Whats A Bladder Spasm
Have you heard of the term bladder spasm? If you have an overactive bladder or incontinence, its likely that you have experienced them.
Bladder spasms are when the bladder muscle squeezes suddenly, without warning, making you feel like you need to empty your bladder immediately. This is one of the hallmark symptoms of Overactive Bladder the urgent and frequent needs to urinate, and can sometimes also result in urge incontinence if youre unable to make it to the bathroom in time.
Palliation Of Bladder Spasms
Background: Bladder spasms induced by involuntary bladder contractions are a distressing symptom affecting 7-27% of men and 9-43% of women . Seriously ill patients may develop bladder spasms as a complication from genitourinary malignancies, indwelling catheters, or other medical issues. For some, these contractions may be imperceptible and only appreciated on urodynamic testing for others, they can be incapacitating and associated with urinary incontinence.
Differential Diagnosis: Common etiologies of bladder spasms include a urinary tract infection , ingestion of chemical irritants like diet soda or caffeine, constipation, obstruction of the bladder outflow tract , disinhibition from interruption of upper motor neurons, or irritation of the detrusor muscle from a tumor, catheter, or intramural stone . Medications can also lead to spasms either by bladder irritation or disruption of the detrusor muscle or bladder outlet . See Fast Fact #287.
Clinical Evaluation of Bladder Spasms:
Interventional Procedures:
References
How Bladder Spasms Are Treated
How your bladder spasms will be treated is entirely dependent on whats causing them and, more often than not, it will be a combination of multiple treatments. But lets look at some of the options out there.
Change in dietIf your spasms are caused by certain foods and drinks, your GP might suggest that you make small changes to your diet. A food diary can be super helpful for this kind of thing as it will help you keep track of which foods and drinks worsen your symptoms. That way youll know exactly what to cut out!
Timing your toilet tripsThis type of therapy usually involves you going to the toilet every 1.5 to 2 hours and is often very successful in treating bladder spasms in children. As your situation is improving and youre having fewer accidents you can keep longer times between toilet visits.
Pelvic floor exercises These types of exercises help strengthen your pelvic floor which helps your body to hold on to urine. To do Kegels, simply tighten the muscles in your pelvic floor. How? Just squeeze them the same way as you would if you were trying to stop peeing or trying to not pass gas. Make sure youre exercising the correct muscles, though, as exercising the wrong ones can put even more pressure on your bladder and might lead to accidents. If youre not sure which muscles you should exercises, speak to your GP they might be able to refer you to specialist.
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Other Risks And Side Effects
Bladder spasms, which feel like stomach cramps, are quite common when you have a catheter in your bladder. The pain is caused by the bladder trying to squeeze out the balloon. You may need medicine to reduce the frequency and intensity of the spasms.
Leakage around the catheter is another problem associated with indwelling catheters. This can happen as a result of bladder spasms or when you poo. Leakage can also be a sign that the catheter is blocked, so it’s essential to check that it’s draining.
Blood or debris in the catheter tube is also common with an indwelling catheter. This could become a problem if the catheter drainage system becomes blocked.
Get medical advice as soon as possible if you think your catheter may be blocked, or if you’re passing large pieces of debris or blood clots.
Other potential problems include:
- injury to the urethra when the catheter is inserted
- narrowing of the urethra because of scar tissue caused by repeated catheter use
- injury to the bladder caused by incorrectly inserting the catheter
- bladder stones
Page last reviewed: 26 February 2020 Next review due: 26 February 2023
Does Pyridium Help With Bladder Spasms
4.9/5Pyridium istreat urinarycanbladderread full answer
Pelvic floor exercises, such as Kegels, are often helpful in treating bladder spasms caused by stress and urge incontinence. To do a Kegel, squeeze your pelvic floor muscles as if you’re trying to stop the flow of urine from your body.
Subsequently, question is, does azo help with bladder spasms? AZO Urinary Pain Relief is a pain reliever that affects the lower part of your urinary tract . AZO Urinary Pain Relief will treat urinary symptoms, but this medication will not treat a urinary tract infection.. Take any antibiotic that your doctor prescribes to treat an infection.
In this manner, what does a bladder spasm feel like?
A bladder spasm, or “detrusor contraction,” occurs when the bladder muscle squeezes suddenly without warning, causing an urgent need to release urine. The spasm can force urine from the bladder, causing leakage. People who have had such spasms describe them as a cramping pain and sometimes as a burning sensation.
How long do bladder spasms last?
Interstitial cystitis /bladder pain syndrome is a chronic bladder health issue. It is a feeling of pain and pressure in the bladder area. Along with this pain are lower urinary tract symptoms which have lasted for more than 6 weeks, without having an infection or other clear causes.
