Friday, September 3, 2010

Hip Issues and Incontinence

If you are thinking this is TMI, then I suggest you stop reading. As usual, I have no problem discussing the things that no one else wants to.
When I initially had hip pain, over 3 years ago, one thing In noticed was that I had to do a pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction, or kegel, when I would cough or sneeze. I never actually leaked urine but felt that I was going to. With regular PT, this got better and I forgot about it. Last week I was doing jumping jacks with L when I suddenly leaked so much urine that it was running down my legs. I was shocked. I not only had never actually leaked urine, but this was a huge amount, and completely out of the blue. I have been having a lot of tightness in my hip, and even had to go back to PT yesterday for a "tune up", but I see no other reason for this.

At PT, my PT loosened up the anterior capsule for me and sent me on my way, encouraging me to go back to running to keep the hip stretched. I did, last night I got right back on the treadmill and began running. I started feeling leakage again and couldn't believe it, I was leaking urine again. Now, jumping jacks I don't do on a regular basis, but running...I never ever had a problem with running. I am totally freaked out by this. My only saving grace is that I was home both times. Yes, I ahve had 3 babies, 4 hip surgeries, but urinary incontinence is NEVER normal.

So, what am I doing about it? PFM exercises, and more PFM exercises. Kegels when I remember, plus hip adduction (squeezing a ball in between my knees) and hip ER/abd with a theraband around my knees. I am going to do them aggressively, I won't be running for a while because I will be travelling a lot in the next week and a half, but hopefully when I get back things will be strong again and I wont have this problem anymore.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

couldn't the "leakage" be from having three children? that has been known to occur, and could be completely unrelated to the hip issues. just a thought.

Anonymous said...

http://www.pregnancytoday.com/articles/moms-physical-health/incontinence-after-childbirth-1972/2/

Anonymous said...

I had bilateral hip scopes 6 months apart and I had some incontinence issues after my second scope. I did some kegels and it got a lot better, but I definitely feel that things are different than before my surgeries. I have not had children so I completely agree with you that there may be something related to our hip problems or maybe mine was due to my surgeries being so close together and the traction equipment that is used for the surgery...? Either way, mine was obviously due to something hip related. I am posting this mostly in response to the anonymous poster who thinks your leakage is due to your pregnancies. I work in the medical field so when this happened to me after surgery I was able to recognize it for what it was and knew what to do about it. There may be other hip patients out there who this happens to and they are too embarrassed to speak up about it (which I'm sure is exactly why you posted it in the first place!) So I just wanted to add my story to let other hip patients know that this can happen.

I stumbled across your blog a couple of years ago when I was trying to get diagnosed and there was not much out there about FAI and I just want to thank you for being willing to share so much of your journey!

-KT

Susie said...

It is never "normal" to have any type of incontinence. I am a pelvic floor therapist which is why I brought this issue up here. In my case, it is NOT a result of having 3 kids, I never had any type of leaage post-partum. This is a direct result of weak hip muscles, specifically internal and external rotators. It is not caused by nerve damage from traction, If anyone ever has loss of bowel or bladder control due to nerve damage, it is very very serious and you need to inform your doctor right away. Keep in mind that I am 10 months postop, 20 months post-partum and just having these issues now.

Anonymous said...

Hi Susie-
I'm sorry I didn't word my post very well..I didn't mean to imply that I thought I had nerve damage or anything serious like that. I just assumed that 2 surgeries in 6 months weakened some things in my hip area. The traction just popped into my head but not because of nerve damage per se, I guess I'm not really sure what I even meant by that! Sorry! Like I said, once I started doing some kegels and started doing my post op strengthening exercises, it resolved itself very quickly and I have not had leakage since. I have slacked on my strengthening exercises and when I said things feel different it is just when I have a really full bladder, but there is no leakage.

I was kind of put off by the comment from someone else that it was due to your pregnancies and was just trying to agree with you about it being hip related as I have not had children. I'm sorry for any confusion! I don't ever post comments so I don't think I articulated very well. Again, sorry for the confusion.

-KT

jojo said...

I am 4 months post hip replacement. All is well, except that I have numbness in my leg from the groin to the knee. The skin is numb, yet it hurts to push on or poke with my finger- kinda feels like it is badly bruised (no redness or swelling) MY QUESTION IS; COULD THIS NUMBNESS BE CONTRIBUTING TO MY URINE AND FECAL INCONTINENCE? My Dr. says the numbness is very common, and the sensation will return within 6-12 months. (I have not told him about my incontinence, as I thought it was due to meds, then inactivity) I have pretty severe pain when I lift my leg up from lying down or sitting-the pain is in my groin area. I did ask the Dr. bout this pain, and he said it is normal, and will go away in time-6-12 months. My Dr. says" it is nerve damage, NOT weak muscles. Don't aggravate it" I had 6 vag deliveries, do my kegals, and never had a problem with incontinence until now. When I do kegals, it doesnt feel the same-not as effective. AM I DOOMED TO INCONTINENCE? Will the sensation come back? PLEASE HELP.

jojo said...

I should explain my previous comments about incontinence. I am not completely incontinent. But, I do wet my pants a litte everytime I sneeze, cough, or laugh real hard. AND 3 times( in the last 40 days) I have woken up with very loose stool on me and my sheets. (I felt no sensation of a bowl movement while sleeping) WEIRD! My bowels have been messed up since my surgery. Since I just got over pneumonia and was coughing like crazy, I had to resort to adult diapers to go in public-just in case. I have been searching the web for any reports of others having this same problem, and found nothing! I am very worried about the sensation in my leg, groin, rectal, and whatever- ever being normal again. My massage therapist says the nerve endings just need to heal, They have no blood supply, so they take a long time to heal.
My surgeon says it is not a matter of strengthening the groin muscles- because it is not the muscles, it is the nerves. what kind of doctor can help me???? DO I JUST NEED TO BE PATIENT?

Useful Talk said...

This blog was extremely helpful. I really appreciate your kindness in sharing this with me and everyone else! hip pain

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