What is neurogenic bladder?
Neurogenic bladder is a condition in which a person lacks bladder control due to a brain or a nerve condition. If you lack bladder control, you may find that you:
- have to urinate frequently but in small amounts
- cannot empty your bladder
- cannot control your bladder at all
- often have a full bladder and leak urine
- have trouble starting urination
- cannot tell when your bladder is full
- are retaining a lot of urine
Neurogenic bladder is caused by disruption (either through illness or injury) of the nervous impulses that control the bladder. Disorders of the central nervous system that can cause neurogenic bladder include Alzheimer's, birth defects or tumors of the spinal cord, Parkinson's, or multiple sclerosis. Other conditions that can cause disruption of the nervous supply to the bladder include alcoholic neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage due to surgery or from a herniated vertebral disc.
Treatment from your doctor may involve medication to relax the bladder or make the nerves that supply the bladder more active. Various methods of catheters may also be required (depending on your condition) from temporary to more permanent forms. Pelvic floor exercises and learning bladder control may also be suggested (contact us if you would like us to provide these for you), and in extreme cases surgery may be the answer.
How can natural medicine help with neurogenic bladder?
Quitting smoking can help your neurogenic bladder, as can seeing a nutritional counsellor and practicing yoga to lose any excess weight that might be affecting your bladder. Acupuncture and TCM may also help, i.e. with losing weight, decreasing stress, and also with balancing some other internal issues that may be the cause of your neurogenic bladder. Massage therapy can help if stress is the reason behind your bladder challenges.
Contact us for a FREE consultation on how natural therapy can help you with a neurogenic bladder.
These links may also be helpful:
