You should never feel embarrassed about have troubles relating to urinary function. Urinary control problems, professionally referred to as incontinence, are very common. Over 30 million adults deal with some form of incontinence. Though it’s often viewed as a problem for the elderly, people of any age can experience these urinary issues. 

Those dealing with incontinence often look to medications that can help restore proper bladder function. While there are prescriptions that can help people struggling with incontinence, they aren’t always the best solution available. After all, virtually any type of prescription medication comes with side effects and risks. They can also be addictive, and they may lose their potency over time. 

Even if they work exactly as they’re supposed to with minimal side effectsmedications tend to treat the surface symptoms rather than the underlying root of a condition. That’s why, when it comes to treating incontinence, it’s often better to explore alternative options. Not only do these allow you to avoid side effects, but they may bring you more permanent relief from your symptoms.  

Dietary Changes 

If you have an overactive bladder, one of the first things that will be checked is your dietary habits. Certain foods can cause you to urinate more frequently. This includes coffee, tea, soda, chocolate, dairy products, spicy foods, citrus fruits, and more. Anything that’s caffeinated, alcoholic, carbonated, or artificially sweetened is likely to result in more trips to the bathroom. 

Just by making a few tweaks to their diet, some people can experience significant improvement with their incontinence. 

In addition to foods and beverages, medications you take may affect your bladder control. Depending on your situation, changing medications may help with the issue. 

Exercise 

Sometimes, incontinence stems from weakened or damaged muscles surrounding the bladder and pelvis. This is especially common for people who have been injured, recently had surgery, or given birth. In these situations, exercises that target your pelvic floor muscles, along with your surrounding core, may help restore proper function to your bladder. 

Kegels are the most well known when it comes to treating incontinence, but other workouts such as yoga and pilates may help as well. 

Botox 

Though Botox is best known for its cosmetic uses, it can also help with certain physical conditions such as migraines, spasms, chronic pain, and more. In the case of urge incontinence, Botox can decrease spams and sensations that cause your bladder to overact. A doctor handles the injection process, after which patients can experience results in less than a week. 

Like medications, Botox is a temporary treatment. Patients can expect treatments to last around 6 months, at which point they’ll need another injection. Unlike many prescription medications, those who receive Botox injections likely won’t experience any notable side effects. 

Surgery 

Surgery is often viewed as a scary word. However, most surgeries are small and simple with minimal discomfort and quick recovery times. When it comes to surgery procedures available for incontinence, it largely depends on what type of incontinence is being experienced and what the source of the issue is. 

For urge incontinence, the cause is sometimes related to a disconnect between the signals exchanged between your brain and the muscles surrounding your bladder. In these situations, a device known as InterStim can be surgically implanted, correcting the disconnect and allowing you to take back control of your bladder. 

Though surgery typically involves some amount of recovery time, ongoing side effects are rare. This make surgery a great option for those dealing with a variety of incontinence conditions, as it provides permanent relief. 

Finding the Best Option for You 

Incontinence isn’t something anyone should accept as a normal part of life. No matter your age, gender, or physical condition, there are options available to help you retain normal bladder function. It starts with seeing a urologist. Urologists specialize in the bladder, kidneys, urinary tract, and male reproductive organs. This allows them to effectively diagnose your incontinence so that proper treatment options can be explored. 

For a urologist in the Dayton, Ohio area, contact Urology Specialists of Ohio or have your family doctor reach out.