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What Is Interstitial Cystitis/bladder Pain Syndrome
Interstitial cystitis /bladder pain syndrome is a chronic bladder health issue. It is a feeling of pain and pressure in the bladder area. Along with this pain are lower urinary tract symptoms which have lasted for more than 6 weeks, without having an infection or other clear causes.
Symptoms range from mild to severe. For some patients the symptoms may come and go, and for others they don’t go away. IC/BPS is not an infection, but it may feel like a bladder infection. Women with IC/BPS may feel pain when having sex. The more severe cases of IC/BPS can affect your life and your loved ones. Some people with IC/BPS have other health issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other pain syndromes.
The bladder and kidneys are part of the urinary system, the organs in our bodies that make, store, and pass urine. You have 2 kidneys that make urine. Then urine is stored in the bladder. The muscles in the lower part of your abdomen hold your bladder in place.
How the Urinary System Works
Natural Prevention For Bladder Spasms
To prevent bladder spasms, you can live a healthy lifestyle and avoid triggers for the underlying causes of bladder spasms. Here are a few tips for maintaining your quality of life and your continence.
What can you do to prevent bladder spasms? To promote healthy bladder function and prevent bladder spasms, follow these guidelines:
- Reduce your daily stress
- Exercise regularly.
Additionally, for women, wipe from front to back after defecating. This will avoid transferring bacteria to your urethra. Urethral bacteria is how urinary tract infections happen.
For both men and women, urinate after sex to flush out any bacteria trapped in your urethra. This will help to avoid any UTIs that may trigger bladder spasms.
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Do Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises
Strong pelvic floor muscles hold in urine better than weak muscles. You can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles by doing Kegel exercises. These exercises involve tightening and relaxing the muscles that control urine flow. Researchers found that women who received pelvic floor muscle training had fewer leaks per day than women who didnt receive training.6 You should not do pelvic floor exercises while youre urinating.
Men can also benefit from pelvic floor muscle exercises. Strengthening these muscles may help a man leak urine less often, especially dribbling after urination.
A health care professional, such as a physical therapist trained in pelvic floor therapy, can help you get the most out of your Kegel exercises by helping you improve your core muscle strength. Your core includes your torso muscles, especially the lower back, pelvic floor muscles, and abdomen. These muscles keep your pelvis lined up with your spine, which helps with good posture and balance. Your physical therapist can show you how to do some exercises during daily activities, such as riding in a car or sitting at a desk.
You dont need special equipment for Kegel exercises. However, if you are unsure whether you are doing the exercises correctly, you can learn how to perform Kegel exercises properly by using biofeedback, electrical stimulation, or both. Biofeedback uses special sensors to measure muscle contractions that control urination.
How Doctors Diagnose Whats Causing The Spasm
Before running any tests, your doctor will assess your medical history and notes on any medications youre taking. Theyll also perform a physical exam.
Afterward, your doctor may examine a sample of your urine to check for bacteria, blood, or other signs of infection. If infection is ruled out, there are several tests that can help diagnose bladder issues.
Some tests measure how much urine is left in your bladder after voiding. Others measure the speed of your urination. Some tests can even determine your bladder pressure.
If these tests arent pointing to a specific cause, your doctor may want to perform a neurological exam. This will allow them to check for different sensory issues and certain reflexes.
Exercise and changes in your lifestyle may help ease your bladder spasms. Medications are another treatment option.
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Types Of Treatments For Bladder Spasms
Treatment of bladder spasms largely depends on the underlying cause. However, below are four common treatment options that conventional and integrative doctors consider when treating bladder spasms:
- Lifestyle changes
- Medications
- Injection
How do I stop bladder spasms? You can stop bladder spasms by diagnosing and treating their root cause. Common bladder spasm treatments include antispasmodic medication, Kegels, dietary changes, bladder training, and general stress relief.
Control Your Urge To Urinate
You may be able to control, or suppress, the strong urge to urinate, which is called urge or urgency suppression. With this type of bladder training, you can worry less about finding a bathroom in a hurry. Some people distract themselves to take their minds off needing to urinate. Other people find that long, relaxing breaths or holding still can help. Doing pelvic floor exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor also can help control the urge to urinate. Quick, strong squeezes of the pelvic floor muscles can help suppress urgency when it occurs, which may help you get to the toilet before you leak.
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Other Treatments For Bladder Spasms
Talk to your doctor about your bladder spasms, as they could be a result of a more serious condition that requires treatment. For example, if your bladder spasms are due to a urinary tract infection, you will need antibiotics to treat it. Bladder spasms may also be a result of uncontrolled diabetes or a neurological condition, which must be addressed first in order to alleviate the spasms.
Your doctor will be able to address the underlying cause of your bladder spasms and provide you with appropriate treatment options so you can enjoy your life instead of worrying about possible leaks.
