… my advice is to check your pelvic floor before and after the prostate surgery!
Physiotherapy is the gold standard to prevent pelvic floor problems after a prostatectomy. Even if prostate cancer is the 4th most common in the world, there’s a lack of knowledge about how to act after a prostatectomy or how to get ready for the surgery. The diagnosis of cancer means a big shock for anyone. But unfortunately, there is not too much information for men affected by this pathology. Physiotherapy for patients with prostate cancer is a must to ensure the best results of the treatment and the best quality of life after going through the process.
The sessions are very similar to going to the gym! During the first appointment, we will talk about the symptoms. After this, we will check your level of strength and control of the pelvic floor muscles manually and with an ultrasound. The reason to check the muscles with echography is to make the assessment painless and more comprehensive. The main objective of the session is that you feel comfortable. That’s why depending on your interests and symptoms we will tailor an exercise program for you. Some men prefer exercises more related to weight lifting and fitness. Others prefer easier exercises to finish their homework quickly. Luckily there are many ways of taking care of the pelvic floor after a prostatectomy!
How to get your pelvic floor muscles ready for a prostatectomy?
Once you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, your doctor will decide which procedure is the best for you. If the indication is to go through surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy we need to think about the pelvic floor. Unfortunately, the structures around the prostate are going to be affected depending on the degree of the disease. From this moment we should start considering strengthening all the body. This includes the pelvic floor, the abdomen, and the glutes. The stronger a patient arrives at the surgery room the better the recovery! Physiotherapy provides different tools to prepare the pelvic floor for a prostatectomy.
What to do after a prostatectomy?
The most common symptoms after prostate removal are incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Scientific evidence demonstrates that you will need up to 8 months to fully recover. However, those patients who start rehabilitation right after the intervention have more chances to fully recover the continence and erection. Some patients will prefer to wait a bit after the surgery. Nevertheless, my advice is to start once the urologist discharges you from the hospital! The main part of gentlemen who came for sessions mentions the same “I wish I had come before”.
How pelvic floor physiotherapy for prostatectomy looks like?
Some men find it difficult to ask for help. Seems that after a cancer diagnosis, the symptoms of incontinence and erectile dysfunction are “silly” and it’s not fair to complain. Many patients are recommended to do the Kegel exercises after the surgery. You should know that this is not completely correct. This is as generic as telling anyone to go to the gym and grab a weight. You should know if you are performing the exercise properly. You should know how many repetitions are necessary for you to improve. If the exercise is too easy for you so you will not have long-term effects. Besides, It’s essential to remember that you should not stop urination. Stopping the urination can have a negative effect on your healing process.
Pelvic floor physiotherapy consists of the proper exercise program adequated to your own level.
I hope all this advice helps you or any of your beloved ones. If you want to share a chat about it, you just need to contact here and let me know about your concerns.
Looking forward to helping you!
Physiotherapist specialized in pelvic floor rehabilitation.
I simply wanted to thank you so much again. I am not sure the things that I might have gone through without the type of hints revealed by you regarding that situation.