Chinese Medicine
Urinary incontinence
Leaking when you cough, sneeze or laugh, or a sudden urge you cannot hold. It is common, and it can be treated. Dr. Pan checks the cause first.
For three days before you come, it helps to write down how much you drink, how often you pass urine, and when you leak. Please bring a list of the medicines, supplements and herbs you take now.
First, check the cause
Some leaks have a cause that can be treated: a bladder infection, constipation, some medicines (such as water pills), high blood sugar, or, in men, a large prostate.
How it is treated
- Pelvic floor exercises (Kegels), the first step for leaks when you cough or laugh. A physical therapist can teach you to do them well.
- Bladder training: going by the clock, and slowly making the time between trips longer.
- Acupuncture: very thin needles, to strengthen bladder control and reduce leaks and urgency. Together with pelvic floor exercises, it works even better.
- Chinese herbs, prescribed for your pattern, to strengthen the kidneys and qi and help the bladder hold. They are checked against the medicines you already take.
- Medicine, or a referral to a specialist, if needed.
How many visits
Usually once a week at first. Six to eight visits make a course; then look at your bladder diary again to see how much better you are: fewer leaks, fewer trips at night.
Common questions
Is leaking just part of getting older?
It is common, but you do not have to live with it. Many people get better with treatment.
What tests will I need?
Usually a urine test. Dr. Pan will tell you if you need anything more, and why.
Should I drink less water?
Keep drinking enough water: too little makes the urine stronger and the bladder more irritable. Cutting down on coffee, tea and alcohol helps more.
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Seen in King of Prussia
Patients travel from King of Prussia, Wayne, Bryn Mawr, Villanova, Radnor, Conshohocken, Malvern, Phoenixville, Devon and Berwyn.