Incontinence Improvement with Pelvic PT?

Posted by lb1049 @lb1049, Feb 26, 2023

Its only been since December 7 that I've been in PT and recently began tracking using the 24 hour pad test. Since February 11 the average is 444/24 hours. The 2 day moving average is 418/24 hours.

This looks like I'm far behind the curve of those who eventually made significant improvement.

I'm interested in other's comments about their rate of improvement over the initial months following RP.

I do my daily kegels, and other exercises from PT. No caffeine or alcohol. 73 years old. No problem prior to RP.

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kjacko | @kjacko | Apr 6, 2025

I did Kegels for 1 month prior to my RP and after catheter removal, every hour on the hour-10 quick and 10 with a 5 second hold. I was fortunate that I NEVER had any incontinence issues. I just had another followup with my Urologist and he mentioned that only 10% of RP patients have zero issues. Like anything else we are all affected differently. Good luck🤞

edinmaryland | @edinmaryland | Apr 6, 2025

I am so happy for you
I also appreciate your urologist telling it like it is.
There is a DC area urologist that spouts off almost the opposite and advises against doing pelvic floor work
after hearing his lecture I checked out his reviews . they were very very negative

rich24 | @rich24 | Apr 7, 2025

In reply to @colleenyoung "@rich24, how are you doing with the Kegel's? Are you able to keep at it, daily?" + (show)

Thanks for checking in @colleenyoung - yes, I'm hard at the Kegels every day. Progress is slow, but measurable. And I located a nearby PT that does pelvic floor muscle rehab.

johnfinch | @johnfinch | Mar 24 3:02pm

I'm 70, a year out from surgery, and still leaking through two pads a day although not as much as I was. I have gone through dry periods, but they don't last more than a week or two and usually correlate with my liquid intake.
I do Kegels during morning exercise and intermittently throughout the day. Keen to hear from others about tactics to address persistent leaking a year out from surgery.

edinmaryland | @edinmaryland | Mar 24 3:40pm

In reply to @johnfinch "I'm 70, a year out from surgery, and still leaking through two pads a day although..." + (show)

@johnfinch we are in the same boat almost
I am 72 a little over a year out and still have incontinence. It definitely has gotten better but I have a ways to go., I feel better now just because I have made steady ( although inconsistent like you) progress.
I was seeing a pt that specialized in Kegles +++ ( I add the +s) because she did so much more than standard Kegels (bladder re-training, core training with Kegels, what I consider situational or specific Kegels for certain activities, ( getting in and out of a chair. lifting children, climbing a ladder)
In terms of details: it seems that most recommend at least two sets a day of both short and regular Kegels ( 10 to 15 seconds for the long ones) She also had me doing progressive Kegels ( holding at 1/3 2/3 and 3/3 then relaxing at 2/3 and 1/2 )
Sometimes less is better. I wanted to do 100s a day just to put this behind me but she slowed me down and taught me the wisdom of going slow and easy methodical. I did learn that I could easily over-train, strain and then regress. I also tried to experiment with coffee and that caused regression. I feel better although I hate incontinence but I do feel I am continuing to make progress.
I did not want to give in to a sling, clamp or artificial sphincter ( no offense to anyone that has one of these) I want to go back to life before RARP