Neurogenic bladder control symptoms & treatment

What is neurogenic bladder?

Neurogenic bladder dysfunction is a nervous system condition that keeps you from having normal bladder control. It happens when the nerves that control your bladder get damaged, often due to illness or injury.

There are two types of neurogenic bladder dysfunction.

• Overactive bladder is a type of neurogenic bladder dysfunction that causes you to have little or no control over your urination. It can also cause you to feel a sudden or frequent need to urinate. (It’s also called spastic or hyper-reflexive bladder).
• Underactive bladder occurs when your bladder muscles lose their ability to hold your urine. You’re no longer able to sense when your bladder is full or to empty it completely, so it over-fills and urine leaks out. (This type of neurogenic bladder dysfunction is also called flaccid or hypotonic bladder).

Learn more about the types of neurogenic bladder and find answers to frequently asked questions.

Neurogenic bladder dysfunction symptoms

Neurogenic bladder dysfunction symptoms include:

• Feeling a sudden, urgent need to urinate
• Having a weak urine stream or dribbling urine
• Frequent urination
• Inability or difficulty urinating
• Inability to control your urination
• Painful urination

Risk factors of neurogenic bladder dysfunction

Potential causes of bladder dysfunction include:

• Diseases that affect your nervous system, including tumors of your central nervous system
• Erectile dysfunction (ED)
• Diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, polio and syphilis
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Parkinson’s disease (PD)
• Spinal birth defects
• Spinal cord injuries or spinal surgeries
• Stroke
• Traumas and accidents
• Poisoning by heavy metals like mercury

Neurogenic bladder treatments & services

Your Aurora urologist will talk with you about your neurogenic bladder dysfunction symptoms, do a physical exam and work with you on a treatment plan to meet your needs.

Treatment for neurogenic bladder may include:

• Biofeedback
• Botox™
• Electrical-stimulatory therapy
• Intermittent self-catheterization
• InterStim therapy
• Medications
• Physical-psychological therapy
• Surgery

Your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes in addition to your neurogenic bladder treatment, like drinking fewer fluids, changing your diet and exercising.

To learn more about neurogenic bladder, or to get treatment for bladder dysfunction, find a urology specialist near you.