BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuNeurogenic bladderNeurogenic detrusor overactivity; NDO; Neurogenic bladder sphincter dysfunction; NBSDNeurogenic bladder is a problem in which a person lacks bladder control due to a brain, spinal cord, or nerve condition. Causes Several muscles and nerves must work together for the bladder to hold urine until you are ready to empty it. Nerve messages go back and forth between the brain and the muscles that control bladder emptying. If these nerves are damaged by illness or injury, the muscles may not be able to tighten or relax at the right time.Disorders of the central nervous system commonly cause neurogenic bladder. These can include:Alzheimer disease Alzheimer diseaseDementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It affects memo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Birth defects of the spinal cord, such as spina bifida Brain or spinal cord tumors Cerebral palsy Cerebral palsyCerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that involve the brain. This affects nervous system functions, such as movement, learning, hearing, seei...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Encephalitis EncephalitisEncephalitis is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the brain, most often due to infections.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Learning disabilities such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Attention deficit hyperactivity disordeAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a problem caused by the presence of one or more of these findings:Not being able to focusBeing ove...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Multiple sclerosis (MS) Multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Parkinson disease Parkinson diseaseParkinson disease results from certain brain cells dying. These cells help control movement and coordination. The disease leads to shaking (tremors...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spinal cord injury Spinal cord injurySpinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from disease of the nearby bones,...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article StrokeStrokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Damage or disorders of the nerves that supply the bladder can also cause this condition. These can include:Nerve damage (neuropathy) Nerve damage due to long-term, heavy alcohol use Nerve damage due to long-term diabetes Nerve damageNerve damage that occurs in people with diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy. This condition is a complication of diabetes.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nerve damage due to vitamin B12 deficiency Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. After the body uses these vitamins, leftover amounts leave the bo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nerve damage from syphilis SyphilisNeurosyphilis is a bacterial infection of the brain or spinal cord. It usually occurs in people who have had untreated syphilis for many years....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nerve damage due to pelvic surgery Nerve damage from a herniated disk or spinal canal stenosis Symptoms The symptoms depend on the cause. They often include symptoms of urinary incontinence.Urinary incontinenceUrinary (or bladder) incontinence occurs when you are not able to keep urine from leaking out of your urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms of overactive bladder may include:Having to urinate too often in small amounts Problems emptying all the urine from the bladder Loss of bladder control Symptoms of underactive bladder may include:Full bladder and possibly urine leakage Inability to tell when the bladder is full Problems starting to urinate or emptying all the urine from the bladder (urinary retention) Treatment Medicines may help manage your symptoms. Your health care provider may suggest:Medicines that relax the bladder (for example, oxybutynin, tolterodine, or propantheline) Medicines that make certain nerves more active (bethanechol) Botulinum toxin GABA supplements Antiepileptic drugs Your provider may refer you to someone who has been trained to help people manage bladder problems.Skills or techniques you may learn include:Exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles (Kegel exercises) Kegel exercisesPelvic floor muscle training exercises are a series of exercises designed to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Keeping a diary of when you urinate, the amount you urinated, and if you leaked urine. This may help you learn when you should empty your bladder and when it may be best to be near a bathroom.Learn to recognize the symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs), such as burning when you urinate, fever, low back pain on one side, and a more frequent need to urinate. Cranberry tablets may help prevent UTIs.Some people may need to use a urinary catheter. This is a thin tube that is inserted into your bladder. You may need a catheter to be:In place all the time (indwelling catheter). In your bladder 4 to 6 times a day to keep your bladder from becoming too full (intermittent catheterization).Sometimes surgery is needed. Surgeries for neurogenic bladder include:Artificial sphincter Artificial sphincterSphincters in the urinary system are muscles that allow your body to hold in urine. An inflatable artificial (man-made) sphincter is a medical devic...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Electrical device implanted near the bladder nerves to stimulate the bladder muscles Sling surgery Creation of an opening (stoma) in which urine flows into a special pouch (this is called urinary diversion)Electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve in the leg may be recommended. This involves placing a needle into the tibial nerve. The needle is connected to an electrical device that sends signals to the tibial nerve. The signals then travel up to the nerves in the lower spine, which control the bladder. Support Groups If you are having urinary incontinence, organizations are available for further information and support.OrganizationsThe following organizations are good resources for information on incontinence. Fecal (bowel) incontinence:International Foundation for Functional Ga...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Possible Complications Complications of neurogenic bladder may include:Constant urine leakage that can cause skin to break down and lead to pressure sores Kidney damage if the bladder becomes too full, causing pressure to build up in the tubes leading to the kidneys and in the kidneys themselves Urinary tract infections When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you:Are unable to empty your bladder at all Have signs of a bladder infection (fever, burning when you urinate, frequent urination) Urinate small amounts, frequentlyOpen ReferencesReferencesChapple CR, Osman NI. The underactive detrusor. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 118.Goetz LL, Klausner AP. Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. In: Cifu DX, ed. Braddom's Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 20.Panicker JN, DasGupta R, Batla A. Neurourology. In: Jankovic J, Maziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 45.AllVideoImagesTogVoiding cystourethrogram - illustration One method of examining bladder function is by injecting dye that is visible on X-rays through a tube (catheter) to fill the bladder. X-rays are taken while the bladder is full and while the patient is urinating (voiding) to determine if fluid is forced out of the bladder through the urethra (normal) or up through the ureters into the kidney (vesicoureteral reflux). This study is usually done with the patient lying on an X-ray table.Voiding cystourethrogramillustrationVoiding cystourethrogram - illustration One method of examining bladder function is by injecting dye that is visible on X-rays through a tube (catheter) to fill the bladder. X-rays are taken while the bladder is full and while the patient is urinating (voiding) to determine if fluid is forced out of the bladder through the urethra (normal) or up through the ureters into the kidney (vesicoureteral reflux). This study is usually done with the patient lying on an X-ray table.Voiding cystourethrogramillustrationRelated Information Tumor(Condition)Multiple sclerosis - discharge(Discharge)Preventing pressure ulcers(Self-Care) Review Date: 4/25/2022 Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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Neurogenic bladderNeurogenic detrusor overactivity; NDO; Neurogenic bladder sphincter dysfunction; NBSDNeurogenic bladder is a problem in which a person lacks bladder control due to a brain, spinal cord, or nerve condition. Causes Several muscles and nerves must work together for the bladder to hold urine until you are ready to empty it. Nerve messages go back and forth between the brain and the muscles that control bladder emptying. If these nerves are damaged by illness or injury, the muscles may not be able to tighten or relax at the right time.Disorders of the central nervous system commonly cause neurogenic bladder. These can include:Alzheimer disease Alzheimer diseaseDementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It affects memo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Birth defects of the spinal cord, such as spina bifida Brain or spinal cord tumors Cerebral palsy Cerebral palsyCerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that involve the brain. This affects nervous system functions, such as movement, learning, hearing, seei...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Encephalitis EncephalitisEncephalitis is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the brain, most often due to infections.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Learning disabilities such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Attention deficit hyperactivity disordeAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a problem caused by the presence of one or more of these findings:Not being able to focusBeing ove...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Multiple sclerosis (MS) Multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Parkinson disease Parkinson diseaseParkinson disease results from certain brain cells dying. These cells help control movement and coordination. The disease leads to shaking (tremors...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spinal cord injury Spinal cord injurySpinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from disease of the nearby bones,...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article StrokeStrokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Damage or disorders of the nerves that supply the bladder can also cause this condition. These can include:Nerve damage (neuropathy) Nerve damage due to long-term, heavy alcohol use Nerve damage due to long-term diabetes Nerve damageNerve damage that occurs in people with diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy. This condition is a complication of diabetes.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nerve damage due to vitamin B12 deficiency Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. After the body uses these vitamins, leftover amounts leave the bo...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nerve damage from syphilis SyphilisNeurosyphilis is a bacterial infection of the brain or spinal cord. It usually occurs in people who have had untreated syphilis for many years....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nerve damage due to pelvic surgery Nerve damage from a herniated disk or spinal canal stenosis Symptoms The symptoms depend on the cause. They often include symptoms of urinary incontinence.Urinary incontinenceUrinary (or bladder) incontinence occurs when you are not able to keep urine from leaking out of your urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms of overactive bladder may include:Having to urinate too often in small amounts Problems emptying all the urine from the bladder Loss of bladder control Symptoms of underactive bladder may include:Full bladder and possibly urine leakage Inability to tell when the bladder is full Problems starting to urinate or emptying all the urine from the bladder (urinary retention) Treatment Medicines may help manage your symptoms. Your health care provider may suggest:Medicines that relax the bladder (for example, oxybutynin, tolterodine, or propantheline) Medicines that make certain nerves more active (bethanechol) Botulinum toxin GABA supplements Antiepileptic drugs Your provider may refer you to someone who has been trained to help people manage bladder problems.Skills or techniques you may learn include:Exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles (Kegel exercises) Kegel exercisesPelvic floor muscle training exercises are a series of exercises designed to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Keeping a diary of when you urinate, the amount you urinated, and if you leaked urine. This may help you learn when you should empty your bladder and when it may be best to be near a bathroom.Learn to recognize the symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs), such as burning when you urinate, fever, low back pain on one side, and a more frequent need to urinate. Cranberry tablets may help prevent UTIs.Some people may need to use a urinary catheter. This is a thin tube that is inserted into your bladder. You may need a catheter to be:In place all the time (indwelling catheter). In your bladder 4 to 6 times a day to keep your bladder from becoming too full (intermittent catheterization).Sometimes surgery is needed. Surgeries for neurogenic bladder include:Artificial sphincter Artificial sphincterSphincters in the urinary system are muscles that allow your body to hold in urine. An inflatable artificial (man-made) sphincter is a medical devic...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Electrical device implanted near the bladder nerves to stimulate the bladder muscles Sling surgery Creation of an opening (stoma) in which urine flows into a special pouch (this is called urinary diversion)Electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve in the leg may be recommended. This involves placing a needle into the tibial nerve. The needle is connected to an electrical device that sends signals to the tibial nerve. The signals then travel up to the nerves in the lower spine, which control the bladder. Support Groups If you are having urinary incontinence, organizations are available for further information and support.OrganizationsThe following organizations are good resources for information on incontinence. Fecal (bowel) incontinence:International Foundation for Functional Ga...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Possible Complications Complications of neurogenic bladder may include:Constant urine leakage that can cause skin to break down and lead to pressure sores Kidney damage if the bladder becomes too full, causing pressure to build up in the tubes leading to the kidneys and in the kidneys themselves Urinary tract infections When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you:Are unable to empty your bladder at all Have signs of a bladder infection (fever, burning when you urinate, frequent urination) Urinate small amounts, frequentlyOpen ReferencesReferencesChapple CR, Osman NI. The underactive detrusor. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 118.Goetz LL, Klausner AP. Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. In: Cifu DX, ed. Braddom's Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 20.Panicker JN, DasGupta R, Batla A. Neurourology. In: Jankovic J, Maziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 45.