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Stress incontinence worsening with pelvic floor exercises- anyone else experienced this?

6 replies

SummersB · 14/03/2019 10:19

I have had some degree of stress incontinence since the birth of my last baby 9 years ago. Only ever had symptoms when exercising (running/jumping, etc) or sneezing with a full bladder. Over the years I tried a few “gadgets” like the Innovo pelvic toner to no real effect.
I have now decided to really try and tackle this and have downloaded the NHS Squeezy app and been doing actual plain old pelvic floor exercises religiously 4x a day for about 10 days. However, I went for a run this morning and my stress incontinence actually seemed worse! Started leaking within minutes and had to stop for a couple of pees, it’s not been this bad for years! I know I am doing them right because I can feel the muscles tightening, and so can DH when we DTD so I know it’s not technique. I also don’t think I have given myself an overactive pelvic floor as suggested by Dr Google as I have no other symptoms like pain during sex etc.
I’m not sure if I should just persevere and hope it will get better or just give up and go to my GP. The thing is, an NHS physio referral will take at least 6 months, I really don’t want to wait that long Sad It’s really putting me off exercising and starting to get me down. Has anyone else experienced similar?

OP posts:
KingIrving · 14/03/2019 10:52

Are you doing abs such as crunches and sit ups? These are catastrophic with a weak pelvic and can make it so much worse.

More than squeezing it is a lifting on the very low abs that you should feel during your pelvic exercises.

Pay for a privare session with a specialised physio.

MissusHoolie · 14/03/2019 10:56

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SummersB · 14/03/2019 11:05

Thanks for the replies! Hmm I am doing lots of crunches etc but have been doing for a year now and the worsening is only just happening.
I am definitely feeling the lift and release when I am doing the exercises - I can feel everything from the back right through to the front contracting and lifting and then releasing down, so I really don’t think I am doing them wrong.

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KingIrving · 14/03/2019 19:27

"If you are at risk for pelvic floor injury or suffer from weak pelvic floor muscles, avoid all exercises that place extreme stress on the upper abs. Avoid traditional sit-ups and crunches, bicycle crunches where both legs are raised at the same time, the twisting crunch, yoga or Pilates moves that involve raising the head off the floor at the same time as the legs, and gym machines that focus on the abdominals as an isolated movement. Exercises which are best for the pelvic floor muscles are those that keep your legs and head on the floor, or only one leg raised at one time, and lower abdominal exercises"

My physio told me more or less what I just pasted. Don't put two legs in table top but always leave one foot on the floor. the same with tapping one leg on foot at the time or raising legs.

This is why I suggested a session with private physio even if expensive to really guide you towards a proper form.
You need to lie on your back and put two fingers under your hip bone and feel under your finger just that muscle band contracting and going up and down until you lose it without contracting any other abs, so no bracing, engaging. It is very tricky to find.

The physio used an internal ultrasound to show me how the muscles were meant to move. It is not that simple at all to identify and isolate.

Stop doing crunches or sit-ups until you have at least done your research. There are a lot of video as well on this.

This one is in French but just watch to understand the posture you should keep while doing abs exercises www.fuites-urinaires-et-sport.com/astuce-abdos-danger/ . she makes it look very easy but it is pretty hard to keep the bottle stable.

My physio had me doing a lot of abs on my hands and knees (the cat position) and extending one leg-opposite arm.

IT was quite frustrating because I really always had all my life a six pack and I was used to very intense ab work so going to baby stuff was at first annoying, but it was my workouts that weakened my pelvic floor and giving births was just the last straw.

Tofslan · 14/03/2019 20:03

www.nutritiousmovement.com/1234-we-like-our-pelvic-floor/

^^ link to a Katy Bowman article. She thinks Kegels can weaken PF so might be worth looking to see if any of her exercises can help. I followed her advice in third pregnancy because of bad PGP in second pregnancy and had no PGP or PF problems in third pregnancy (had awful stress incontinence as well in second pregnancy).

Germknoedel · 11/04/2019 05:32

So further to all the helpful advice I have booked an appointment with a specialist private woman’s health physio. Fingers crossed!!

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