Urologists recommended that I have surgery for urinary incontinence and a prolapse of the bladder and uterus. Then I found a urologist with a nurse practitioner who is specially trained in a type of physical therapy for these conditions. Over 90% avoid surgery after four weekly treatments.
She measured the strength of the pelvic floor with a computerized meter (inserted in the rectum, then in the vagina). Then electrical stimulation is done that causes the muscle to contract efficiently for several minutes until the computer indicates the patient is close to fatigue. Then I did four sets of 10 kegals a day--kegal and hold for a quick count of 10, then rest for a count of 10; repeat. Most women with poor tone in the pelvic floor do too many kegals and fatigue the muscle. The electrical stimulation was not painful; it felt like a balloon blowing up like a good strong PC contraction. It served as biofeedback as well. I had to do this because a vacuum extractor had damaged my pelvic floor.
-Cindy Schierlinger
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 2 Issue 2, Jan 14, 2000)
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