Normal function of urinating is an orchestrated system of kidney function, nerve signals and muscle activity. When the bladder is functioning normally, signals are sent to the brain to urinate when the bladder begins to fill and expand. The bladder muscles then contract forcing urine out. Any disruption of this system or involuntary muscle contraction can cause overactive bladder and/or pain.
Definition
Overactive bladder is a condition where there is a problem with the function of the bladder causing a sudden urge to urinate. In some cases the feeling is difficult to control and involuntary loss of urine occurs (incontinence). Pain may or may not accompany an overactive bladder.
Symptoms
An overactive bladder will be accompanied by a strong sudden urge to urinate along with the involuntary loss of urine. Those with an overactive bladder will typically awaken two or more times in the night to urinate and will urinate eight or more times per day. If pain is present, serious conditions such as interstitial cystitis (inflammation of the bladder), urinary tract infection and bladder cancer may exist.
Causes
Causes of an overactive bladder include neurological disorders, poor kidney function, diabetes, acute urinary tract infection, inflammation of the tissues near the urinary tract, tumors or stones in the bladder, excess consumption of alcohol or caffeine and certain medications that increase urine production.
Overactive Bladder Treatment
Overactive bladder is treatable with several methods including behavioral therapy such as bladder training with timed voiding; oral medication such as oxybutynin chloride, olterodine, trospium chloride, darifenacin and solifenacin; skin patches (oxybutynin transdermal system), skin gels (oxybutynin chloride gel); and implanted neurostimulation system and surgical augmentation of the bladder. There are side effects with overactive bladder treatments including dry mouth, constipation, headache, blurred vision, drowsiness and skin reactions. Always consult with your physician to decide which is the appropriate treatment.
Bladder Pain Treatment
To treat bladder pain, oral medication such as pentosan polysulfate, hydroxyzine, and amitriptyline, can be prescribed by your physician. Bladder distention is a procedure where the bladder is stretched while under anesthesia to help with pain. Bladder instillation is another treatment that inserts medicine into the bladder through a catheter and is then released through the urine stream after 15 minutes.
Prevention
Not all overactive bladder and bladder pain conditions can be cured; however, you can reduce the likelihood or the amount of times you experience these conditions through eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains, stopping smoking, performing daily Kegel exercises and avoiding consumption of diuretics, antidepressants, antihistamines and cough-cold preparations. Other prevention techniques include double voiding (urinate, wait a few seconds, urinate again) and retraining the bladder by urinating every three to six hours.
