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Urinary incontinence
If you suffer from the involuntary loss of urine, you are not alone. In fact, millions of women have this and think that nothing can be done. But this is not true. Successful, "minimally invasive" techniques for the treatment of urinary incontinence are now available, thus avoiding major surgery and a prolonged recovery. The key in successfully treating urinary incontinence is determining which type the patient has. This is done by reviewing patient's history, performing a physical exam, and then performing a simple test in the office called urodynamic testing. The entire test takes about 20 minutes and does not involve any significant discomfort. Once the cause is determined, then treatment can be recommended. For those with an irritable bladder, medication can be prescribed. If stress incontinence is diagnosed, then surgery will be discussed. In the past, surgery for stress incontinence may have involved a large abdominal incision, a few days in the hospital, and several weeks of recovery. However, this is no longer always necessary. There are now minimally invasive procedures available for the treatment of stress incontinence. One of these procedures is called a vaginal sling. It involves the placement of a strip of material in the pelvic floor, which supports the bladder neck and urethra when coughing and straining. The valve mechanism remains closed and incontinence is relieved. This can be done in the outpatient day-surgery setting. The incisions are small "band-aid"- size and patients are able to return to their normal routines within several days instead of several weeks. Success rates with the vaginal sling are very good. Most patients see improvement within several days and many have complete resolution of their symptoms within a few weeks. Given a large group of patients and looking back one year after surgery, 85% have had complete resolution of their symptoms, 10% have marked improvement, and only about 5% fail and require further treatment. Some women are not interested in undergoing a surgical procedure for treatment of their stress urinary incontinence. They may have obligations with work or family and don't have time for recovery. Others may not feel that their symptoms are severe enough to justify even a minor surgical procedure. Now, a non-surgical treatment is available for patients such as these. It is called the Renessa™ procedure and can be performed in the comfort and convenience of the physician's office. A narrow device is passed through the urethra and using radio frequency, the tissue at the base of the bladder is treated. The device is removed, and there are no catheters, bandages or dressings to change. Women are then able to return to normal activities the next day. The procedure requires an office visit of less than an hour and the majority of women experience a reduction of symptoms and require fewer pads if any. Additionally, the procedure has an excellent safety record with a minimum of complications. If you suffer from uncontrolled leakage of urine, call today and make an appointment for a consultation or second opinion. See if you can be treated with medication or a minimally invasive technique to treat your symptoms. Take the next step in improving the quality of your life. These procedures are standard medical therapy and typically covered by insurance. » Urinary Incontinence Questionnaire » Learn more about the Renessa™ procedure
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