Incontinence
My Bladder Worsened My Painful Feet, And I Learned A Valuable Lesson
Disorders can have unexpected consequences
If my bladder had a voice, it would be considered rude, unpredictable, and controlling. That night, as my brain received the first signal of its intent, I hesitated, then raced sixteen feet away to the bathroom. Seconds before I reached my goal, I collided with a bookshelf. The pain that winded me lingered — long enough for me to find the answer to a question that nagged me.
Since January, walking was increasingly painful. I had other medical appointments, so was reluctant to add one more. After several weeks, I googled the symptoms and fretted. Was it another sign of the body wearing out? The specter of immobility crouched at my heels.
My mobility and what it affords are essential to the aspirations for my aging self. Having adequate vision, and a functioning mind complete my wish list. Despite my faith and optimism, any sign that my future health plan might be unachievable makes me apprehensive.
Removing the obstruction was easy. I slid the bookcase ten inches backward, out of range from my flying feet. Time passes quickly in my bathroom with interesting books. Repairing the damage of the repetitive injury is taking much longer.
I’m certain I’m not the only person who races to the toilet. Nevertheless, I’m agreeably surprised by the times smartly dressed women, restlessly waiting in restrooms, mention this disorder. This is a problem that affects the quality of living at home, in residential care, and in recreational spaces.
Over three decades ago, the late actor Brad Davis remarked:
There is a stigma associated with incontinence, so many people never mention it to their doctors or seek treatment.
Maybe in the decades since more people are seeking treatment because Researchers from PubMed asserted that urinary incontinence is the most common chronic condition. Yet, the stigma remains.
In the USA, more than 40% of the female population over seventy years old is affected by incontinence. Men are not immune although their incidence in the same age group is halved than that of females. So my condition is not unique although the consequences to me were.
In my younger days, I submitted a dissertation on urinary incontinence, never dreaming that I could have been a subject in my study. In hindsight, I should have focused less on measurements and more on the experiences of the research subjects. Not exactly part of the follies of youth, but certainly it reflected my youthful bias. Now, I’m disappointed with the wasted opportunity to do innovative work.
However, I’d like to reflect on the unforeseen consequences of this health problem. If my bladder did not make me so anxious, I would have felt the pain when I hit the protruding table again and again. If I did not have to make desperate sprints to the bathroom, my Achilles tendon would not have been injured repetitively.
The Silver Lining
After six months of increasing pain, the orthopedic specialist offered me a treatment plan with the warning that recovery will take some time. I was angry with myself for ignoring the hazard of the protruding table. Nevertheless, it made me realize that unrelated things can still connect with unfortunate consequences. It was the wake-up call I needed as an aging person to act proactively to safeguard my well-being.
Action Taken
I reviewed my health and home. Here are some of the changes I made.
- Prioritized Sleep. Many people suffer from sleeplessness despite their best efforts. I ensure at least two nights of reasonable sleep each week.
Sleeplessness might not seem a big deal in retirement, but it can affect our mood, impair our judgment, and weaken the skills required in daily life.
When sleep deprived, I’ve forgotten to make important phone calls and even overheard myself slurring my words long before taking a drop of wine.
A longer list of the harmful effects of sleeplessness is found in this article updated on February 14th, 2023.
- Had a Fall Prevention Audit.
The CDC reports that every year, about 3 million older people are treated for fall injuries in emergency departments. Over 800,000 of them require hospitalization.
Sometimes, it is hard to put safety above what is fashionable or familiar. However, I’ve re-arranged my living room to create free spaces with less furniture and fewer rugs to prevent tripping.
- Each of the five steps to the house has handrails to provide support and reduce falling outside. My stability is very good but last week I fell in the yard without warning, so I’m practical, not pessimistic.
As part of my fall prevention strategy, I improved my lighting.
I Installed more lights
A new timer on my garage light gives me enough time to get to a porch where another light was placed within easy reach. Extra motion-sensitive lighting along my decks ensures that I’m never in the dark.
The automatic light in the yard was provided by my electrical company. It has increased maintenance costs but if it prevents falls or broken bones, it is economical.
I might have made these changes in the future. However, the lesson learned from repetitively hitting my heel while rushing to the bathroom accelerated the process.
Let us keep an open mind to try new treatments but if we can’t change a situation, we can limit its negative effects by changing the environment.
We need to keep in mind that we are holistic beings, each part is connected and can affect the other -sometimes in unconventional ways.
References
Ushma J Patel 1, Amy L Godecker, Dobie L Giles, Heidi W Brown-Updated Updated Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Women: 2015–2018 National Population-Based Survey Data. Epup 2022 Jan 12
Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O. — By Stephanie Watson and Kristeen Cherney — 11 Effects of Sleep Deprivation on your body. Updated on February 12th,2023
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (.gov) Facts about Falls, Fall Prevention, Injury Center, CDC Center, https://www.cdc.gov › falls › facts
Many thanks to Jody Alyn and Kathleen Murphy for their gift of time and helpful comments in reviewing the draft.
