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Please share your experience with pelvic floor physiotherapy

Posted by jake78 @jake78, Sep 10, 2023

I am soon to be an 80 year old male in reasonably good health, considering my age, but I do have an enlarged prostrate gland that I take medication to treat frequent urges to urinate.
I have just signed up for a series of sessions with a physiotherapist that specialises in strengthening the pelvic floor muscles.


What should my realistic expectations be from this treatment?

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 10, 2023

Welcome, @jake78. I added your question to the Men's Health support group too. I'm tagging fellow members @subarulegacy99 @johnbishop @emit @edo @web265 @maxvt to invite them to share their experiences with pelvic floor physiotherapy with you.

When do you start PT?

REPLY
1 reply
maxvt | @maxvt | Sep 10, 2023

As a 72 year old, facing prostate surgery last August, I was informed that there would likely be incontinence afterwards, and that this is a common side effect.

My Urologist wrote a prescription for Pelvic Floor PT and advised me that this is the best thing for me. I did about four weeks before the surgery, going twice a week plus repeating the exercises at home on days when I did not go to the clinic, which was Baylor Scott & White, on Angus Rd in Austin TX, if you are in this area. I had the surgery and had a catheter for about ten days. After the catheter was removed, I returned to continue the PT, twice weekly in clinic and at home.

Much of the exercises is done with resistance bands. From Amazon, I purchased a complete set of the bands with handgrips for arm + core and for leg + core exercises; also included was a set of three "loop bands" for leg + core exercises. The entire kit was $30-$35, from WhatAFit.

After the surgery I did four to six more weeks of PT before I was "discharged."

Through all this time after surgery, I was completely continent. The Therapist told me she was working with a couple of gentlemen who still had continence issues six months after surgery.

In my opinion, the sooner you can begin this PT, the better off you will be. I expect it will boost your morale - I know I would have been pretty bummed out if I had continence issues after the surgery.

And now, 55+ weeks after surgery, I am still doing those exercises.

So, all my best to you in these efforts!

REPLY
1 reply
jake78 | @jake78 | Sep 10, 2023
In reply to @colleenyoung "Welcome, @jake78. I added your question to the Men's Health support group too. I'm tagging fellow..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Welcome, @jake78. I added your question to the Men's Health support group too. I'm tagging fellow members @subarulegacy99 @johnbishop @emit @edo @web265 @maxvt to invite them to share their experiences with pelvic floor physiotherapy with you.

When do you start PT?

Jump to this post

I have my third session next Tuesday.
Thank you Colleen

REPLY
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 10, 2023

Hi @jake78, I haven't had pelvic floor PT. I'm also taking medication for BPH and problems emptying my bladder. I haven't looked a PT but have been thinking about a Minimally Invasive Procedure but not sure at age 80 if it's an option for me.

REPLY
jake78 | @jake78 | Sep 10, 2023
In reply to @maxvt "As a 72 year old, facing prostate surgery last August, I was informed that there would..." + (show)
@maxvt

As a 72 year old, facing prostate surgery last August, I was informed that there would likely be incontinence afterwards, and that this is a common side effect.

My Urologist wrote a prescription for Pelvic Floor PT and advised me that this is the best thing for me. I did about four weeks before the surgery, going twice a week plus repeating the exercises at home on days when I did not go to the clinic, which was Baylor Scott & White, on Angus Rd in Austin TX, if you are in this area. I had the surgery and had a catheter for about ten days. After the catheter was removed, I returned to continue the PT, twice weekly in clinic and at home.

Much of the exercises is done with resistance bands. From Amazon, I purchased a complete set of the bands with handgrips for arm + core and for leg + core exercises; also included was a set of three "loop bands" for leg + core exercises. The entire kit was $30-$35, from WhatAFit.

After the surgery I did four to six more weeks of PT before I was "discharged."

Through all this time after surgery, I was completely continent. The Therapist told me she was working with a couple of gentlemen who still had continence issues six months after surgery.

In my opinion, the sooner you can begin this PT, the better off you will be. I expect it will boost your morale - I know I would have been pretty bummed out if I had continence issues after the surgery.

And now, 55+ weeks after surgery, I am still doing those exercises.

So, all my best to you in these efforts!

Jump to this post

Thank you maxvt

REPLY
Marilyn McFarland | @1942marilyne | Sep 11, 2023

It works. But have to continue the exercises

REPLY
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