We all know the sensation caused by a full bladder and which makes us understand that it is time to urinate. People who suffer from bladder spasms are unable to feel a gradual increase in pressure, which would instead allow them to go to the bathroom according to the schedule of the day. Spasms are involuntary contractions of the muscles that control the bladder and occur without warning, causing an urgent need to urinate, resulting in incontinence problems and sometimes even pain. This causes a disorder called overactive bladder syndrome, or urge incontinence. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to gain control of your bladder. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Doing Muscle Exercises
Step 1. Strengthen the pelvic muscles
Kegel exercises, also called pelvic floor exercises, help strengthen the muscles in the area, providing support for the bladder. Men can also perform these exercises. To start doing them, you first need to know what the pelvic muscles are.
- While urinating, use your muscles to stop the flow of urine. If you can do this successfully, you have identified the pelvic floor and bladder muscles. Don't keep stopping pee leaking, as this increases your risk of developing other problems, including a urinary tract infection.
- Another way to identify the right muscles is to imagine blocking the gas leak when you are in a public place. If you can tighten these muscles, then you are able to recognize the ones you need to exercise to strengthen the pelvic floor.
Step 2. Talk to your doctor
Your family doctor or physical therapist can help you find the right muscles to strengthen the pelvic area.
- Once you have identified the muscles, be careful not to contract other muscles when doing the exercises, otherwise you could put even more pressure on the bladder.
- Also avoid holding your breath as you train your muscles.
Step 3. You can do the exercises in different positions
If your doctor thinks they are helpful, you can do them three times a day when you are in different positions.
- You can do them when you are lying down, sitting and standing.
- Maintain the contraction of the pelvic muscle for about three seconds and relax it for another three. Try to do 10-15 repetitions of the same exercise in each position.
- As you begin to become more familiar with these contractions, increase their duration.
Step 4. Be patient
It may take up to a couple of months before you start noticing any difference in the frequency or severity of bladder spasms.
Keep in mind that strengthening the pelvic muscles with exercises is only part of an effective treatment for reducing or eliminating bladder spasms
Part 2 of 4: Changing the Lifestyle
Step 1. Set up a process called Timed Bladder Emptying
Monitor the times of the day when spasms or urine leaks occur most often. Establish a schedule for when to go to the bathroom and stick to it for a few weeks to make sure you empty your bladder often enough to avoid spasms and incontinence.
- The time between urinations gradually increases. This gradually trains the bladder to hold a little more urine, strengthening the muscles.
- Don't drink fluids in the last two hours before bed to try to control your bladder at night.
Step 2. Check what you eat
Some foods can induce bladder spasms. Pay attention to certain foods and eliminate any that you think might trigger the problem.
- Highly acidic foods such as citrus fruits, tomatoes and spicy foods are associated with the development of spasms.
- Chocolate and foods (or drinks) that contain artificial sweeteners are other factors responsible for this disorder.
Step 3. Reduce your consumption of beverages that contain alcohol or caffeine
Those high in caffeine, such as coffee, tea, and some sodas, can cause spasms, as can those that have a high concentration of acidic substances, such as citrus juices.
- Alcoholic and caffeinated beverages cause the bladder to fill quickly, with the consequent risk of urinary leakage and spasms.
- Soft drinks that contain large amounts of citrus juice can also irritate the bladder and cause spasms.
- Try to spread out the occasions when you drink throughout the day, instead of consuming large amounts of liquids in a short period.
Step 4. Don't take bubble baths
Aggressive soaps and substances contained in detergents have been found to promote bladder contractions.
Certain chemicals found in detergents and soaps that contain certain scents can irritate the bladder and cause unpleasant consequences
Step 5. Monitor your weight
If you are overweight, the pressure on your bladder is greater. Talk to your doctor about setting up a healthy weight loss program to help manage bladder spasms.
Step 6. Stop smoking
In addition to the harmful effects on health in general, smoking damages the bladder muscles. Smoker's cough, a chronic cough caused by the irritating action of smoke on the lungs, also triggers spasms and can cause urinary incontinence.
Check with your doctor to find a quitting plan. You can also read this article for more tips
Part 3 of 4: Seeking Medical Care
Step 1. Ask your doctor about medications
Some medicines have been shown to be effective in managing this disorder. There are some active ingredients that prevent incontinence and others that work to control the involuntary contractions of the bladder muscles.
- Anticholinergics are bronchodilators, which means they prevent some muscles from contracting. In the specific case of bladder spasms, these drugs help reduce involuntary contractions of the pelvic muscles. Among the medicines that fall into this category are propantheline, oxybutynin, tolterodine tartrate, darifenacin, trospium chloride and solifenacin succinate. Side effects include dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, irregular heartbeat and sleepiness.
- Tricyclic antidepressants can sometimes be given, as they have characteristics similar to anticholinergics. Among those that are most often prescribed are imipramine hydrochloride and doxepin. These active ingredients help control the smooth muscle tissues of the bladder.
- Alpha blockers may also be prescribed to reduce overactive bladder symptoms, contractions, and relax muscles. The most common are prazosin and phenoxybenzamine.
Step 2. Work with your doctor to avoid the risk of drug interactions
All medicines have side effects and some can interfere with other medicines. You have to be cautious, as some interactions can be dangerous.
To avoid this risk, your doctor will consider the treatment you are taking before supplementing it with new active ingredients that can help you manage bladder spasms
Step 3. Consult your doctor before trying alternative and herbal therapies
Use these remedies only with caution. There is little or no evidence that these methods are effective for treating your specific problem. You should always consult your doctor before attempting herbal or alternative medicine preparations, as they can cause problems, interfere with medications you are already taking, or with other underlying conditions.
- Studies in humans are still insufficient to state that alternative and herbal treatments are effective in managing bladder problems, including spasms.
