Description of the condition
Neurogenic bladder is a condition where the bladder has stopped performing at least one of its two basic functions, storing urine and emptying urine. A working bladder stores urine at a safe pressure and then empties urine at the desired time. When a person has a neurogenic bladder, they either cannot store urine at a safe, low pressure or they cannot empty their bladder when they intend to. Some patients have both of these problems.
Neurogenic bladder can be caused by a large number of medical problems. Neurogenic bladder can result from a back injury or a trauma involving the spinal cord, it can be a symptom of advanced diabetes, it can be a symptom of a neurologic condition, or it can be an unwanted result of pelvic surgery. Oftentimes, we don’t know exactly why exactly a patient develops a neurogenic bladder. Regardless of the cause, the goals of managing a neurogenic bladder are to protect the kidneys from high pressure, which can lead to kidney damage, and to optimize bladder emptying to avoid urinary tract infections. The extract treatment options, goals, and priorities are very individualized for this disease process and are determined on a patient-by-patient basis.
Treatment options
Treatment options for neurogenic bladder vary widely based on each patient's specific problems and their goals for treatment. Treatment options may include oral medications, self-catheterization, indwelling catheters, bladder stimulators, Botox injections, and urinary diversions. In many instances, in-office testing called “urodynamics” helps to determine which treatments are appropriate for each patient.