Bladder neuropathy is a condition that occurs when there is damage or out of balance signals to the nerves that control the bladder. When this occurs, it can prevent the bladder from functioning properly and can cause a range of different symptoms.
The two most common symptoms of bladder neuropathy are urinary frequency and urgency. Urinary frequency is when you feel the need to urinate more frequently than usual. Urinary urgency is when you feel a sudden, pressing need to urinate, even if your bladder is not full.
Other symptoms of bladder neuropathy can include involuntary urination (urge incontinence), difficulty urinating, prolonged urinating, pain during urination, decreased sensation of filling of bladder and incomplete emptying of bladder.
In some cases, bladder neuropathy can also cause sexual dysfunction due to nerve damage in the genital area. Diagnosis is typically made through physical examination, urine analysis and neurological testing.
Treatment for bladder neuropathy can include medications, nerve stimulation, bladder training, biofeedback and surgery. Your doctor may also suggest lifestyle changes to help manage the symptoms.
What does nerve damage to the bladder feel like?
Nerve damage to the bladder can manifest in a variety of uncomfortable and even painful sensations. Some people may experience a frequent feeling of urgency and the need to urinate frequently. Others feel a dull, aching pain in their lower abdomen and can experience uncomfortable pelvic pressure or tightness in their lower abdominal muscles.
Some patients may also experience pain during or after urination or have difficulty starting or stopping their urine stream. In some cases, people with nerve damage to the bladder can suffer from incontinence, or involuntary leakage of urine.
Other symptoms of nerve damage to the bladder may include a sudden urge to urinate, lower back pain, abdominal cramps, frequent urinary tract infections, and strong odors emanating from the urine. Treatments for these bladder issues vary and are typically dependent upon the underlying cause of the nerve damage.
Some of the treatments could include medications, lifestyle changes, surgeries, pelvic floor exercises, and even the use of devices.
How do I know if I have bladder nerve damage?
If you suspect that you have bladder nerve damage, it is important to speak with your doctor to get a diagnosis. While it is possible to recognize some common signs, only a medical professional can definitively diagnose and treat bladder nerve damage.
Common signs and symptoms of bladder nerve damage include urinary incontinence, an abnormally frequent need to urinate, difficulty or pain while urinating, the feeling that the bladder is not empty even after you have finished urinating, and involuntary urination.
If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to have a conversation with your doctor, as they can review your medical history, order tests, and rule out other causes, such as a bladder infection or blockage.
In more serious cases of bladder nerve damage, you may experience bladder weakness, which can lead to heavy leakage. This symptom often occurs in cases of spinal cord injury, nerve damage due to diabetes, or neurological conditions.
In these cases, it may be necessary to have surgery to help restore the bladder’s normal functioning and prevent further complications.
If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is important to visit a doctor to get a proper diagnosis. A doctor can tell you the best course of action to treat bladder nerve damage and get you on the road to recovery.
How do you test for nerve damage in the bladder?
Testing for nerve damage in the bladder typically involves a combination of diagnostic imaging, physical examinations, and urine tests. Imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, can help identify any underlying problems or abnormalities in the area that could be causing nerve damage.
During a physical examination, the doctor can test bladder sensitivity and reflexes by palpating the bladder and assessing how it responds to changes in pressure. Urine tests are also used to check for abnormalities and to determine the amount of residual urine in the bladder.
If there is an excess of residual urine, this can be an indication of nerve damage. Other tests that may be used to detect and diagnose nerve damage in the bladder include an ultrasound or urodynamic testing.
Urodynamic testing measures the flow of urine and assesses bladder pressure, which can help detect any nerve damage in this area.
What kind of doctor treats neurogenic bladder?
A urologist is the kind of doctor who treats neurogenic bladder. Urologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the urinary tract, including the bladder, kidneys, prostate, and urethra.
They are well-trained to treat diseases such as neurogenic bladder, which is caused by nerve damage or dysfunction of the nervous system. Treatment for neurogenic bladder includes medicines that relax the bladder or increase bladder capacity, intermittent catheterization, biologic or artificial urinary sphincters, bladder sling surgery, or drug injections to block nerve signals and relax the bladder muscle.
Urologists are also adept at helping patients modify their lifestyle to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and other problems that can occur with neurogenic bladders.
What happens if neurogenic bladder goes untreated?
If neurogenic bladder goes untreated, it can lead to a variety of serious problems and complications. Such complications include increased risk of urinary tract infections, bladder stones and potentially even kidney damage.
Urinary tract infections are caused when the bladder is not able to empty itself properly, allowing bacteria to accumulate. Bladder stones form when the bladder is unable to contract and pass waste, allowing minerals and other crystals to accumulate and form stones.
Long-term kidney damage can occur as the result of back-pressure of the bladder on the kidneys. This can cause the kidneys to work harder, leading to an eventual breakdown of the organs. If left untreated, these complications may ultimately result in renal failure.
Treatment for neurogenic bladder can help to reduce the risk of these complications, but early detection and diagnosis is key.
What are the first signs of cauda equina?
The first signs of cauda equina are typically lower back pain accompanied by sensory, urinary, or bowel changes. Cauda equina syndrome often presents with back pain in the lower lumbar region that may be sharp, burning, lancinating, or described by patients as a “horse-like” sensation.
