Adult Incontinence Part 3: The Physical Toll

Note: the following is not intended as professional medical advice. Always consult your medical professional if you suspect you are experiencing urinary incontinence.

Welcome back to our 5-part series on incontinence. In our last article, we discussed the most common types of urinary incontinence (UI) and how they manifest. Now, let’s take a look at how UI can impact sufferers in other physical ways, too.

Urinary incontinence (UI) can be a disabling condition, and while most of those who don’t experience it are reasonably familiar with the bladder problems it can cause, few stop to consider the various extra physical side effects that can result from it. One of which is the greater likelihood of urinary tract infections.

Urinary tract infections (UTI’s) often result in painful burning and pressure sensations in the central area of the pelvis, lower abdominal area, bladder, and urethra, and cause the sufferer to feel the need to empty their bladder frequently. With each infection, the chances of experiencing another, increases. According to current research, antibiotics (the usual treatment for UTI’s) can, in fact, fail to kill all responsible bacteria, especially if there is a failure to take medication as directed. These remaining bacteria can ‘hide’ in the wall of the bladder, resulting in an infection relapse at a later date. UI can also be associated with the failure of the bladder to empty fully, with the result remaining urine can act as a host to bacteria. The good news is, an occasional slip in managing incontinence wear won’t contribute to a recurrence of UTIs. In other words, if now and then, you forget to change your protective wear on time, you shouldn’t blame yourself if you get a UTI (however, there are other reasons why timely changes of protection are important – see below).

Moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) can manifest in those who have UI. Whereas occasional lapses in changing incontinence wear in a timely manner may not increase the chance of a repeat UTI, the excess moisture in a pad not changed when it should be, can lead to skin becoming saturated with moisture. It is this saturation, combined with friction or force, that can cause skin irritation. The result is harmful bacteria can then reach through the skin’s protective barrier and give rise to infection. When infection results, the skin in the genital region can become red, blistered, and swollen. In men, this is most noticeable in the scrotal area, and in women, in the labial region. But it can also manifest in the thigh and buttock areas in both genders.

Because the management of UI is now widely marketed (in the form of incontinence wear), some sufferers of UI head to the supermarket shelves, in the first instance of UI, rather than visiting their doctor. This means the MASD can go unnoticed in its early stages, and helpful information is not delivered to a patient with UI by their medical professional. The lessons to be learned from these issues are: always consult your medical professional if you are experiencing UI, and always do your very best to manage the build-up of excess skin moisture through changing UI wear as directed.

Those who suffer from UI also face other physical challenges, one of which is fatigue. UI is often associated with the need to frequently empty the bladder, a situation which doesn’t stop at night. The effort and sleep disruption associated with having to visit the bathroom too frequently during what should be sleeping hours, can result in considerable fatigue. Exercise can also be neglected when UI sufferers find it difficult to move about with confidence, or set out on walks where public toilets can be difficult to come across. The combination of a lack of sleep and lack of exercise can result in a general loss of health.

As if UI isn’t enough to manage, other physical ailments can pitch in to make the condition worse. By being aware of these, and discussing them with a medical professional, those who suffer from UI are in the best position to manage their condition with confidence.