It is virtually impossible to know how many adults have fecal incontinence. Unfortunately many people just live with the symptoms without telling their doctor or even their closest family members. They would rather hide it from everyone, but in time that becomes harder to do. It is estimated that 18 million Americans have fecal incontinence with women being more susceptible. You can’t get help with fecal incontinence until you acknowledge the condition. How can a colorectal surgeon help with fecal incontinence?
What Is Fecal Incontinence?
Fecal incontinence occurs when someone loses bowel control. Sometimes the person has no feeling that they need to go, or they simply can’t make it to the bathroom in time. Similar to urinary incontinence, it causes stress and affects a person’s quality of life since they are unable to control the passage of gas or stools both liquid and solid.
Colorectal Surgical Treatments and Therapies for Fecal Incontinence in Fayetteville, GA
When lifestyle and dietary changes do not help to relieve this condition, surgery and other treatment therapies may be recommended by Dr. Erin King-Mullins.
What Are Surgical Treatment Options?
- Sphincteroplasty is a surgical procedure and a common one for fecal incontinence which reconnects the separated end of an anal sphincter damaged by an injury or during childbirth. The sphincter complex is a set of muscles surrounding the anus.
- Ventral Mesh Rectopexy is the insertion of mesh that improves the suspension and support of the rectum in the abdomen. This is only for certain forms of incontinence
- Colostomy surgery is performed to bring the colon through an opening in the abdominal wall. Stools are collected in a special bag located on the outside of the abdomen. This is usually a last resort when other treatments have failed.
What Are Other Options?
Sacral Nerve Modulation (SNM) is another type of treatment and one of the latest advances to treat bowel incontinence. A pacemaker type device is implanted under the skin and stimulates the sacral nerve in the lower back with mild electrical impulses to control the bladder and bowel muscles.. When the brain and sacral nerves do not communicate as they should, the nerves will not tell the bowel to function properly. Studies in the US and Europe have shown that 80% of patients have a significant decrease in incontinence after the therapy. The stimulation can be turned off if desired.
This minimally invasive treatment is performed by injecting biomaterials into the anal canal. This helps “bulk up” the canal and aids in squeezing of the anus and helps to prevent leakage. It is performed in an office setting with local anesthesia.
Pelvic Floor Therapy (Rehab) is performed by a skilled occupation therapist or physical therapist. After a full assessment of the muscles of the pelvis, a dedicated therapy plan is generated to help strengthen those muscles and retrain your body on appropriate evacuation techniques. This is very similar to the muscle and rehab therapy after injury or strain of other muscles in your body.
You don’t have to live with fecal incontinence. There are therapies and surgical options to treat this condition.
Schedule a Fecal Incontinence Consultation in Fayetteville, GA
Contact Colorectal Wellness Center at (770) 325-2275 for a consultation at our colorectal clinic in Fayetteville, GA to discover if a surgical treatment may be the right option for your fecal incontinence.
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