0330 088 7800
What is urinary retention?
Urine is constantly travelling from your kidneys and is collected in your bladder. Your bladder then expands as it fills with urine. The bladder is a muscle and is kept closed by a valve called the sphincter until the bladder becomes full. When the bladder is full, the sphincter opens and urine is taken via a tube called the urethra to be passed.
Urinary retention in men is when you are unable to pass urine despite your bladder being full. It can also be characterised by feeling the need to pass urine although not being able to.
Above: Soft tissue massage of the abdominals by a specialist massage therapistWhat causes urinary retention?
Urinary retention in men can be caused by a number of reasons including:
- Damage to the nerves that inform the bladder to contract
- Enlargement of the prostate due to cancer or infection
- Trauma to the area
- Infection or inflammation
- Drug related effects
What symptoms will I have?
If you have urinary retention you may be experiencing a number of symptoms. Urinary retention in men is characterised by the inability to pass much urine at any one time and the frequent, strong urge to urinate. You may experience some leakage or dribbling during the day and while you are asleep and you may find that you need to force yourself to pass urine. You may also suffer from some lower back pain as well as some pain when attempting to urinate.
Physio.co.uk has specialist physiotherapists that offer a comprehensive assessment and physiotherapy programme that identifies your problems and produces a variety of treatment goals and strategies to help reduce your symptoms as soon as possible.
What physiotherapy treatment will I receive for stress incontinence?
If you are suffering from urinary retention then Physio.co.uk will provide you with a personal physiotherapy programme which includes goals and treatment methods that focus on reducing any problems that you are experiencing. Treatment methods include:
- Pain control (pain killers)
- Pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercises
- Abdominal muscle strengthening exercises
- Controlled breathing and relaxation exercises
- Advice on comfortable positioning
- Biofeedback to show you how well you are using your internal muscles
- Electrical stimulation to help with pelvic floor muscle contraction and bladder control
- Hydrotherapy
- Bladder training to help the bladder return to normal function
- Instruction for home exercise programme to improve pelvic floor function
- Education on how to make lifestyle changes that may affect the bladder
Summary
Urinary retention is the inability to pass urine despite your bladder being full. Urinary retention in men can be caused by a number of reasons including damage to the nerves that control your bladder contractions, enlargement or cancer of the prostate, infection, inflammation or trauma. If you have urinary retention you will experience symptoms such as pain, the inability to pass urine and a constant, strong urge to pass urine. Physiotherapy with Physio.co.uk can help reduce the problems you are experiencing in a number of ways by improving your control of your bladder and strengthening the muscles that affect continence. The physiotherapists at Physio.co.uk can work with you to create a comprehensive treatment plan to help reduce your symptoms and optimise your recovery.
To request more information or to book an appointment with us today, make an appointment online or call Physio.co.uk 0330 088 7800.
