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Fecal incontinence is the impaired ability to control the passage of gas or stool. Symptoms can range from mild difficulty in controlling gas to severe loss of control over liquid and formed stools. Incontinence to stool is a common problem, but it is unfortunately not often discussed due to embarrassment. Failure to seek treatment can result in social isolation and a significant decrease in one's quality of life.
Causes of incontinence include:
There are many causes of incontinence. Injury during childbirth is the most common cause and often results in a tear in the anal muscles. The nerves supplying the anal muscles may also be injured, which can lead to altered continence. While some injuries may be recognized immediately following childbirth, many others may go unnoticed and not become a problem until later in life. In these situations, a prior childbirth may not be recognized as the cause of incontinence, when in fact, it is.
Anal operations or traumatic injury to the tissues surrounding the anal region similarly can damage the anal muscles and lessen bowel control. Some individuals experience loss of strength in the anal muscles as they age. As a result, a minor control problem in a younger person may become more significant later in life.
Patients who have had a severe stroke or suffer from other neurologic conditions, such as advanced dementia or spinal cord injury, may develop incontinence due to the lack of control over the anal muscles.
Diarrhea may be associated with a feeling of urgency or stool leakage due to the frequent liquid stools passing through the anal opening. If bleeding accompanies lack of bowel control, consult your physician. These symptoms may indicate inflammation within the colon (colitis), a rectal tumor, or rectal prolapse - all conditions that require prompt evaluation by a physician.
An initial discussion of your symptoms with your physician will help establish the degree of incontinence and its impact on your lifestyle. Many clues to the causes of fecal incontinence are found in patient medical histories. Multiple pregnancies, large weight babies, forceps deliveries, or episiotomies (surgical incisions to aid childbirth) may contribute to muscle or nerve injury at the time of childbirth. In some cases, medical illnesses and medications play a role in problems with control. Any history of prior anal or rectal surgeries should be discussed with your physician.
A physical examination of the anal region should be performed. It may readily identify an obvious injury to the anal muscles. In addition, an ultrasound probe may be used within the anal area to provide a picture of the muscles and show areas in which the anal muscles may have been injured. Additional testing may be required to assess the function of the muscles and nerves involved in controlling bowel movements. Your physician will help determine what testing is necessary.
After a careful medical history, physical examination and testing to determine the cause and severity of the problem, treatment can be addressed. Treatment of incontinence may include:
Mild problems may be treated very simply with dietary changes and the use of some constipating medications, as a firm stool is easier to control than loose stool. Diseases causing inflammation in the colon and rectum may contribute to anal control problems. Treating these diseases may eliminate or improve symptoms of incontinence. Sometimes a change in prescribed medications may help. Your physician also may recommend simple home exercises to strengthen the anal muscles in mild cases. A type of physical therapy called biofeedback can also be used to help patients sense when stool is ready to be evacuated and help strengthen the muscles.
We offer Axonics Therapy, an advanced treatment option that provides gentle stimulation to the nerves that control the bowel. This stimulation can help restore normal control of the bowel, resulting in symptom improvement. The therapy provides significant advancements by offering:
Axonics Therapy, which is generally covered by Medicare and commercial insurance, is backed by robust clinical evidence from the clinical study Axonics used to supports its FDA submission. Highlights of the study outcomes and product features include:
Click here to learn more about Axonics. Please call our office for more information or to schedule an appointment.