Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy After Prostate Surgery

Aparnaa Nandakumar  MScPT
Pelvic Physiotherapist
updated Mar 7, 2024

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Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and for many, a prostatectomy is the chosen path to recovery. This surgery involves removing the prostate gland and surrounding tissues, which can lead to various side effects. Now, here’s something surprising: did you know men can also benefit from seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist? That’s right, men have a pelvic floor too! This blog post explores the importance of pelvic floor physiotherapy in managing challenges following prostate surgery and enhancing overall well-being.

 

What Gets Changed in Your Body During Prostate Surgery?

It’s important to understand what happens to your body after prostate surgery. The process of removing the prostate, ligaments, and a portion of the urethra can impact the way your body manages urinary control. The important muscle responsible for holding urine inside, called the internal urethral sphincter, is taken out during the surgery. This means the external urethral sphincter and pelvic floor muscles have to step in and do the job of keeping you dry.

 

Side Effects Following Prostate Surgery

Patients may experience various side effects following prostate surgery, including:

• Soreness around the incision site
• Urinary incontinence
• Erectile dysfunction
• Retrograde ejaculation
• Abdominal tension
• Bowel issues

These side effects can really affect how someone lives day-to-day. That’s why it’s crucial to have thorough care after prostate surgery.

 

Physiotherapy Treatment After Prostate Surgery

Pelvic floor physiotherapy is crucial for managing symptoms after prostate surgery.
This comprehensive approach involves:

• Providing detailed information about the surgery and what to expect in terms of urinary and sexual side effects.
• Having open discussions about your goals and what you hope to achieve after the operation.
• Introducing breathing techniques to support and speed up your recovery.
• Applying specific hands-on techniques to target and relieve discomfort.
• Designing customized exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.
• Implementing strategies to treat scars and improve healing and mobility.

This holistic approach to pelvic floor physiotherapy aims to address a range of challenges following prostate surgery and helps patients achieve optimal recovery.

 

Physiotherapy Treatment Before Prostate Surgery

Thinking about seeing a pelvic physiotherapist before your surgery? Yes, you can!
Here’s what it involves:

• Learning about how your pelvic area might change and what challenges could come up after surgery. This helps you understand better and feel less worried.
• Getting a personalized exercise plan to prepare your pelvic muscles for surgery. It includes exercises to make them stronger and more relaxed.
• Dealing with any existing pelvic health issues to make sure everything is in good shape for the surgery.
• Making a plan before your surgery to make your recovery smoother.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy before surgery is a good investment in your physical and mental well-being, making sure you’re ready for what’s ahead.

 

Recovering from prostate surgery is more than just healing physically. It needs a smart plan to tackle various symptoms and challenges. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a key part of this plan, offering personalized care to improve life after surgery. If you or someone you know is going through or has had prostate surgery, think about how pelvic floor physiotherapy can make the recovery journey smoother.