| Bladder Management | | | | After injury | | | Due to the location of the nerve system controlling bladder functions, a spinal cord injury at whatever level will always cause a change in bladder function – this differs according to the level of injury and the individual. Bladder function immediately following a spinal cord injury
The care of the bladder is of utmost importance to anyone coping with SCI.
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Bladder training
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People with SCI may not have voluntary control of their bladder. They must learn to be highly regimented in their bladder care to avoid accidents.
"Neurogenic" bladders contract hyperactively when there is little urine in the bladder, or may be like a flaccid balloon that leaks when it overfills. The sphincter holding the urine in the bladder may also not synchronise with bladder contractions, causing abnormal pressures. If the bladder pressure continues to be abnormally high, some urine may reflux back into the kidneys, causing damage to them. These conditions can be managed with medication, catheters (either irregularly or permanently in place), or sometimes surgery.
Proper management and regular check-ups are important to ensure that you will not get serious bladder and kidney infections.
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Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) |
The body has many ways to protect itself against urinary infection but the most important is that the bladder is completely emptied and any bacteria present are therefore flushed out.
If this does not occur a residue of urine will remain in the bladder and bacteria present will be able to divide rapidly and attack the lining of the bladder and thus cause an infection. In people with spinal cord injury the signs and symptoms of urinary tract infection (UTI) may differ, some may have a temperature, shivers and flu-like symptoms, others will notice difficulty in passing water or may have a headache and increased spasticity.
UTI is more common in people with SCI because of incomplete bladder emptying and the use of catheters, which can introduce bacteria into the bladder. Constipation may also contribute and other factors such as urinary stones or kidney scarring. Apart from making people feel ill, UTI may contribute to kidney damage.
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Further information on bladder management can be obtained in our information handbook. Contact SII office. Tel: 01 2355317 |
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