Thread: Kegel?

Originally Posted by jd.chvz

I'm 45 years old and I think I have heard this word maybe 4 or 5 times. I wonder and please help me to understand what is really means. I'm sort of embarrassed to ask but will it help with my problem? When I laugh, wrestle with my husband or even just from sneezing, I seem to leak. I try to strengthen my lower abdominal but my sciatica bothers it alot. Help me to work this problem out. I'm going to see a doctor about it soon and I don't want to resort to pills. Will Kegel help with my situation?

My take on Kegals is it's used to strengthen the vaginal muscles.

A couple of my family members have your problem. This is what it sounds like you have. Here's info from a site:

Symptoms like strong, sudden urges to go to the bathroom (also called "urgency"), frequent trips to the bathroom (also called "frequency"), and bladder leakage can be a sign of a treatable condition, sometimes called overactive bladder or OAB. (incontinence)

While this condition is common (1 in 6 adults), you may not have to put up with it as often. For adults, it can occur at any age. And you don't have to feel uncomfortable discussing your symptoms with your doctor — he or she is ready and willing to help.

Yep kegel exercises are what you need. A weak pelvic floor could well be the cause of your sciatica too as the pelvic floor is part of the support for the pelvic joints and if it doesn't work properly the piriformis muscles have to tighten and they run directly over the sciatic nerve. Once you've strengthened the pevic floor it might be an idea to get a massage of the piriformis done too.

Kegel exercises are for both the vaginal muscles and the pelvic floor and you should perform some slow sets and some fast sets every day plus long holds to build endurance. I find the best way to hit the right muscles is to imagine pulling the sides of the vagina together and up but if you're not sure you're doing it right (approx 50% of women aren't when they first try) put a finger inside your vagina and keep trying until you feel the squeeze and lift on your finger. Another crucial factor is to breathe, make sure you don't hold your breath as you do them or that will force the pelvic floor downwards instead of up.