If you have become incontinent of faeces since giving birth, what options are available to you?
Treating faecal incontinence
The anal sphincters can be damaged during child birth, as can the pudendal nerves. Both these things will make it harder to control the passing of faeces and flatus (wind). A woman may find that she cannot defer defecation for very long, and if a toilet is not found in time, will experience an episode of incontinence.
If such problems do arise after birth, medical practitioners may first attempt conservative treatment. This can be achieved by taking Imodium to solidify the stools, and by carrying out pelvic floor exercises.
If conservative treatment does not prove effective, further treatment may be trialled. Sacral nerve stimulation and biofeedback are both common treatments for women suffering with incontinence after birth. Often this can improve a patient’s symptoms, although it may not resolve them fully.
In the future, it is likely that a patient will suffer deterioration in her level of continence. This normally occurs after the menopause and as a consequence of loss of oestrogen and the ageing process.
It is therefore probable that in late middle to older age a patient will require interventional treatment. Conservative treatment is unlikely to be beneficial and a patient will probably need some form of surgical intervention, should her continence deteriorate to such an extent that it is impacting on her day-to-day lifestyle.
Is medical error to blame for your incontinence?
If medical error is to blame for your incontinence, you may be able to obtain compensation which will help to pay for private treatment.
For example, faecal incontinence is much more likely to affect a woman if a perineal tear is not diagnosed and repaired shortly after the injury occurred. A missed tear will amount to a substandard level of care. If this causes an individual to suffer injury – such as the development of faecal incontinence – there will be a case of medical negligence.
As the innocent victim of medical negligence, you are entitled to pursue a claim against those responsible. If successful, you will be awarded financial redress that reflects the injuries you have sustained.
Although this will not give you your health back, it will provide some financial security, and will ensure the cost of any treatment is covered.
Contact us today
To find out if you can claim compensation for a missed tear, please get in touch with us today.
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