Chapter 108
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: The Chairman's Secret Ailment
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Unlike Park Seonyun, who had shown up dressed sharply in a suit and addressed as "young master," Chairman Choi Gwirae arrived at the clinic quietly.
A middle-aged woman, presumably his driver, accompanied him, but for someone of his advanced age, it wasn't particularly conspicuous—elderly folks often go out with their children or caregivers.
He didn't seem eager to advertise his identity, so I didn't give any heads-up to the staff either.
After a wait that wasn't too short, Chairman Choi entered my consultation room.
"Chairman, how have you been? Your inner thigh muscles have improved a lot!"
Just watching his gait as he walked in, the progress was obvious.
The first time we'd met, he'd had trouble even getting out of bed, and right after the acupuncture, his steps had been awkward and unsteady. Now, his walking was completely stable.
"Yes, thanks to you, Director. Even yesterday, there was some stiffness when I spread my legs, but now it's fine."
"Lie down here. Let me check by pressing."
Squish.
I palpated to assess the muscle condition.
There was still a bit of tension left, but one more treatment today should fully loosen them up.
Ligament recovery was also faster than I'd worried.
"After today's treatment, walking should be okay. But hold off on running for at least another week."
"That long? It barely hurts anymore."
"Even a sprained ankle needs a week of rest. This was damage to bigger muscles and ligaments."
"Sigh, got it. It's frustrating, but no helping it. I'll follow your advice, Director."
Chairman Choi nodded slowly.
"That aside, it seems like you have another concern besides the pain here, right?"
The thought I'd had during the house call three days ago lingered, so I brought it up.
Chairman Choi let out a deep sigh in response.
"It's nothing if it's nothing, but a worry if it's a worry."
"Is it a chronic condition? Please tell me—I might be able to help."
After a brief hesitation, Chairman Choi placed a hand on his lower abdomen and spoke.
"Truth is... a little urine leaks when I run."
Oh dear.
I'd wondered what it was, but it's urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is when urine leaks involuntarily in small amounts. It seems minor, but it's incredibly annoying.
It occurs more in women than men, and the prevalence increases with age—nearly 40% of women experience it.
"It happens mainly when you put pressure on your abdomen, like running, jumping rope, or sneezing, right?"
"Yes."
"And it doesn't leak much before you can get to the bathroom when you suddenly need to go during daily life?"
"I don't think so."
"Do you ever wake up at night needing to urinate, or find your underwear wet in the morning?"
"...Waking up is very rare. Not often."
"Then we can diagnose it as stress urinary incontinence."
There are mainly two types: stress and urge incontinence.
I explained stress urinary incontinence to Chairman Choi.
"As you may have heard, it's when abdominal pressure—like from running—overwhelms the urethral sphincter, causing a bit of urine to leak. That's stress urinary incontinence."
"Yes."
It accounts for most cases in middle-aged women.
Urge incontinence, on the other hand, is when you can't hold back the sudden urge, linked to the central nervous system.
Rarer types include overflow incontinence, where urine backs up due to things like urethritis blocking the outlet until the bladder overflows.
"Causes vary: childbirth, aging, inflammation, and more. Damage to the lower bladder tissues or pelvic floor muscles can shift the bladder's position and weaken the urethral sphincter. It's surprisingly common, but hard to talk about and really impacts quality of life."
"I see. Guess there's no helping it with age."
"If there's no other factor, age-related muscle weakening is likely, but that doesn't mean there's no solution."
Only then did Chairman Choi's eyes brighten a little.
I hadn't said a word about it being untreatable.
"First, let me ask about underlying conditions. No history of stroke, meningitis, myelitis, or other neurological issues?"
"None."
"Any surgeries or medications? Your kidney function looked normal on blood tests?"
Chairman Choi shook his head.
"Two C-sections, no meds. Got warned once about blood sugar, but managing with diet—no diabetes drugs."
No metabolic diseases at his age?
I couldn't help but admire it. He was no ordinary person in many ways.
Diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia are the basic trio, and arthritis meds are commonplace.
"My top recommendation is combined herbal medicine and acupuncture, with acupuncture as the mainstay. We stimulate the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian to boost bladder function while balancing tension and relaxation in the lower abdominal muscles. We'll strengthen slack muscles with electroacupuncture and relax over-tensed ones from exercise."
"Does the medicine strengthen bladder function too?"
"Similar idea. We'll use tonics and meridian-guiding herbs—'meridian-guiding' means drawing energy to specific channels. Think of it as your body lacking energy to supply nutrients to the pelvic floor and urethral sphincter. The herbs and needles provide that energy and direct it to the bladder."
