There are a number of remedies that are useful for dealing with bladder spasms, meaning the contractions that develop an urge for urination. Read on for more useful information.
At some point of time in our lives, we all have gone through this restless feeling of relieving our bladder, and all we wanted at that moment was a washroom.
Well, this may seem like a real funny way to begin an article, but this is what it is going to be all about! Nevertheless, coming back to the point, our bladder usually gives us the signal that it is filling up, and to please proceed to the washroom.
If you try to hold it in, well, we all know the dire consequences. You would then get what is called a bladder spasm. The spasm generates such force it is almost impossible to control the urge to relieve yourself.
What we described above is still normal, and tends to happen once in a while with everyone. However, there are some people who suffer from a condition known as a bladder spasm, where the urgency to urinate strikes without warning, and often, it is so difficult to control that people end up having embarrassing incidents. This can be dealt with effectively with the use of medicines and other methods.
Causes
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
This is one of the most common causes. If an individual is suffering from an urinary tract infection, he would experience a painful, burning sensation during urination. This will be accompanied by cloudy and bad-smelling urine, and the urgency and frequency of going to the bathroom would be more than normal.
Catheters
Urgent incontinence and these spasms can also be a result of the repeated use of a catheter. A catheter is a small tube which is inserted into the urethra to help drain urine out from the body. Naturally, this can lead to some sort of irritation, culminating in spasms.
Surgical Procedures
Any surgical procedure affecting the abdominal area results in a weakened bladder, and sometimes, even damages the surrounding nerves. For instance, a hysterectomy or a cesarean section operation for instance can lead to this problem.
A couple of rare causes are nervous system disorders and intestinal cystitis. These causes help determine the treatment, and hence identifying them is very important.
Treatment Options
Medications
A popular set of drugs which is very routinely used to treat this problem is anticholinergics. These have oxybutynin chloride, tolterodine, and other substances. Antidepressants too can be given as a part of this treatment. They help relax the bladder, thus cutting down on spasms. The same purpose is also fulfilled by administration of alpha blockers, family of drugs, or even sedatives.
Medical Procedures
A Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation can send mild electric pulses to the bladder with the help of patches on the skin. The theory here is that these electrical signals will help in pain relief by increasing blood flow and releasing hormones, thus blocking pain.
Another procedure is an electrical stimulation implant. This is a device fixed under the skin for delivering gentle electrical pulses to the bladder at timed intervals. If your incontinence does not get better with other treatments, your doctor might suggest this option.
Biofeedback
This method refers to the conditioning of your mind. It involves teaching your mind to control normal and automated body functions. Bladder training is a kind of biofeedback. In fact, combined with medications, this is a very effective method for relief from the problem.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture targeted at this kind of problem may actually help deal well with muscle contractions in the organ and the intense urge to use the washroom.
Botox
Studies suggest that botulinum A toxin can bring down nerve-related bladder spasms. Apparently, the chemicals which are released on command by the nerves telling the bladder muscles to contract are curbed.
In addition to all these solutions, a change in diet, making timed trips to the bathroom to urinate, and pelvic floor exercises will help relax the bladder and help the body hold in the urine. Finally, a tandem of lifestyle changes will help provide long-term relief. Take care!
Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
