A leaky bladder in MS patientsoccurs in around 75% of people with MS, a problem that can have a big impact on life. Because MS interrupts or slows the transmission of signals to and from the brain, the electrical impulses to the muscles that are involved in emptying the bladder can become disrupted. For many, these problems can seem overwhelming and often embarrassing

Detrusor hyperreflexia occurs when there is a neurological cause for involuntary bladder contractions. The detrusor muscle in MS patients will sometimes cause spasms that result from damage to the spinal cord and nervous system. Other than MS, other reasons for hyperreflexia instability include:

• Spina bifida (a birth defect of the spinal column)
• Stroke (also known as a cerebro-vascular accident)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Spinal cord injury
• Pelvic trauma (from a motor vehicle accident, for example)

The Detrusor muscle in MS patients

There are many ways to improve leaky bladder in MS patients, such as simple lifestyle changes that can make a real difference with bladder problems.Successful treatments are widely available and simple management strategies can make a real difference.

Drinking too much can make bladder symptoms worse - increasing the number of visits to the toilet and the urgency to urinate. Generally, its best to drink around one to two litres, or six to eight glasses, of liquid per day (more if the weather is hot or if exercising). Food and drink that can irritate the bladder and are best avoided, and they include:

• Drinks that contain caffeine - drinks such as coffee, tea, green tea, hot chocolate can cause irritation directly to the bladder lining.

• Alcohol - particularly white wine.

• Fizzy drinks - carbonated and highly coloured drinks have been shown to worsen some bladder symptoms.

• Acidic fruit and juices - citrus fruits including grapefruit, orange, lime, lemons and tomatoes.

• Spicy foods - studies suggest that people who avoid spicy foods, like curry, chilli pepper and cayenne pepper, may reduce their bladder symptoms.

Some treatments to help with leaky bladder in MS patients are pelvic floor exercises and bladder training. Pelvic floor muscles give you control when you urinate. In MS neurological damage can result in weakness to the pelvic floor as a result of poor transmission of messages to the muscles by damaged nerves, mainly within the spinal cord. However this can also be made worse by other factors such as having children, getting older or having surgery in this region of the body. Where bladder symptoms are mild, pelvic floor exercises can be helpful.

The goal of bladder training is to increase the amount of time between going to the toilet. You gradually increase the time between urinating (this can be just by five minutes).

Business Address:
MyLeakyBladder
5959 Foxbridge Place,
Mississauga, ON, L5M 6K5
Phone-(647)477-8020
Web: http://www.myleakybladder.ca/
###