drink 90 oz water daily which is possibly exacerbating this issue. It's disrupting my sleep. I stop taking liquids in the evening, I'm tapering my water consumption to see the effect. Thanks for the response.

REPLY
emit | @emit | Apr 21, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @emit, have you started pelvic floor therapy? How’s it going? I’m hoping @terwifwoods @stevegrinstead @paul55..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @emit, have you started pelvic floor therapy? How’s it going?

I’m hoping @terwifwoods @stevegrinstead @paul55 and @gcranor return to share their experiences.

Jump to this post

Just returned to this forum ... Thanks Colleen for responding and helping others to respond. My pelvic floor therapy begins a week from now.

REPLY
emit | @emit | Apr 21, 2022
In reply to @wa34937 "I am curious about "most of my urine production occurs during sleep at night, which has..." + (show)
@wa34937

I am curious about "most of my urine production occurs during sleep at night, which has to be fixed as well" I have wondered why my urine production is so high at night? Please elaborate, I do have BPH.

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I was amazed at the volume of urine I produced at night once I begin recording catheterizing volume. It occurs in the first 2-4 hours when I'm in deep sleep, even if I eliminated drinking water after dinner. My urologist said an increase was normal as we age (that's one reason we pee more often at night), but I was unusually high and may want to see a nephrologist (kidney doc). That's where we left it, and since I don't have BPH, and no surgery was recommended at this point, I assumed this was a big factor simply because a blockage of any kind combined with high volume during deep sleep eventually can lead to a distended bladder, my problem. I'm hoping to learn more in the next few months and will update.

REPLY
emit | @emit | Apr 21, 2022
In reply to @paul55 "Happy to comment, Colleen. I have not had a big issue since having HoLEP surgery, but..." + (show)
@paul55

Happy to comment, Colleen. I have not had a big issue since having HoLEP surgery, but am trying to do kegel exercises to strengthen those muscles. But I wondered about Emit's comment about prostrate surgery not justified. If he is having to use a catheter to urinate, normally that would mean doing so 4-5 times a day to avoid heavy urine retention and so avoid the urine backing up Into his kidneys. For me this meant prostrate surgery of some kind was deemed a medical necessity and so was covered by insurance. Prostrate surgery, including HoLEP, may seem scary, but it a lot better than kidney disease. Emit, I would encourage you to look into that possibility, although I only know about my own experience.

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Yes, catheter 4-5 times a day, and kidney reflux is the big risk. Prostate surgery/TURP was assumed but deemed unnecessary after various imaging and tests done that indicated more bladder muscle weakness than prostate blockage. I'm fortunate I don't have cancer, but without a clear prostate cause I'm sort of stuck without a surgical solution and relying on restoring some bladder muscle function over time. I'm also still trying to find the right doc for a second opinion on what other options may exist.

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 23, 2022
In reply to @emit "Yes, catheter 4-5 times a day, and kidney reflux is the big risk. Prostate surgery/TURP was..." + (show)
@emit

Yes, catheter 4-5 times a day, and kidney reflux is the big risk. Prostate surgery/TURP was assumed but deemed unnecessary after various imaging and tests done that indicated more bladder muscle weakness than prostate blockage. I'm fortunate I don't have cancer, but without a clear prostate cause I'm sort of stuck without a surgical solution and relying on restoring some bladder muscle function over time. I'm also still trying to find the right doc for a second opinion on what other options may exist.

Jump to this post

Followers of this discussion may be interested in this blog post:
- Control frequent urges with bladder training https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/take-charge-healthy-aging/newsfeed-post/control-of-frequent-urges-with-bladder-training/

REPLY
nicky6969 | @nicky6969 | Jun 14, 2023

distended bladder - any new options to help bring it back to normal due to prostate issues? Any Herbal / vitamin supplements or procedures?

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paulmsp61 | @paulmsp61 | Dec 1, 2023

I just found this thread that's been going on now for 2 years. I have been recently diagnosed with urinary retention caused by radiation treatment for prostate cancer and am also looking for solutions other than self-catheterizing 4 times a day. I have seen it mentioned that pelvic floor exercises can help, but I haven't seen any success stories or any specifics on which exercises are best for urinary retention. Most seemed to be focused on the opposite issue, leakage.

Has anyone had any success?

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 4, 2023
In reply to @paulmsp61 "I just found this thread that's been going on now for 2 years. I have been..." + (show)
@paulmsp61

I just found this thread that's been going on now for 2 years. I have been recently diagnosed with urinary retention caused by radiation treatment for prostate cancer and am also looking for solutions other than self-catheterizing 4 times a day. I have seen it mentioned that pelvic floor exercises can help, but I haven't seen any success stories or any specifics on which exercises are best for urinary retention. Most seemed to be focused on the opposite issue, leakage.

Has anyone had any success?

Jump to this post

@paulmsp61, I think you might be interested in this related discussion:
- Do those Kegels!
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/do-those-kegels/

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