Neurogenic bladder
Neurogenic bladder
Laurie LaRusso
Neurogenic bladder is abnormal bladder function caused by a nerve problem. The bladder may empty too often or at the wrong time ( incontinence ) or the bladder may be unable to completely empty the urine (urinary retention). In this case, urine may leak out of the overfilled bladder.
Contact your doctor if you think you may have this condition. The sooner it is treated, the lower the chance of developing other serious conditions, such as a urinary tract infection .
Causes
Neurogenic bladder is caused by problems with the nerves carrying messages between the bladder and the brain. The nerve problems may be caused by:
Spinal cord injury
Tumors of the brain or spinal cord in the pelvic area
Infection of the brain or spinal cord
Medical conditions affecting the nerves, such as:
Spina bifida
Diabetes
Stroke
Multiple sclerosis
Prevention
While most cases of neurogenic bladder cannot be prevented, people with diabetes may be able to delay or avoid the problem by carefully controlling their blood sugar levels over the long-term. Also, wearing seat belts and avoiding activities that increase the risk of spinal cord injuries will prevent neurogenic bladder from this cause.
©2009 Mount Sinai Medical Center
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