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When to ease off pelvic floor exercises

User
Posted 18 Aug 2024 at 21:30

There seems to be little out there about when to stop or ease off doing pelvic floor exercises/kegels post prostatectomy.

Here goes with my background and questions:

I'm 11 weeks post RP. Kegels and time have reduced leaks steadily, but I'm not there yet. But what exactly is the point at which someone is actually there? I appreciate getting to 100% is unlikely. Maybe I'm currently approx 85% - so somewhere to go yet. I'm currently doing 3 sessions a day and easing off them a little from what I was doing in the first few weeks. 

1) I can keep going at 3 sessions a day for as long as I can, but that will be a nuisance. So I assume, if I'm lucky, if I carry on for a while I'll get closer to 95/96/97 ...% with increasingly fewer leaks. Does it get to the point where eventually I will get no benefit? How might I know if I've reached the point when I'm wasting my time?

2) It seems the idea is that Kegels are required to be done for life. But how many? How often? Are they really needed? If you stop doing them does the control reduce quickly or slowly?

3) The current 85% does not include when I go for a run. This seems a little harsh to include in the percentage. I'm much improved from what I was at six weeks when I started gently jogging. More enthusiastic running is a challenge now as I have to use a pair of disposable pants because I can't get the mechanics of pads/underpants to work. How have other runners managed to work out their leaks and when did this improve compared to basic day to day control?

4) Has anyone felt they've overdone their Kegels at anytime? If so what did it feel like and for how long?

Any other comments about how anyone has dealt or experienced getting close to full control would be welcome.

Many thanks.

 

 

 

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 07:16

Hi Barry, 

I'm over four and a half years post op, I still do my pelvic floor exercises twice a day and I am pretty much 100% continent. My logic aligns with your point 2, because I want to maintain my continence as I get older.

I would say keep doing them.

Hope this helps. 

Kev.

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 08:36

Hi Barry

My pelvic health physio said treat your PF like any other muscle you need to keep strong. If you are squeezing firmly doing your kegels then once daily is good, three times a week may be just enough. Holding your PF at 30% strength for, say, 60 seconds during the day or when you are bending etc is also good practice. That's the regime I follow and I am around 95-98% continent after op in late 2021. Probably, that's the best I will be.

Peter

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 09:53

Apparently Kegels can also help with erectile dysfunction. I still do mine.

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User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 07:16

Hi Barry, 

I'm over four and a half years post op, I still do my pelvic floor exercises twice a day and I am pretty much 100% continent. My logic aligns with your point 2, because I want to maintain my continence as I get older.

I would say keep doing them.

Hope this helps. 

Kev.

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 08:36

Hi Barry

My pelvic health physio said treat your PF like any other muscle you need to keep strong. If you are squeezing firmly doing your kegels then once daily is good, three times a week may be just enough. Holding your PF at 30% strength for, say, 60 seconds during the day or when you are bending etc is also good practice. That's the regime I follow and I am around 95-98% continent after op in late 2021. Probably, that's the best I will be.

Peter

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 09:53

Apparently Kegels can also help with erectile dysfunction. I still do mine.

User
Posted 19 Aug 2024 at 18:24

Many thanks, Kev, Plexxx09 and Adrian for taking the time to help. I seems keeping going with the exercises is, as expected, advisable. Hopefully, with a little more time I can work up to 95+% and build the maintenance exercises in my daily routine.

I've got to crack the discomfort when running and in daily use of pads/underwear type. Life is less easy when planning to protect from leaks is required for most type of activities...

 
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