Baptist Health of Northeast Florida

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence (also known as urine leakage) is defined as the inability to hold urine until one can get to the restroom. It will change the quality of life of those affected. The good news is there are treatments available that can correct or at least lessen the effects of the problem.

Baptist Health provides treatment for stress as well as urge incontinence. We also provide treatment for those individuals that have problems emptying their bladder due to increase in tone of the pelvic floor muscles.

Our treatment plan includes:

Education
Exercises
Biofeedback
Electrical Stimulation

Contact Information

Additional Information Numbers
904.627.2980

To Schedule an Appointment
904.202.4200

Common Misconceptions
Listed below are some of the misconceptions you may have heard.

Leaking urine is a sign of getting older and that it is meant to happen sooner or later.
Fact: leaking urine is a sign of poor function of the Neuromuscular System not necessarily due to aging.

Nothing can be done other than wearing pads.
Fact: there are treatments that can correct or at least reduce the leakage.

It is normal just to leak a few drops.
Fact: it is not normal. This is the first sign of poor function of the Neuromuscular System.

Urinary incontinence affects more than 13 million men and women of different age groups. Twice as many women than men keep this secret. Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, muscle weakness and anatomical changes are the major cause of this problem.

Types of Urinary Incontinence

Transient Incontinence: it is temporary and usually caused by urinary tract infections, etc. This can be resolved by using medications.
Stress Incontinence: caused by weakness of the pelvic floor muscles. (muscles that support the vaginal area).
Urge Incontinence: caused by a strong urge to urinate and not being able to hold.
Overflow Incontinence: caused by neurological damage like in Diabetic Neuropathy or Multiple Sclerosis.

The following questions will help you identify the different types of Incontinence.

Incontinence due to Infection

Do you have or have you had kidney stones or urinary tract infections?	Yes	No
Do you ever see blood in the urine?	Yes	No
Is it painful to pass urine?	Yes	No

Incontinence due to Stress (weakness)

Do you leak urine when . . . .

you sneeze, cough or laugh?	Yes	No
you lift or strain?	Yes	No
you go from sitting to standing?	Yes	No
you exercise, like running?	Yes	No
Have you ever had paralysis, injury to your spinal cord, or a stroke?	Yes	No
Have you had abdominal, vaginal or bladder surgery?	Yes	No

Urge incontinence:

Do you leak when . . . .

you hear or see running water?	Yes	No
you have a strong sense of urgency?	Yes	No
you are on the way to the bathroom?	Yes	No
you are getting to the toilet/remove clothing?	Yes	No

Overflow Incontinence:

Are you aware. . . .

that you are leaking?	Yes	No
that you are about to lose control?	Yes	No
Do you lose urine as a constant drip?	Yes	No

In general terms:

Do you have to wear a pad for protection? Yes No

Do you go to the bathroom often to prevent accidents? Yes No

Have you decreased the amount of fluid you drink to prevent accidents? Yes No

Voiding Initiation:

Do you have. . . .

trouble initiating the flow of urine?	Yes	No
to strain to empty your bladder?	Yes	No

If you answered "yes" to one or more of these questions, you may be a candidate for incontinence treatment. Please call us at 904.627.2980 to discuss.