Faecal Incontinence
What is Faecal Incontinence?
Faecal incontinence is the accidental leakage from the back passage. This may be in the form of solid or liquid stool, wind or mucus. The timing of accidents may be with urgency to get to the toilet, smearing after a bowel motion or associated with movement. Some people are aware of these losses and are unable to stop it. Other people are unaware that the loss has occurred.
Is Faecal Incontinence common?
Faecal incontinence affects 6% of men and 10% of women in Australia. It is more commonly diagnosed in older adults, but can impact individuals at any age. The number of individuals experiencing faecal incontinence may be even higher, as people may feel embarrassed and not seek treatment immediately. However, with as many as 10% of individuals impacted by this condition, know that you are not alone. With the right treatment plan, we can help you manage and even resolve faecal incontinence.
How is Faecal Incontinence diagnosed?
Faecal incontinence can typically be diagnosed based on your history and a physical examination. At Sydney Pelvic Clinic, your Physiotherapist will perform an examination of your pelvic floor muscles. This is usually conducted via a digital rectal examination. You may also be asked to complete a bowel diary.
If your prognosis is still unclear, your Physiotherapist may refer you back to your medical team for further evaluation. This will often include further investigations such as an endoanal ultrasound and anorectal manometry. These tests are gold standard for diagnosis and will assist in determining your prognosis.
What causes Faecal Incontinence?
There are some pre-existing conditions, treatments and surgeries that may cause faecal incontinence:
- Pelvic radiation (e.g. from radiotherapy) or existing malignancies (cancer)
- Previous colorectal surgery
- Neurological conditions like Dementia or Multiple Sclerosis
- IBS, Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis
- Medication side effects
- Anxiety or depression
- Weak anal sphincter or pelvic floor muscles, or loss of structural support
- Constipation, or loose or watery stool types
- Reduced sensation (e.g. spinal or nerve injuries)
How is Faecal Incontinence treated?
After a consultation and physical examination, your physiotherapist will be able to help you with a tailor-made plan to manage your faecal incontinence. Your treatment plan may include;
- Education to understand the reasons why you have faecal incontinence and tailored strategies for managing it, for example containment (pads, anal plugs etc)
- Stool manipulation through changes to dietary fibre, fluid intake and advice on relevant medications or supplements
- An individualised Pelvic floor muscle training program will be prescribed for you to complete at home. To compliment your home program, you may choose to attend our online PFM Class . This is a great option to add variety, motivation and support to achieve your goals
- Optimising defecation technique including your toileting position, use of abdominal and pelvic floor muscles and passive support/splinting (if prolapse is relevant for you)
- Adjunctive therapies utilising biofeedback (ultrasound, EMG & Rectal Balloon therapy, electrical stimulation). These adjuncts may not be suitable for all cases. Your Physiotherapist will discuss these with you
- Lifestyle modifications including physical activity, weight loss, sleep hygiene and overall relaxation of the nervous system
Get treatment for Faecal Incontinence
If you are experiencing faecal incontinence, book your consultation today. Start your journey of healing with our expert physiotherapy team at the Sydney Pelvic Clinic.