Devon Andre has been involved in the health and dietary supplement industry for a number of years. Devon has written extensively for Bel Marra Health. He has a Bachelor of Forensic Science from the University of Windsor, and went on to complete a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh. Devon is keenly aware of trends and new developments in the area of health and wellness. He embraces an active lifestyle combining diet, exercise and healthy choices. By working to inform readers of the options available to them, he hopes to improve their health and quality of life.
Who Is Most Likely To Develop Bladder Spasms
Anyone at any age can have bladder spasms. In children, bladder spasms are the leading cause of daytime incontinence.
However, you are more likely to have bladder spasms with urine leakage if you:
- Are elderly
- Have recently had lower abdominal or pelvic surgery
- Have bladder muscle damage caused by disease or injury
- Have a neurologic disease such as stroke or spinal cord injury
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Can Overactive Bladder Be Prevented Or Avoided
Overactive bladder cannot be prevented. However, you can reduce the risk of overactive bladder by treating those diseases and conditions that cause it. For example, following your doctors treatment advice for diabetes will reduce nerve damage. If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about the potential for bladder damage if you have a vaginal delivery.
How To Control Bladder Spasms
This article was co-authored by Robert Dhir, MD. Dr. Robert Dhir is a board certified Urologist, Urological Surgeon, and the Founder of HTX Urology in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Dhirs expertise includes minimally-invasive treatments for enlarged prostate , kidney stone disease, surgical management of urological cancers, and mens health . His practice has been named a Center of Excellence for the UroLift procedure, and is a pioneer in non-surgical procedures for ED using his patented Wave Therapy. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Georgetown University and was awarded honors in pre-medical studies, urology, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. Dr. Dhir served as chief resident during his urological surgical residency at University of Texas at Houston / MD Anderson Cancer Center in addition to completing his internship in general surgery. Dr. Dhir was voted Top Doctor in Urology for 2018 to 2019, one of the top three Best Rated Urologists in 2019 & 2020 for Houston Texas, and Texas Monthly has named him to the 2019 & 2020 Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars list.There are 19 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 204,617 times.
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Why Does My Bladder Spasm
Bladder spasms may have several different causes. As mentioned above, people with OAB typically experience bladder spasms. Urinary tract infections and irritation from using a catheter are also common culprits. And, people with a neurological disorder, such as MS or a spinal cord injury, may experience bladder spasms.
If you have recently had a hysterectomy, you may also experience bladder spasms initially. These usually improve after a few weeks, but talk to your doctor if you have any painful sensations or you dont see a reduction in them after several weeks.
So How Do You Get A Duette
As I alluded to above, Poiesis Medical cannot ship outside the US. There are a lot of legal hurdles they need to clear to make it practical. And they are working on it hard. But if you are in the US, all you need to do is contact your nearest DME supplier. The Duette does not require a prescription. So you CAN simply purchase them directly from the DME for about $13 apiece. If you are getting your supplies through your medical insurance though, just contact the DME for how to set up billing for that.
Cheers.
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Reasons For Urethral Pain During The Insertion And Removal Of The Catheter
Catheter is too rigid
To begin with, different brands and lines of catheters are composed differently to achieve different levels of stiffness. Soft catheters are more comfortable to insert, and stiff catheters are easier to insert.
For people who have urethral stricture and enlarged prostate, they might need a stiffer catheter to pass through the narrowed urethra. But for others, especially beginner users, stiff catheters may cause discomfort, pain, or blood in urine. When thats the case, they should opt for softer catheters.
If you are not sure about your preference, most catheters companies offer free samples for you to try.
Catheter is not lubricated enough
It is strongly advised that you do not insert a catheter dry. The frictions can cause micro-tears along the urethra, possibly leading to pain, trauma, bleeding, and the formation of scars. Scars along the urethra, also known as urethral stricture, narrow the urethra and make future catheterization difficult.
To prevent this, use a pre-lubricated catheter, or apply generous lubricant to dry catheters before use.
You need a coudé catheter
If you have bumps along your urethra as the result of urethral stricture or enlarge prostate, a straight catheter may jab into these bumps, causing pain and trauma. A coudé catheter has a curved tip that helps the catheter go over these bumps more smoothly. Ask your doctor if coudé catheters are right for you.
You are not used to it
You are using too much force
Tips To Any Newcomers
Lesson learned: bladder spasms hurt. Like, a lot. And although they are common, they are also apparently pretty preventable. I’m part of a few bladder cancer support groups, and when newcomers ask for tips and advice, my answer is always the same: take your meds and prevent bladder spasms before they start.
Would you like to talk to others in the bladder cancer community about tips for newcomers? Reach out in our forums.
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