Bladder Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis
Bladder dysfunction occurs in at least 80% of people living with multiple sclerosis. A healthy bladder is important to your overall health and quality of life.To assess your bladder health, ask yourself if you:
- Get up more than once a night to urinate?
- Urinate more frequently than you used to?
- Sometimes have to rush to the toilet to avoid having an accident?
- Leak urine or have accidents?
- Plan your daily activities around your bladder symptoms?
- Find it difficult to urinate when you get to the toilet?
Causes of Bladder Dysfunction in MS
Bladder and Overall Health
How To Manage Bladder Symptoms
Bladder symptoms can usually be managed successfully with lifestyle modifications, medications, physical therapy and/or nerve stimulation procedures.Lifestyle changes may include:
- Diet modifications
- Adequate fluid intake up to a few hours before bedtime
- Bladder training or planned voiding, among others
- Plan frequent stops.
- Use and carry discreet protection — such as pads. They afford you confidence, especially in places where getting to the restroom could be difficult, like on an airplane.
- Wear easily removable clothes — such as pants with elastic waistbands or Velcro® closures.
- Stash a change of clothes, underwear, pads, wipes, catheters, paper towels — whatever you need — in a tote bag or backpack that you bring with you.
