Bladder problems can be frustrating when you aren’t sure what’s causing them. You may suddenly need to pee, have trouble emptying your bladder, or deal with urine leaks.
If you have a condition that affects your nerves, these symptoms could be related to neurogenic bladder. This condition develops when nerve problems disrupt the signals between your brain and bladder.
What Is Neurogenic Bladder?
Your brain, nerves, and bladder work together to control urination. Nerves tell your brain when your bladder is getting full. They also help control when your bladder holds and releases urine.
Neurogenic bladder develops when something disrupts these signals. Your bladder may contract too often or fail to empty completely. It may also have trouble working with the muscles that control urine flow.
What Causes Neurogenic Bladder?
Several conditions and injuries can affect the nerves that control your bladder, including:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Stroke
- Diabetes with nerve damage
- Brain or spinal cord disorders
- Nerve injuries involving the pelvis
These nerve problems don’t always affect the bladder in the same way. Some cause it to contract too often. Others make it harder to empty your bladder or feel when it’s full.
What Are the Symptoms of Neurogenic Bladder?
Symptoms depend on how the condition affects your bladder. You may have trouble storing urine, emptying your bladder, or both.
Problems with storing urine may cause:
- A sudden, strong urge to urinate
- Frequent urination
- Urine leakage
- Waking several times at night to urinate
If your bladder doesn’t empty well, you may have:
- Trouble starting urination
- A weak or interrupted urine stream
- A feeling that your bladder is still full
- Urinary retention
- Leakage from an overly full bladder
Nerve damage can also change how your bladder feels when it’s full. You may not realize that urine is still in your bladder after you pee.
Why Does Neurogenic Bladder Need Treatment?
Treatment isn’t only about controlling leaks or making bathroom trips easier. Urine left in your bladder can raise your risk of urinary tract infections and bladder stones.
Some people also develop high pressure inside the bladder. Over time, this pressure can affect the urinary tract and potentially damage the kidneys.
Your symptoms don’t always show how well your bladder is working. That’s why it’s important to have neurogenic bladder checked by a urologist.
How Is Neurogenic Bladder Diagnosed?
Your urologist will ask about your symptoms and medical history. They’ll also want to know about any conditions or injuries that could affect your nerves.
A urine test can check for infection, blood, or other problems. Your urologist may also check how much urine is left in your bladder after you pee. This is called a post-void residual.
Imaging can check your kidneys and urinary tract. Some people also need urodynamic testing to see how well the bladder holds and releases urine. The tests you need will depend on your symptoms.
How Is Neurogenic Bladder Treated?
Treatment depends on how the condition affects your bladder. Someone with an overactive bladder may need different care from someone who can’t empty their bladder completely.
Medications can relax an overactive bladder and reduce urgency or leakage. Pelvic floor therapy may also be useful for some people.
Botox injections are another option for an overactive bladder. They relax the bladder muscle but can sometimes make it harder to empty your bladder. Some people may need to use a catheter after treatment.
If your bladder doesn’t empty well, your urologist may recommend clean intermittent catheterization. This involves using a catheter to drain the bladder at regular times.
Surgery may be an option when other treatments don’t work well enough. The goal is to keep bladder pressure safe and make sure urine can drain.
Get Help for Neurogenic Bladder
Neurogenic bladder often needs ongoing care. Treatment can improve bladder control and help protect your urinary tract and kidneys.
If you’re dealing with urine leaks, trouble emptying your bladder, or other symptoms, Carolina Urology Partners can help find the cause and recommend treatment.
Schedule an appointment with Carolina Urology Partners in Charlotte, NC, or Columbia, SC, to learn more about your options.
