Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentComplicatons & Risk FactorsDiagnosisWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Complicatons & Risk Factors
Diagnosis
When to See a Provider
A bladder spasm, also known asdetrusor hyperreflexia, is when the bladder muscle squeezes involuntarily without warning. In addition to pain or discomfort, the spasms can lead to bladder leakage or the sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate (pee).
This article describes the symptoms and causes of bladder spasms, including what is involved in diagnosing and treating this common urological symptom. It also explains when it is time to see your healthcare provider or ask for a referral to a specialist known as aurologist.
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Symptoms of Bladder Spasms
The bladder is a hollow muscular organ that serves as the reservoir for urine. When it fills with urine, the internal pressure sends signals to the brain that it is time to pee.
While you can control urination to some degree with voluntary muscles in theurethra(the tube through which urine exits the body), the main muscle in the wall of the bladder—called the detrusor muscle—is involuntary (done without conscious control). When it is time to urinate, the detrusor muscle will contract on its own to fully empty the bladder.
Bladder spasms occur when the detrusor muscle contracts spontaneously and often when the bladder is not significantly filled. When this happens, it can cause:
Bladder spasms can affect people of any sex, both adults and children.
Are Bladder Spasms and Overactive Bladder the Same?Bladder spasms are a symptom ofoveractive bladder (OAB). Also known aspolyuria, OAB is diagnosed when you experience two or more of the following symptoms:Urinating eight or more times a day or two or more times at nightUrinary urgency (the sudden, strong need to pee)Urge incontinence
Are Bladder Spasms and Overactive Bladder the Same?
Bladder spasms are a symptom ofoveractive bladder (OAB). Also known aspolyuria, OAB is diagnosed when you experience two or more of the following symptoms:Urinating eight or more times a day or two or more times at nightUrinary urgency (the sudden, strong need to pee)Urge incontinence
Bladder spasms are a symptom ofoveractive bladder (OAB). Also known aspolyuria, OAB is diagnosed when you experience two or more of the following symptoms:
Causes of Bladder Spasms
Bladder spasms can occur when something irritates the bladder or there is a malfunctioning of the nerves in the lower spine that regulate bladder function (thesacral nerves).Some cases may also beidiopathic, meaning they occur for no known reason.
Common causes of bladder spasms include:
What Causes Frequent Urination?
What Medications Can Cause Bladder Spasms?
Numerous medications can cause bladder spasms. Many irritate the bladder when they are broken down in the kidneys and passed to the bladder in urine. Others, called cholinergic drugs, stimulate a neurotransmitter calledacetylcholinethat causes muscles to contract.
Drugs that commonly cause bladder spasms include:
Diet and Bladder Spasms
How to Treat Bladder Spasms
A bladder spasm is a symptom rather than a condition unto itself. As such, the first priority is to treat the underlying cause, whether it be infectious, neurological, drug-induced, or cancerous.
At the same time, the symptom can be treated with diet, exercise, medications, and specialist procedures. This is particularly important when the spasms arechronic(persistent or recurrent) and cause bladder leakage.
Surgery is rarely, if ever, used to treat bladder spasms. Surgery may be considered if bladder spasms are part of a larger medical concern, such as rare cases of non-neurogenic OAB in which therapeutic options have been exhausted and symptoms have become intolerable.
Diet
If you are not sure what the triggers are, keep afood diaryand track all the foods and beverages you eat along with the dates and times you experience bladder spasms. In time, you will likely see a pattern emerging and can start eliminating foods to see if your symptoms improve.
What Is an Elimination Diet Used For?
Pelvic Floor Exercises
Kegel exercises, also known as pelvic floor muscle training, are used to strengthen the muscles that help you hold in urine when you feel the urge to pee.
Kegel exercises may not prevent or reduce bladder spasms, but they can help you avoid the embarrassment of bladder leakage (along withabsorbent padsand the restriction of fluids prior to outings).
Medications
Various medications may help relieve bladder spasms in different ways.
Other drugs with different mechanisms of action can help relax the bladder muscle and increase bladder size. These include:
Specialist Procedures
Your urologist may recommend noninvasive and minimally invasive procedures as part of your treatment plan, including:
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Therapies
Biofeedbackis a popular mind-body therapy that teaches the mind how to control normally automated body functions like heart and respiratory rates.
Some practitioners also use biofeedback as a means to improve bladder control in conjunction with Kegel exercises and timed voiding (the practice of toileting on a routine schedule to avoid bladder overfill).
While useful in relieving urge incontinence, it is unclear if biofeedback has any impact on reducing bladder spasms.
How Overactive Bladder Is Treated.
Complications and Risk Factors Associated With Bladder Spasms
Bladder spasms can affect anyone, but some people are more vulnerable than others. This includes individuals with the following risk factors:
Are There Tests to Diagnose Bladder Spasms?
The diagnosis of bladder spasms will typically start with a review of your medical history (including any medications you take) and a complete physical exam. This might involve apelvic examor adigital rectal exam (DRE).
Central to the diagnosis is aurinalysisin which a sample of urine is sent to the lab to check for any abnormalities that might explain your symptoms. These include the presence of bacteria, blood, pus, or excess sugar. Aurine culturemay also be ordered to identify specific types of infectious agents.
Based on the initial findings, your healthcare provider may order additional tests, including:
What Are the Signs of Bladder Cancer?
When to See a Healthcare Provider
As an isolated symptom, bladder spasms may mean nothing but could be a sign of something serious. Because there is often no way to tell what is causing your symptom, do not hesitate to see a healthcare provider if your bladder spasms:
When to Seek Immediate CareBladder canceris one of the least likely causes of bladder spasms but one that you need to be evaluated for if you also have symptoms like:Blood in urineLower, one-sided back painDecreasing urine outputChronic fatigueLoss of appetiteSwelling of your feetBone painUnintended weight lossSee your healthcare provider immediately if these or any other unusual symptoms accompany bladder spasms.
When to Seek Immediate Care
Bladder canceris one of the least likely causes of bladder spasms but one that you need to be evaluated for if you also have symptoms like:Blood in urineLower, one-sided back painDecreasing urine outputChronic fatigueLoss of appetiteSwelling of your feetBone painUnintended weight lossSee your healthcare provider immediately if these or any other unusual symptoms accompany bladder spasms.
Bladder canceris one of the least likely causes of bladder spasms but one that you need to be evaluated for if you also have symptoms like:
See your healthcare provider immediately if these or any other unusual symptoms accompany bladder spasms.
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