- There have been some small positive outcomes with Japanese and Chinese herbs, but the results are still very limited and are not enough to prove that they are advisable remedies.
Step 4. Consider Acupuncture
Several studies have shown that targeted acupuncture sessions have alleviated the discomfort caused by bladder problems in some patients. Ask your doctor to refer you to a professional acupuncturist who is qualified and experienced in bladder problems.
- Be very careful in choosing the acupuncturist; make sure it is renowned and follows the best hygiene practices.
- Tell your doctor about the alternative treatments you are undergoing. This way you can work with other professionals you have contacted to ensure you get the best care.
Step 5. Ask your doctor about electrical stimulation devices
Sometimes it is possible to use these devices, similar to the TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit, to induce the nerves or muscles to follow a certain routine to prevent spasms. This therapy is usually not considered a first-line treatment in cases of overactive bladder.
- Many of these devices must be implanted through a minimally invasive surgery, in order to position the electrodes correctly.
- In most cases, this type of surgery is chosen to manage general bladder problems, which may or may not be related to spasms. Electro-stimulation devices are usually used for problems such as overactive bladder syndrome, stress incontinence, and urge incontinence.
Step 6. Consider surgery
This option is being considered to treat the underlying cause of the spasms or the general bladder problem. The doctor will be able to give you all the information and will inform you about the advantages and / or risks of this procedure.
Surgery for this type of problem is only recommended for people who suffer from severe overactivity of the detrusor muscle, which can cause severe and painful episodes of contractions, and for patients who do not benefit from other treatments
Part 4 of 4: Identifying the Causes of Spasms
Step 1. Consider muscle weakness
The bladder is controlled by several muscle groups, including the sphincter, the abdominal wall, and another muscle that is part of the bladder itself. The main cause of the spasms is the smooth detrusor muscle, the main muscle that makes up the walls of the bladder.
- This is composed of smooth muscle fibers that are part of the bladder walls and contract, together with the muscles of the abdominal wall, to pour the contents of the bladder into the urethra. However, all muscle groups are involved in the bladder emptying phase and all of them can be responsible for the problem, so it's important to seek medical attention to get an accurate diagnosis.
- The sphincter muscle has the function of narrowing the opening of the bladder to prevent the passage of urine. When the brain sends the signal that it is time to empty the bladder, this muscle relaxes to allow the flow of urine to pass through the urethra.
- The urethra is the tube that connects the bladder to the outside of the body.
- The abdominal wall muscles are relaxed when the bladder is empty and as it gradually fills with urine. However, they begin to dilate gradually as the bladder enlarges.
- This muscle group works together with the sphincter muscle to control the bladder. When the brain sends the message that it is time to urinate, the abdominal muscles contract and press on the bladder to force urine to the urethra.
- The muscles and the nervous system work together to effectively "communicate" with the brain and be able to consciously control the emptying of the bladder. If any muscle or nerve involved suffers from any disorder, spasms can occur.
Step 2. Consider the hypothesis that the spasms are caused by some nerve damage
The nerves in the bladder area are part of a complex "communication system" that exchanges messages with the brain.
- It is the nerves that are part of the bladder and abdominal wall that "inform" the brain when the bladder is full and should be emptied.
- In fact, it is they who transmit the sensation of pressure that makes it clear when it is time to release the urine present in the bladder.
- If the nerves are damaged, they can send inaccurate signals to the muscles, which contract at the wrong time, causing spasms.
- There are some conditions that can interfere with nerve signals that affect bladder contraction, such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke.
- Other problems that can cause nerve damage are the consequences of some surgery, pelvic disease or surgery, back problems such as slipped discs and radiation exposure.
Step 3. Rule out the possibility of an infection
A kidney or bladder infection can actually cause sudden muscle spasms. The irritation caused by the infection triggers the muscle contraction, thus causing spasms. The urinary tract infection is temporary, so bladder control problems resolve once the infection is properly eradicated.
- If you think you have a bladder or kidney infection, you should see your doctor as soon as possible and get a prescription for antibiotics to treat it properly.
- Symptoms of a urinary tract infection may include an urgent and frequent need to urinate, passing a small amount of urine, burning or painful urination when urinating, foul-smelling, cloudy, dark urine, or urine with visible traces of urine. blood and pain in the pelvic area.
Step 4. Review your medications with your doctor
Some medicines can cause bladder spasms; therefore, talk to him if you are taking medications for other conditions that can induce spasms.
- Not all drugs cause problems; the ones that trouble you may not have any negative effect on other people.
- Do not interrupt or change your drug therapy; see your doctor if you have bladder spasms and are taking medications.
- If you are taking any medications that include this condition among their side effects, adjust or adjust the dosage as directed by your doctor while treating the bladder problem.
- Medicines that can cause bladder problems include those that are prescribed to reduce and manage symptoms of anxiety, that help sleep, relax muscles, diuretics, or those that treat nerve damage, including those for fibromyalgia.
Step 5. Use a catheter appropriate for your condition
In many cases this device, regardless of whether it is inserted by the doctor or even by yourself, can be responsible for the spasms.
- The body identifies the catheter as a foreign element in the body and causes contractions or spasms in an attempt to remove it.
- Check with your doctor to find a catheter that is as comfortable as possible, the correct size, and made of a mildly irritating material.
Step 6. Be aware that there can be multiple reasons working together
In many cases, there may be multiple factors contributing to bladder spasms.
- For example, you may have muscle weakness or mild nerve damage, but no spasm. However, if you start gaining weight or drinking caffeinated beverages, these behaviors add up to weak muscles or nerve damage and may be enough to trigger the disorder.
- Knowing that there are several factors responsible for bladder spasms can help you solve the problem with a combination of different treatments.