Chairman Choi pondered my words for a moment before speaking.
"So, my energy isn't that depleted, meaning herbs aren't essential?"
"Right. You're active with exercise."
"How long until improvement with that treatment?"
"Acupuncture every other day, diligent herb intake, and Kegel exercises should do it. From experience, over 50% improvement."
"So half saw no effect."
"Ah, misleading phrasing. Everyone with stress incontinence improved by over 50%."
It's a finicky condition, but with clear pathology, consistent treatment guarantees results.
I can precisely needle weakened muscles to empower them, so effects are immediate.
For maintenance, build muscle with exercise... Patients usually stick to Kegels diligently after seeing results from 3-4 sessions—they don't want to go back.
"Heard of Kegel exercises?"
"Yes. I've had incontinence for years. But I wasn't consistent."
"Let's fix it properly this time. If you have time, dedicate 30 minutes each morning with stretching. Spot exercises are fine, but you'll forget."
Kegels are the only way to voluntarily strengthen pelvic floor muscles. Any Korean with incontinence who's googled it has heard of them.
Once I learned about it, it made sense for urethral sphincter strengthening, but surprisingly, it was developed only in the 1900s?
It was revolutionary in the murim world... I taught it to a maid for treatment, and it caught on for enhancing sensitivity.
Some blushed in thanks—it was so embarrassing.
Anyway, Chairman Choi seemed to know the method without explanation.
"I'll do as you say."
"Herbs, acupuncture, exercise—all together?"
"Yes. Sigh... At first, I thought it'd pass. Later, figured why treat at my age. But I'm living longer than expected. Need to fix this."
With the patient's resolve, no obstacles left.
"Great. I'll ensure clear improvement."
I asked a few more details, then finalized the prescription.
Buzhong Yiqi Tang modification.
Chairman Choi smiled happily at how it'd boost energy and help with marathons.
I handed the prescription to An Juhee and headed to the treatment room.
Ah, she'd handle herb instructions via the medication guide now.
I cover basics during dispensing, but some patients want details on each ingredient's effects.
Chairman Choi lay prone on the treatment bed, waiting for the director.
The Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian diagram she'd shown ran from the buttocks up the waist and back.
Could acupuncture there really improve incontinence?
Her skill seemed top-notch from treating his hip adductor three days ago, but his incontinence had lasted over 30 years.
'A month's trial—worth a shot.'
If it worked, great; once aware, it was maddeningly distracting.
Leaking bit by bit during the half-marathon had driven him crazy!
Throat parched but couldn't avoid water, and even after bathroom trips, it still seeped.
"Chairman Choi, coming in."
The director entered, carefully drawing the curtain.
Alcohol swabs disinfected not just the buttocks but trailed up to the nape.
Even there?
"First, shallow single insertions—like the adductor last time. In and out quick. It'll sting."
"Yes, understood."
The director pressed near the gluteal crease with her left hand.
Now, slowly insert like before...
Shuk-shuk-shuk-shuk-shuk-shuk-shuk-shuk-shuk!
"?!"
Shuk-shuk-shuk-shuk-shuk-shuk-shuk-shuk-shuk!
"Wha—?! Urk!?"
Before Chairman Choi could scream, needles flashed by at impossible speed.
Not loosening specific muscles like before—it felt like pricking points and moving on.
I-Is this right?
She'd never held back words in her life, yet she couldn't protest the doctor stabbing wildly.
"All done."
It ended in seconds, before he could speak—dozens of spots.
"Uh, it's over?"
"Bladder meridian singles, yes. Lie back now. Bearable?"
"It was too fast..."
"One by one hurts too much—this is standard. Abdominal ones won't hurt much."
The director discarded a thick needle from her hand.
Then unwrapped a long one... Long needle?
"You're putting that in my abdomen?"
Unlike three days ago.
She'd had acupuncture before, but never beyond finger-length.
This long needle was nearly a handspan.
"Not perpendicular—along the rectus abdominis. No organs touched, don't worry."
"Ah."
He acquiesced.
As explained, threading along muscle fibers to strengthen.
As long as it doesn't pierce through, not too painful.
But still, the length was intimidating.
Over 10cm... really inserting that?
"Here goes."
Unlike his worry, the director was calm.
"Relax your abdomen... Hup."
She tapped his belly.
"...Ugh!"
Finally, the long needle pierced his lower abdomen.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
"Hng!"
Far stranger than imagined.
And this every other day?
Not just hassle—a new challenge.
It'll work, right?
It has to!