Homeopathic treatment
Any treatment would aim at seeing that flow of urination is not impeded by the narrowing
at the neck of the bladder or later, ease symptoms and to prevent possible complications.
In allopathy, there is no drug or medicinal treatment currently available for this
disease.
A long course of antibiotics may be advised to prevent urine infections until a
stricture has been widened.
If there is acute retention of urine, a urologist (a urologist treats problems of
the urinary tract - such as prostate, bladder, kidney and penis problems) would
help in draining with a catheter or a temporary incision through the abdomen. But
on certain occasions there is a dilation of the urethra done under anaesthesia by
inserting a thin instrument.
Instrumental treatment
Dilatation (widening) of the stricture: This is the traditional treatment. It is
a relatively easy procedure to do and so usually tried first. It is usually done
by passing a thin plastic rod (bogie) into the urethra. Rods of increasing thickness
are gently inserted to gradually widen the narrowed stricture. The aim is to stretch
the stricture without causing additional scarring. However, a stricture often tends
to gradually narrow again after each dilation. Therefore, a repeat dilation is commonly
needed every so often when symptoms recur.
Operative treatment
A corrective operation may be an option if the above does not work.
- Internal urethrotomy: In this procedure a thin telescope is passed into the urethra
to see exactly where the stricture is. A tiny knife is then passed down the telescope
to cut along the stricture. This widens the narrowed stricture. Most people get
some relief of symptoms from this procedure and about one-forth are cured for good.
However, like dilatation, the stricture may reform and the procedure may have to
be repeated
- Urethroplasty and permanent urethral stents: A stent is like a wire mesh tube which
gives support to the urethra and helps to keep the urethra widened. For people with
severe strictures who choose not to undergo open surgery, permanent catheters or
stents can be inserted into the urethra. Urinary catheters need to stay in place
for a period of time after many procedures. These can cause infection, bladder irritation
and discomfort.
What happens after the above treatments
Strictures are prone to return after dilation with catheters or endoscopic removal.
But since the procedure on repetition has been known to cause worsening of the situation
the problem needs to be addressed.
Open surgery to repair the stricture carries the risks of bleeding, infection, and
damage to penis or other pelvic structures.
How is stricture urethra monitored
A person treated for urethral strictures should have follow-ups for at least one
year. This is to watch for recurrence of the stricture. The primary monitoring test
used is uroflowmetry, a test which measures the rate of urine flow during urination.
Can homeopathy help - my clinical experience
Usually patients come to see me as a last resort when they have
tried almost everything. Surgery is the last option left with allopathy doctors
and even after undergoing surgeries the patient is still suffering with distressful
symptoms. This is when he looks for something beyond surgery and alternative therapies come into picture.
Homeopathy is a type of natural medicine. This system of medicine has slowly risen
in popularity over the years, making it now the second most common form of medicine
used in the world.
Given the individualistic and customized approach of homeopathy, different treatments are given
to individuals for the same disease based on their characterisitic traits, personality
and condition. A person's complete symptomatology will be treated all together.
Homeopathy is safe and natural with no side effects and act from within and make
surgical procedure for stricture urethra unnecessary and avoidable.
What are the outcomes of homoeopathic treatment
- Urinary output at every voiding improves; not like the way you experience after
dilatation and urethral stents.
- It would address the issue when injury or catheterization is known to cause narrowing
of urethra by healing the damaged lining of urethra without scarring.
- It helps in controlling the urinary infection (UTI) and checks out the gonorrheal infection
(sexually transmitted disease).
- It also tones the musculature of the bladder wall.
- Homeopathy will prolong the duration between dilatations and will make the scarring soft.
- It deals with the cause of the problem which is responsible for the distressful symptoms
be it scar, injury, infection, suppressed gonorrhoea, enlarged prostate, kidney
stones and so on.
- It is also helpful post operatively.
- Homeopathy medicines modify the disease process and stops the progress of the disease
to dreaded complications.
When can you commence the homoeopathic remedies
Homeopathy can be started at any point of time but earlier the person comes, the
speedier he recovers and prevents further complications.
The rate of recovery varies from person to person depending upon the age, condition of the patient, status of the
problem, treatments already taken and so on.
There are 75 remedies which give great relief in stricture urethra. However, the
correct choice and the resulting relief is a matter of experience and right judgment
on the part of the treating doctor. The treatment is decided after thorough case
taking of the patient. Thus homeopathic medicines of stricture urethra are designer
made unlike allopathy in which all patients receive the same surgery or drugs although
trade name may be different.
