Why is bladder function affected in Multiple Sclerosis?
MS affects the bladder function due to lesions that delay or block transmission of nerve signals in the spinal cord and brain that control the urinary bladder and sphincter. The urinary bladder is where urine is stored. The sphincter is the muscle that allows the urine to flow or to be held. How is the urinary tract affected in Multiple Sclerosis? Spastic ‘Failure to Store’ Bladder • Symptoms of having a “failure to store” or spastic bladder include: frequency, urgency, frequent night time urination and incontinence (loss of control or leakage of urine). • The bladder is overly active with contractions releasing frequent, small amounts of urine and creating the sensation of an urgent need to urinate. • Usually, this type of bladder problem can be managed through medications that help relax the bladder muscle, thus decreasing the need to urinate frequently. Flacid ‘Failure to Empty’ Bladder • Symptoms of the “failure to empty” bladder are: frequency, urgency, hesitancy (inability to sta
