subject: Incontinence Sling – When Stress Incontinence Is Out Of Control [print this page] Incontinence Sling When Stress Incontinence Is Out Of Control
Surgery is often viewed as a last choice option when treating incontinence but for some patients there simply is no other choice if they want to end the problem. The bladder sling or incontinence sling is a procedure that is designed to effectively relieve stress incontinence.
Imagine for a moment that the bladder has lost most of its support from the muscles that are designed to hold it in place. It in essence will sag placing pressure both on itself and on the urethra. This excessive and unnatural pressure causes an almost constant urge to urinate and is aggravated even more if the patient is obese. The sling is designed to provide the support and relive the pressure.
An incontinence sling can be made out of a number of materials including the patient's own muscle, the muscle from a pig or a variety of synthetic materials. A deep incision is made and the sling is placed under the urethra and then attached to the walls of the abdomen. This restores the urethra to its proper position and also applies pressure helping it to control the flow of urine. This procedure is typically very successful but it is major surgery.
Because the procedure is very invasive patients will stay in the hospital for several days before being discharged. There will be pain at the point of the incision and there may be cramps that occur as well. Over all, most patients are advised to take it easy for up to a month after the procedure before getting back to their normal routine.
There are some things that a patient can do before the surgery to hasten the recovery. Kegel exercises are isometric workouts for the muscles in the pelvic floor and if these can be strengthened before surgery, recovery can be much quicker. Also, if the patient is overweight, it's a good idea to try and shed some pounds to reduce the pressure on the surgery site. An incontinence sling can be a lifesaver if none of the other non-invasive treatments have succeeded in controlling the problem.