Other common symptoms include numbness and tingling that often radiates down into both legs, bilateral sciatica pain, urinary retention or loss of control, and loss of or decreased sensation in the genital, perineal, or anal region.
Patients may also present with bladder or bowel incontinence, sexual dysfunction, balance loss, or weakness in the lower extremities. In more severe cases, the patient may evidence a saddle anesthesia and loss of reflexes, including the bulbocavernosus reflex.
If left untreated, cauda equina syndrome can progress to permanent paralysis and bladder and bowel dysfunction.
Can bladder nerves regenerate?
Yes, bladder nerves can regenerate, although it can take a long time depending on the extent of nerve damage. Bladder nerves can become damaged due to many conditions, such as surgical procedures, urinary tract infections, and diabetes.
Nerve damage can cause incontinence, pain and other symptoms in the bladder.
The good news is that nerve regeneration can occur. Depending on the extent of the damage, it can take a few weeks to several months for nerves to regenerate, repair and restore full function. Nerve regeneration is a complex process, and nerve cells have to make new connections in order for function to be restored.
Medications, dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, physical therapy, and nerve stimulation can all play a role in the nerve regeneration process.
In some cases, nerve regrowth can be facilitated by the use of nerve growth factor, a natural protein that can help facilitate nerve repair. Additionally, specialized nerve blocks, such as botox injections, can be used to block nerve activity in the affected area.
It is difficult to predict how long it will take for bladder nerves to regenerate; it will depend greatly on the extent of nerve damage and how quickly the individual responds to treatments. Ultimately, after bloom nerves have regenerated to the point they can restore bladder function, a person’s symptoms should be relieved.
Is pudendal nerve damage permanent?
The answer to whether or not pudendal nerve damage is permanent varies from case to case. In some cases, pudendal nerve damage may be permanent if the nerve is severely damaged and unable to recover.
However, it is possible for some cases of pudendal nerve damage to resolve over time, especially if it is caused by conditions that can be treated such as hernias or pelvic trauma.
If you are experiencing pudendal nerve damage, it is important to visit a healthcare professional who can evaluate your condition and determine the best course of action. Depending on the cause of your pudendal nerve damage and the severity of your symptoms, your healthcare professional may be able to provide treatments such as stretching, physical therapy, medications, or surgery to help reduce pain and improve function.
Recovery time may be lengthy and you should be prepared to follow your doctor’s instructions diligently and to be patient as your body works to heal.
How is bladder nerve damage diagnosed?
Bladder nerve damage can be diagnosed by analyzing the medical history of the patient and conducting a physical exam to observe any physical symptoms. Additional tests may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis; these tests may include a urinary tract ultrasound, electromyography (EMG), cystoscopy, or urodynamic testing.
Urinary tract ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create a picture of the bladder and see if any damage has been done. Electromyography involves inserting a small electric needle into the bladder muscles to analyze how they work.
Cystoscopy is a procedure which uses a fiber-optic camera to look inside the bladder and urethra and check for signs of damage. Urodynamic testing is used to evaluate the bladder’s function, as it measures the amount of pressure in the bladder and the ability to empty it fully.
If nerve damage is detected, further treatment can then be administered.
How do they repair bladder nerves?
The repair of bladder nerves typically involves a surgical procedure called a pelvic reconstructive surgery. The surgery is performed when the bladder nerve has been damaged, which can be caused by a number of things, such as trauma, infection, or tumors.
During the procedure, the surgeon will make an incision in the abdomen, and the bladder and surrounding tissue will be exposed. The surgeon will then carefully identify the damaged nerve and separate the nerve fibers from other tissue, taking care to protect any healthy nerve fibers.
Damaged sections of the nerve can then be severed, rerouted, or sutured together. After the repair is complete, the nerve can be tested and any remaining nerve damage can be assessed. In some cases, the bladder nerve may need to be replaced with a nerve graft if the damage is too severe to repair.
Depending on the severity of the nerve damage and the individual’s overall health, the surgery may be done through either traditional open surgery or laparoscopic surgery, which is a minimally invasive technique.
How do you tell if your bladder is damaged?
If you suspect that your bladder may be damaged, the best way to confirm this is to speak to your doctor. He or she may suggest a variety of diagnostic tests to help determine the extent of the damage and the best treatment options.
Some tests that may be used to determine bladder damage include blood tests, urine analysis, an ultrasound, cystoscopy, cystogram, and/or a urodynamic study.
During a blood test, your doctor may measure the kidney and liver functions to check for any underlying damage that might be contributing to bladder issues. With the urine analysis, your doctor will monitor levels of protein, blood, and other substances in the urine that can indicate specific bladder or kidney conditions.
Ultrasound and x-ray imaging techniques such as a cystogram can help your doctor identify any abnormalities in the structure of the bladder or any changes in its shape. If narrowing of the urethra has occurred, a cystoscopy may be necessary to determine the severity and cause of any damage.
Finally, a urodynamic study involves passing a small instrument into the bladder and then pumping air or water to measure its effects on the bladder’s ability to contain liquid. This is useful for diagnosing neurological issues, such as nerve damage that can create an overactive bladder or an inability to control the voiding of urine.
Regardless of the procedure used, speaking to a doctor and undergoing these tests is the best way to gauge the extent of any bladder damage and decide on the appropriate course of treatment.
