Many men and women in the Chattanooga area suffer in silence from uncomfortable or embarrassing bladder or bowel conditions.

Parkridge Medical Center’s Pelvic Floor Center is here to provide relief with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options for men and women suffering from incontinence, constipation, or other concerns.

Injury, childbirth, surgery or aging can all interfere with the operation of the nerves, muscles, and tissues that work together to control bowel and bladder function. Those afflicted with a fecal or urinary incontinence problem may find themselves afraid to be far from a restroom because of a fear of sudden “need-to-go-right-now!” urges. Others may refrain from laughing, picking up a child, or engaging in exercise for fear of leakage. Problems such as incontinence prevent many people from enjoying outings or social gatherings because of a fear of accidents. What many don’t realize is that bladder or bowel problems are surprisingly common, and today’s treatments are more varied and more effective than ever before.

Bowel and bladder control issues are often seen as a painful and embarrassing but unavoidable byproduct of aging or childbirth. In fact, many of these conditions, as well as other pelvic floor issues, can be resolved relatively easily, and in some cases without the use of surgery. The Pelvic Floor Center offers the services of specialists in colorectal surgery, gynecology and urology who provide surgical and non-surgical options for the treatment of pelvic floor disorders. Non-invasive therapeutic techniques may involve dietary recommendations, drug therapy, or physical therapy such as biofeedback. Biofeedback is a treatment option that retrains the muscles of the pelvic floor to control the release of waste. While these non-surgical options work for many people, everyone is different and surgical repairs may still be necessary.

Patients who require surgical intervention for a bowel or bladder condition can be confident in the advanced care available through the Pelvic Floor Center specialists. Procedures at the center include the revolutionary STARR (staple transanorectal resection) for patients experiencing difficulty with controlling the release of stool. The Pelvic Floor Center at Parkridge is also the first and only hospital in the Chattanooga area to offer patients the InterStim sacral nerve stimulation for treatment of fecal incontinence.