Urinary incontinence is closely associated with stroke survivors. People surviving from a stroke episode normally confront this embarrassing malady. Incontinence is not only distressing for the patient, but also equally troublesome for the caretaker. Only recently have reports become available on the possible neurological areas that are affected in stroke patients, and bladder impairment. There has hardly been any mention of the effects of treating urinary incontinence in stroke patients.
Urinary incontinence is a general outcome of a stroke because the portion of the brain that is damaged controls waste removal. Nerves related to continence may also get damaged during a stroke. For that reason stroke, survivors are required to use a catheter, a small tube, for urination. They might not need the catheter as their condition improves. However, in most such cases the bladder functioning improves over time and stroke survivors begin urinating with bladder control.
For persons who are not able to control urinary dribbling before making it to the restroom may follow some useful and practical tips mentioned here.
•Visit the restroom regularly to urinate even if you do not feel the urge. This is a good way of training your bladder. Besides, you would save yourself the embarrassment from urinary dribbling.
•If you are not yet able to make it to the restroom on your own, call for help immediately on feeling the urge to urinate. You could be taken to the restroom on time.
•Ensure privacy and enough time to seat yourself on the commode.
•Drink sufficient fluids during the day, while restraining your fluid intake in the evening. This will ensure that you do not have to wake up frequently at night to urinate. It will also be a big relief to your caretaker.
•Restrict your alcohol and caffeine intake, especially at night.
•Your physical therapist may suggest you certain exercises to strengthen the muscles in the area around the bladder. Strong muscles can certainly help in urinary incontinence conditions.
Treatment
Surprisingly, there is not much information available on the treatment associated with incontinence due to a stroke. It appears that the issue has not been addressed with the seriousness it deserves. Some studies that exist come from the Japanese academic press. In situations where conventional methods have failed, there have been suggestions of transurethral resection of the prostate in men with obstructions in the urinary flow. Another study suggests that pharmacological, surgical, toilet habits and behavioral therapies have substantially helped in such conditions.
Certain published evidences support physiotherapy and bladder retraining programs as highly effective methods of countering urinary incontinence in stroke survivors. Substantial improvements have been reported in such cases, though a proper investigation among stroke survivors has not been carried out. Such methods, if effective as claimed, need to be properly investigated and brought out in the open to help stroke survivors with urinary incontinence the world over.
The plight of the caretakers of such patients has never found any official mention. It is just as or even more stressful for them to handle such situations. Family members who volunteer to help need proper training to manage the situation. An overall in-depth study is the need to tackle the problem of incontinence associated with a stroke.
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Jeff Luckey is in research and development at http://www.biorelief.com - Information and products to help manage incontinence, and related issues.
