A good home plan gets most men moving in the right direction. Some men need more. Here is how to know if you are one of them, and how to find the right person.
Many men recover with a clear plan and daily work at home. See a pelvic floor physical therapist if the leaking is not improving, if you cannot find the muscle, or if something hurts.
It is not a failure. It is a signal that you need hands-on guidance.
You cannot tell how to isolate your pelvic floor muscles, even after trying.
Your leaking is getting worse instead of better.
You have pelvic pain, not just leaking.
Urgency, the sudden strong need to go, is a bigger problem than leaking with a cough or a lift.
You see no improvement by week eight.
You want to move faster. Working with a physical therapist from the start produces faster results than doing it alone.
Not every physical therapist treats men. Not every one treats pelvic floor conditions. You want someone who does both.
Search the American Physical Therapy Association directory and filter for pelvic health.
Ask your urologist for a referral to a pelvic floor physical therapist.
Look for OCS, WCS, or PRPC after the name. These show advanced training.
Call ahead and ask one question: do you treat men with incontinence after prostatectomy? If they hesitate, keep looking.
The therapist assesses your muscle function, strength, and coordination. They may use biofeedback, sensors that show your muscle activity on a screen, or an internal assessment.
It is clinical and professional. There is nothing to be embarrassed about.
You walk out with an exercise program made for you and a clear picture of where you are and where you are headed. Most men wish they had gone sooner.
Not every town has a men's pelvic health physical therapist. That is common, and it is not the end of the road.
A structured plan you follow at home is where most men start. The plan is the same work: find the muscle, train it every day, and progress it week by week.
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Dr. Meg Cochran is a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy specializing in pelvic floor rehabilitation, and treats men after prostate surgery through Where You Are Physical Therapy in Oxford, Mississippi.
This article is educational and is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for in-person care. Follow your surgical team's instructions. If you have urgent symptoms including severe pain, fever, unexpected bleeding, or a sudden change in function, contact your healthcare provider.
The first week after prostate surgery, written out step by step by Dr. Meg. What to do with the catheter in. What to skip. What to have in the house. Enter your email and it opens right away.
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Educational content. Not medical advice.
The Prostate Recovery Quick Start is Dr. Meg showing you the first exercises on video, from before surgery through week 4, with the two sheets to print. Open it on any phone, tablet, or computer, from anywhere. It is educational, not physical therapy.
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