For online treatment, you may follow the following steps at Consult now.
What is stricture urethra
An elderly gentleman complaining of an unmitigated urgency for urination is usually
suffering from an enlargement of the prostate gland but if the stream of urination
is not free in somebody younger it could likely be due to the narrowing of the urethra.
Urethra is a fine tube through which urine flows out from the bladder and passes
through the penis in men. The urethra is much shorter in women and ends just above
the vagina.
In men, semen is also ejaculated through the urethra. The elastic tube (urethra)
remains patent and is under the control at the neck of the bladder.
Due to some reasons there is a narrowing of urethra and urine does not pass out
thoroughly and this condition is called as stricture urethra.
There is an urge to pass urine but the person finds that he has to wait for the
stream to flow out.
Symptoms
More often than not, men find that they take longer time at the restroom to clear
their bladder. As it goes, there is a feeling they have to exert pressure voluntarily
at urination. At the end of urination there could dribbling of drops and still a
feeling that the bladder has not evacuated completely and the urge to attend the
toilet after a while again.
The strain of urination could sometimes bring on a burning sensation while and at
the end of urination.
There is ensuing infection of the bladder as the urine retained in the bladder is
prone to grow bacteria and the wall of the bladder too thickens and it is a vicious
cycle. Here given is a checklist for you to notice if you are having any of these:
- Reduced urine flow.
- Dysuria (painful urination).
- Difficulty urination.
- Slow urine stream (may develop suddenly or gradually).
- Spraying of urine stream.
- Decreased urine output.
- Increased urinary frequency or urgency.
- Incontinence, dribbling.
- Blood in the semen.
- Pelvic pain.
- Lower abdominal pain.
- Bloody or dark urine.
- Discharge from urethra at early morning.
- Swelling of the penis.
- Urinary retention.
- Burning during urination.
Causes
Stricture urethra happens due to the urethra which becomes narrowed down due to
certain causes. The commonest of which happens to be due to:
- An injury either while riding or a fall and not uncommonly after a medical examination
of the bladder through the urethra, or radiotherapy treatment which may damage the
lining and the healed area could form into a scar narrowing the lumen.
- Infection of the urethra is another cause. For example, sexually transmitted infections
such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia. The infection is usually acquired through sexual
contact.
- Infection as a complication of longterm use of a catheter to drain the bladder.
- Infection may cause inflammation in the tissues in and around the urethra. These
infections usually clear with treatment but may leave some scar tissue at the site
of the inflammation which can cause a stricture. A stricture is just one possible
complication from a urethral infection.
- Congenital : Some babies are born with a urethral stricture. It is not usually noticeable
until late in life, as it fails to widen as the urethra does with growth, thus it
only impedes urinary flow relative to the rest of the urethra after puberty. Moreover,
the patient will often not "know any difference," and so will not complain about
poor flow.
- In infants and toddlers, stricture urethra can be as a result of inflammation following
a circumcision and not noticeable until toilet training when a deflected stream
is observed or when the child must strain to produce a urinary stream.
- Passage of kidney stones through the urethra can be painful and subsequently lead
to urethral strictures.
- Cancer which spreads from prostate cancer or bladder cancer is a rare cause.
Possible complications
Effect of straining: Herniation, piles, prolapse and so on.
More pressure is needed from the bladder muscle to pass urine out through a stricture
(it acts like bottleneck). Not all urine in the bladder may be passed when you go
to the toilet. Some urine may pool in the bladder. This 'residual' pool of urine
is more likely to become infected. This makes you more prone to bladder, prostate
and kidney infections.
An abscess (ball of infection) above the stricture may also develop. This can cause
further damage to the urethra and tissues below the bladder.
Cancer of urethra is a rare complication of a longstanding case of stricture urethra.
How to diagnose
A physical examination may reveal the following:
- Decreased urinary stream.
- Enlarged or tender lymph nodes in the groin.
- Redness or swelling of the penis.
- Urethral discharge.
- Enlarged or tender prostate.
- Distended bladder.
- Hardness on the undersurface of the penis.
The first diagnosis of strictures is made when the healthcare provider is unable
to pass a catheter through the urethra. Strictures may also be suspected based on
the person's symptoms and medical history. Sometimes the examination reveals no
abnormalities then further tests are done. Tests include the following:
- Urinary flow rate may be measured.
- Post-void residual (PVR) measurement.
- Urinalysis.
- Urine culture (if evidence of infection).
- Tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
- Cystoscopy to confirm diagnosis.
- A retrograde urethrogram to confirm diagnosis.