What Is Neurogenic Bladder?
Neurogenic bladder is a condition where the nerves that control the bladder do not work properly. This leads to problems with storing urine, emptying the bladder, or both. The issue is not with the bladder itself, but with the communication between the brain, spinal cord, and bladder. Under normal conditions, nerves send messages from the brain to the bladder to signal when it is time to store or release urine. In neurogenic bladder, nerve damage or nerve-related diseases interrupt these messages, which can cause either an overactive bladder or an underactive bladder. This condition can be caused by: Spinal cord injuries Multiple sclerosis (MS) Parkinson’s disease Stroke Diabetes Spina bifida (a birth defect affecting the spine) Brain or nerve tumors Surgery involving the pelvic region or spine There are two main types of neurogenic bladder: Overactive (spastic) bladder: The bladder muscles contract too often or at the wrong time. This causes sudden urges to urinate, frequent urinatio...