What to do about urinary incontinence after prostate cancer surgery

  Urinary incontinence is one of the most annoying complications after radical prostate cancer surgery, but fortunately, the incidence of this complication is low, and a large number of reports at home and abroad show that the incidence of urinary incontinence after radical prostate cancer surgery is about 10%.  The urinary function will not be restored immediately after the catheter is removed from radical prostate cancer surgery. At first, the urinary incontinence may only be controlled when lying in bed, and later it will not occur when walking, and then gradually there will be no involuntary urine flow when there is a significant position change (such as sitting or standing, getting up). Stress incontinence can be improved by lifting the anal exercise method, that is, when standing to urinate, try to repeatedly tighten the pelvic muscles to collect the urine flow, which helps to enhance the strength of the external sphincter to achieve the role of control of urination. But this exercise is not suitable for frequent, this will make the sphincter muscle in a state of fatigue, but play the opposite effect.  Before the function of urine control is fully restored, you can use urine pads recommended by your doctor, but never use external catheters, which are not conducive to the recovery of sphincter function. In addition, drinking large amounts of water, strong tea, coffee and excessive intake of alcohol are not conducive to the recovery of urinary control function.  If the incontinence does not improve day by day, there are many medications that can relieve the incontinence in contact with the doctor. If you are unable to control urination on your own after one year, you will need a treatment option, one of which is the placement of an artificial sphincter, a procedure in which a rubber compression sleeve is placed over the urethra, a fluid capsule is placed in the abdomen and a miniature pressure pump is attached to the scrotum. Controlling the pump in the scrotum allows the fluid in the capsule to be pressed into the sleeve, closing the urethra, and when urination is required, the sleeve can be emptied in a controlled manner outside the body, and the urethra is opened. Other treatments include injections of collagen-like substances into the bladder neck and urethra and, most simply, the use of penile clamps (available in some large medical stores), all of which allow patients with urinary incontinence to carry on with their normal lives and activities.