MNGI Digestive Health offers a variety of Pelvic Floor Care Services to our patients to diagnose and treat the muscular function the rectum and anal sphincters.

What Is the Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles at the bottom of your pelvis (the lower part of your body, between your hip bones). Think of it like a hammock made of muscles. These muscles help hold up important organs like your bladder and bowel (intestines). They also help you control when you pee and poop.

What Is Pelvic Floor Therapy?

Pelvic floor therapy is a type of therapy that helps your pelvic floor muscles work better. Sometimes these muscles get too weak, and sometimes they get too tight. Either way, they can cause problems. A specially trained health care provider can teach you exercises and techniques to help.

What Kinds of Problems Can Pelvic Floor Therapy Help With?

Pelvic floor therapy can help with many different problems, including:

  • Leaking urine (pee): This can happen when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exercise, or when you suddenly feel a strong need to go to the bathroom and cannot get there in time.
  • Trouble having a bowel movement (pooping): Sometimes the pelvic floor muscles do not relax the way they should, which can make it hard to go.
  • Leaking stool (poop): Trouble holding in stool or gas.
  • Pelvic pain: Ongoing pain in the lower belly, hip area, or bottom, often from muscles that are too tight.
  • Problems after having a baby: Pregnancy and childbirth can stretch or weaken the pelvic floor muscles.
  • Pelvic organ prolapse: When pelvic organs drop down because the muscles are not strong enough to hold them up.

Anorectal Manometry is a non-invasive test that measures how well the rectum and anal sphincters work together to eliminate stool (feces). The anal sphincter has an internal and external sphincter, or valve, which helps to control continence (passing) of stool. These valves are made of muscles that control the opening and closing of the anus. The test measures the pressures of the anal sphincter muscles, rectal sensation, and the reflexes that are needed for normal bowel movements. Anorectal manometry is performed by a specialized Registered Nurse, and the results are reviewed and interpreted by specialty-trained providers. Anorectal manometry is available for pediatric patients of all ages and adults, and is offered at  Plymouth and Woodbury for adult patients, and NE Mpls Clinic, Lakeville, and Maple Grove for our pediatric patients

Biofeedback for pelvic floor muscle retraining is a treatment to help you learn to strengthen or relax your pelvic floor muscles in order to improve bowel or bladder function and decrease some types of pelvic floor pain. It uses special sensors and a computer monitor to display information about muscle activity. This information, or “feedback,” is used to gain sensitivity and control over pelvic floor muscle function. Biofeedback is performed by a specialized Registered Nurse at our Plymouth and Woodbury locations for adult patients and at our NE Mpls Clinic for pediatric patients over age 8.

InterStim Evaluation is a temporary trial of the InterStim neuromodulation system. The InterStim neuromodulation system is used to help patients with symptoms of bowel or bladder incontinence. With the basic evaluation, the therapy leads are temporarily placed for up to a week. This allows patients to test out the therapy to determine if a permanent placement is right for them.  Research suggests that bowel control problems may be caused by miscommunication between the brain and the sacral nerves that are responsible for controlling bowel function.  When it’s time to go, the nerves in your body get the message too late, too often, or not at all.  The InterStim neuromodulation system restores bowel function by gently stimulating the sacral nerves, helping control symptoms.  The InterStim Evaluation provides an opportunity to try this therapy to see if it is a good fit for you. If it is, then the next step is a permanent implantation. InterStim Evaluation is offered at our Plymouth location with Dr. Cinnor and our Coon Rapids location with Dr. Grudell.

What Is an Enema?

Before your exam or treatment, you may be asked to give yourself an enema. An enema is when liquid is gently pushed into your bottom (rectum) to help clean out stool. The liquid helps loosen the stool, so it comes out when you go to the bathroom. Use only the type of enema your doctor tells you to use and follow the package directions exactly.

If you have any additional questions, please contact our office at 612-871-1145.

 

Informational Webinar about InterStim Procedure

Pediatric Resources