What Is a Neurogenic Bladder?
Neurogenic bladder is a condition which is characterized by a dysfunctional urinary bladder. The bladder's functions are controlled by the nervous system and specific muscles. These muscles control the bladder's ability to store urine and discharge it at the proper time. When the nervous system fails to work properly, it affects the ability of the muscles to control the bladder's functions. This can lead to a person becoming unable to urinate or losing the ability to control the flow of urine.-
Causes
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Any person can suffer from neurogenic bladder, but the condition is a lot more common in older people. There are a number of conditions and factors that can cause the nervous system to become dysfunctional, which leads to neurogenic bladder. The following factors can cause nerve damage: metal poisoning, long-term alcoholism, severe infections, spine deformity at birth, spinal cord trauma, and hereditary nerve problems. Other conditions that can cause nerve damage include: diabetes, syphilis, strokes, damaged intervertebral disk, and neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis.
Symptoms
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Neurogenic bladder is primarily characterized by a person's inability to control bladder functions, which can lead to bed wetting in some cases. The most common symptoms include: frequent and urgent urination, urge to urinate even when bladder is empty, infection of the urinary tract, pain or stinging during urination, and kidney stones. Neurogenic bladder is not easily diagnosed because its symptoms may be similar to those of other conditions.
Diagnosis
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The diagnosis of neurogenic bladder involves examining both the bladder and the nervous system. The inspection of the nervous system involves x-rays of the spinal column and the cranium as well as an electroencephalogram (EEG) to study brain activity. Testing of the bladder's functions includes: rectal and abdominal exams, bladder ultrasound, blood and urine tests, and a full-bladder pressure test.
Treatment
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The treatment for neurogenic bladder depends on the patient's age and medical history, source of nerve damage, and harshness of symptoms. The most common method of treatment involves placing a tube in the bladder, which can be used to empty it. Since this method increases the likelihood of infection, patients are recommended to regularly take antibiotics. Surgical procedures may be performed on the bladder to help improve the retention or discharge of urine. In extreme cases, a surgical procedure can be performed that changes the path of the urine, which is then collected in an external artificial bladder.
Medication
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There are various medications can be used to help manage the muscles that control bladder functions. For patients who are unable to discharge urine, the most popular medication is bethanechol. It helps the patient urinate by stimulating the bladder muscles. Other medications like anticholinergics, antispasmodics, and muscle relaxants can also prove to be useful in such cases.
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