What are the Risks of Having a Neurogenic Bladder?
A neurogenic bladder with high pressures and low volumes that is left neglected over time can cause future medical problems. This might include frequent urinary tract infections or reflux of urine upward into the kidneys (back-flow) causing swelling of the kidneys (hydronephrosis). If reflux and hydronephrosis should develop over time then there is a potential for kidney stones, kidney infections, high blood pressure and/or developing renal failure in the worst-case scenario. Most of the adults in our experience, have not been bothered by upper tract and kidney problems over time unless they have had inadequate drainage of urine to the outside. Sometimes individuals can be seated in a wheelchair for 10-12 hours or more with inability to discharge their urine to the outside creating harmful back pressure and swelling of the kidneys (hydronephrosis). In these individuals we have seen some kidney stone infections and early renal failure develop. An intermittent clean catheterization progr
