www.incontinentsupport.org

Back in November I had surgery on my eyes and was put under for a small amount of time. After the surgery I started noticing changes in my condition..symptoms of my TBI were getting worse. Especially my bladder control issues and drop foot. I didn't put it together at the time, but I just had neuro scans done and the doctor suspects that the sedative had a negative impact on the injury. My leg has gotten pretty bad, and even with the leg brace I'm not walking well, so I'm going in for physical therapy. From my last experience with physical therapy, I know there is a lot of touching and movement going on. I don't think I will be able to keep the diapers completly hidden. I've been wareing the big Abena diapers during the day because I've been having bowel issues and it's also harder for me to move around and change as frequently. I think it will be obvious to the therapist that I am wearing a diaper. Should I say something before the first session? He may already know from the ortho referal, but I'm not competely sure the incontience was mentioned.

I wouldn't worry about it. They're used to having people with pads and diapers in their care and close contact.

I have been going to physical therapy for years.
If yours start the way mine did they will go over your health problems before they begin simple tell them. My therapist already knew the neurologist had sent my records and they were very professional about it all.

Good luck
Lyle

I also have been going for physical therapy off and on for years. I have made no attempt to hide my diaper. It's just part of my physical condition. Physical therapists are medical professionals who are used to dealing with people who have all kinds of medical problems.

Flagrl,

I'm inclined to agree with the above advice. Physical Therapy is nothing to fret over. I wear Abena Extra diapers for complete incontinence. Last summer, I had physical therapy on my right leg. Predominantly at the knee and hip. Being summer and hot, I just wore a pair of lightweight basketball style shorts that were easy to move around in with the diaper underneath. It worked out well. At the start of the therapy, they asked about any medical conditions I had. I told the therapist of my incontinence. It was no problem. I know for a fact I'm not the first one to wear a diaper during physical therapy so I'm not the first one he had seen. My therapist made no comment and asked no questions. I was not embarassed in the least. He made me feel comfortable. On numerous occasions, he had his hands on my right hip working on it to loosen it up. He had is hands directly on the diaper. My therapist never said a word about it. I had physical therapy for 3 months. I never felt uncomfortable. I know i'm not the first they've seen wearing them. So don't worry. You're not either.

I went to a physical therapist for almost 2 years after my accident. I had a regular therapist and a second one who would fill in when my regular therapist was off. Both were women and both knew that I was incontinent. About a month after I began going to therapy I had a complete release of my bladder when on the table. I was not wearing proper protection and left puddles on the table and floor. Pretty much everything got wet. This did not seem to bother my therapist in the least. I felt horrible about the situation. For the remainder of my therapy sessions I made certain that I was properly protected. At the very next session I pointed out to my therapist that I was wearing protection. She thought that was a good idea and went on to tell me that some types of therapy can cause the bladder to release urine due to pressures put on the bladder and surrounding areas. I got the feeling that I wasn't the only patient she had with bladder control problems. I had a lower spine injury as well as knee injury that they were working on. When I had my embarrassing situation I was lying on my front side and, if I remember corrrectly, she was stretching my leg muscles by having me lift my legs while she put downward pressure on them. In any case I'd bet that you won't be the first patient your PT has that wears protection.