Key facts about managing bladder incontinence 1

What is the ‘neurogenic’ bladder?
This is where the nerves that send signals between the brain and the bladder do not work effectively. This happens to almost everybody with spina bifida.

Since the nerves do not work properly, bladder sensation is reduced and bladder emptying is affected. As a result, you may be incontinent.

For you to achieve bladder control, you need to understand a bit about the management issues related to the presence of this abnormal bladder function in spina bifida.

Effective bladder training depends upon the ability to feel the presence of urine in the bladder. Because of altered bladder sensation in spina bifida, you have decreased sensation. This interferes with your ability to stay dry.

What are the key characteristics of neurogenic bladder in spina bifida?
Typical characteristics are:

• not knowing when your bladder is full
• the bladder starts releasing urine when you don’t want it to
• constantly ‘dribbling’ urine because the muscles that control the bladder are not strong enough.

Continence management is effectively working around these problems in a manner to give you maximum independence.

Contrast of healthy and neurogenic bladder in spina bifida.