Nerve Damage and Bladder Dysfunction

Nerve Damage Bladder Issues

Nerve damage is one of the most overlooked causes of bladder control issues. The nervous system is intrinsically linked to the bladder and the muscles that control it, meaning nerve damage may lead to overactive bladder symptoms, as well as poor sphincter muscle control and urine retention. Left untreated, these symptoms may get worse over time. This is because, as the nervous system continues to malfunction and send the wrong signals to the bladder, its muscles then begin to learn new dysfunctional behavior, causing further damage.

Some causes of nerve damage that cause bladder control issues include vaginal childbirth, stroke, multiple sclerosis and heavy metal poisoning. Doctors have a variety of tests to check for nerve damage that could cause urinary symptoms, including urodynamics tests, MRI and CT scans, as well as EEG tests. These tests allow medical professionals to examine not just the nerves themselves, but how they are sending signals throughout the body.

Those that are affected by urinary symptoms due to nerve damage can be treated with a number of options, including retraining the bladder, electrical stimulus, surgery and medications. As mentioned above, the bladder and its associated muscles can begin to atrophy, become overworked or learn new patterns of dysfunctional behavior due to nerve damage. When this begins to happen, the nervous system is essentially reprogrammed to malfunction. Retraining the bladder through exercises helps to correct the course, allowing for proper bladder function. Electrical stimulation involves either using a patch with diodes on it that stimulates specific nerves, or having an electrical stimulation device surgically inserted. These methods involve stimulating nerves regionally in order to affect proper function. In some cases, surgical methods such as enlarging the bladder may be necessary, although this can lead to a lifelong dependence on catheter usage.

There are also many medications currently available for the treatment of bladder control issues and nerve damage, however many of them cause harmful side effects, such as rapid heartbeat, blurred vision and more. As well, many medications for bladder control and nerve damage issues can be very costly. As an alternative, some people turn to natural solutions for treating bladder control issues. Natural therapies are typically less costly and carry fewer side effects and many add benefits to the whole body in addition to the bladder. If you suspect that nerve damage has caused you to develop a bladder control issue, it is important to speak with your doctor to be tested, as well as discuss your treatment options.