Being unable to make it to the bathroom on time or having a little leakage when you cough or sneeze aren’t things you have to live with. Urinary incontinence isn’t only embarrassing, it can also be the sign of an underlying, more serious condition for both men and women. Fortunately, treatment is available. With Dr. Raphael Novogrodsky of Urocare Services in the Bronx, New York, patients from Northern Manhattan, New Rochelle, and throughout Southern Westchester County can feel confident that they're in caring hands and getting the most modern treatment available.
Yes. Urinary incontinence is a symptom of an underlying problem. Menopause, childbirth, overactive bladder (OAB), hormonal changes, prostate cancer, or neurological disorders are just some of the underlying health issues that cause incontinence.
Whether you’re losing a little urine, or are having accidents, this could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. It’s even possible that you’re constipated, since your bladder and rectum share the same nerves. If you’re backed up, your nerves feel pressure, causing you to urinate more frequently.
Sometimes diet causes urinary incontinence. For instance, caffeinated beverages, carbonated drinks, artificial sweeteners, and corn syrup are all ingredients that can trigger urinary issues. Even taking high doses of vitamins B or C can cause you to urinate frequently.
Using urodynamic testing, Dr. Novogrodsky gets to the root of incontinence issues. Urodynamic testing involves an assortment of observations, including determining how long it takes for your bladder to empty, how much urine is produced, and your ability to stop midstream. Dr. Novogrodsky wants to see if your bladder isn’t holding urine as it’s supposed to, or if you feel an urge to “go” long before your bladder is full.
If Dr. Novogrodsky needs more precise measurements, he has tools that take images of the bladder while it fills. Whether the patient requires simple observations, or a more precise urodynamic test, such as a leak pressure point measurement or a pressure flow study, Dr. Novogrodsky uses the most modern technology around.
Because urinary incontinence can stem from so many things, it’s essential to get a thorough checkup in order to get the right treatment plan. Dr. Novogrodsky might spend some time teaching behavioral techniques, such as scheduling trips to the bathroom or changing diet.
Patients also benefit from pelvic floor exercises, such as Kegel exercises, that force them to strengthen pelvic muscles by doing a series of tightening and relaxing repetitions. Some patients benefit from electrical stimulation, in which small electrodes — inserted into the vagina or rectum — send electrical impulses that help strengthen the pelvic muscles. Urinary incontinence can also be treated with the MonaLisa Touch vaginal laser for some women. If need be, Dr. Novogrodsky prescribes a medication to help relieve bladder issues. As a last resort, surgery might be required.
Yes, but they are not the same thing. If you have an overactive bladder (OAB), you’ll feel like you have to go to the bathroom all the time. The sudden uncontrollable urge to “go” can lead to urinary incontinence — a symptom of overactive bladder. With overactive bladder, most patients describe having to urinate at least 8 times per day, plus a couple times throughout the night. Diagnosis and treatment for overactive bladder are similar to urinary incontinence.
