Problems With The Nerves Supplying The Bladder
Urinary retention can result from problems with the nerves that control the bladder and the valves that control the flow of urine from the bladder.
Even when the bladder is full, the bladder muscles that squeeze urine out may not receive the signal to push. The sphincters may not receive the signal to relax and allow the bladder to empty. Possible causes of nerve problems that may cause urinary retention include diabetes, a stroke, multiple sclerosis or after an injury to the pelvis.
Some children are born with conditions that may affect the nerve signals to the bladder. For example spina bifida may cause urinary retention in newborn babies.
Blockage In The Urethra
In order to urinate, all parts of your urinary tract need to be working properly anything that blocks the flow of urine can cause urinary retention. In men, the urethra may be blocked by an enlarged prostate, which is a common condition for older males. Blockages can also be caused by conditions such as urinary tract infections, urinary stones, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Limit Common Bladder Irritants
Some fluids are more difficult for your bladder to process than others. We call these bladder irritants. Caffeine, alcohol and high-citrus content can make symptoms worse. Many people can reduce or even eliminate symptoms by avoiding common irritants most days. Tobacco is also very irritating to the bladder lining, in addition to increasing bladder cancer risk.
Don’t Miss: Things To Help Urinary Tract Infections
What We Found And What This Means
We found factors associated with PO-UR included being older, male, and having previous urinary problems or long-term enlargement of the prostate gland restricting the ability to urinate . Reducing fluids and using a catheter during surgery were associated with a lower risk of PO-UR.
Giving tamsulosin before surgery can reduce the number of people who develop PO-UR. All the studies of tamsulosin were in men and none were in UK settings, so more studies are needed to see if similar effects are found in women and in UK settings.
Replacing or avoiding morphine in the anaesthetic, administering the anaesthetic in certain ways, and getting patients up and moving as soon as possible after their operation reduced the chance of developing PO-UR. For people who developed it, a small number of studies also suggested that a hot pack or warm gauze and a warm coffee could help.
Based on the results of our review, we developed an intervention to reduce the risk of developing PO-UR the PO-UR prevention package. This package involves providing hospital staff with training and advice to:
- Avoid using morphine or reducing the dose, wherever possible
- Change other aspects of the anaesthesia or analgesia
- Get people moving as soon as possible after their operation
- Reduce fluids as far as is safe, before and during the operation
- Provide a hot caffeinated drink and hot pack placed on the abdomen around two hours after the operation
Treatment Of Urinary Retention
Many treatments are available for urinary retention, including medication, devices, procedures and surgery. Treatment will depend on the cause and the disease specifics.
For acute urinary retention, medical providers will use a catheter to drain the bladder. Then the doctor will seek the cause of the urinary retention and determine a course of treatment.
Read Also: Macrobid For Urinary Tract Infection
When Should I See A Health Care Professional
See a health care professional right away if you are unable to urinate or have severe pain in your abdomen. Acute urinary retention can be life threatening.
If you have any of the other symptoms of urinary retention, such as trouble urinating, frequent urination, or leaking urine, talk with your health care professional about your symptoms and possible treatments. Chronic urinary retention can cause serious health problems.
Chronic Urinary Retention Treated At Home
If youre experiencing chronic urinary retention symptoms, its normal to feel anxious about leaving home to seek medical attention. After all, you likely want to be close to a bathroom in case you need to urinate suddenly. At DispatchHealth, we specialize in delivering high-quality healthcare in the comfort of our patients homes. All you have to do is request a visit and well send a team to your homeits as easy as that. Our medical teams are fully equipped to handle a wide range of health concerns and arrive with a stocked medical kit that has many of the same tools and diagnostics as found in an emergency room.
Request a visit by contacting us via our website, the phone, or our app!
For life-threatening and time-sensitive injuries and illnesses, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. DispatchHealth shouldnt be used in a life-threatening emergency and doesnt replace a primary care provider.
You May Like: Purina Pro Plan Urinary Health
Appendix A: Search Strategy
Database: Ovid MEDLINE®< 1946 to November Week 3 2012> Search Strategy:
Should I Be Worried About Urinary Retention
Urinary retention affects people of all ages and occurs in both sexes. However, it is most common in older men who have an enlarged prostate gland. It develops slowly over time. You may not notice it until you are unable to urinate. This causes swelling and discomfort in your bladder. It is a condition that is diagnosed in millions of adults due to various causes, but it doesnt have to control your life. If youre struggling from one or more of the symptoms of urinary retention, you may need to visit a urologist. Diagnosis is important in case of urinary retention as treatment starts with identifying an underlying medical cause.
Read Also: Pomegranate Juice For Urinary Tract Infection
What Is The Outcome
The outcome will depend on the underlying cause of urinary retention and whether the urinary retention has caused any damage to your kidneys:
- Some causes of urinary retention resolve quickly without any long-term problems – eg, urinary retention after a general anaesthetic.
- In other cases, urinary retention will resolve once the underlying cause has been treated – eg, prostate gland enlargement.
- Occasionally the cause of urinary retention cannot be cured and a long-term small, flexible tube is needed. Sometimes this can be done by regularly inserting a catheter into the bladder and then removing the catheter once the bladder is emptied.
What Treatment Options Are Available If Urinary Incontinence Still Won’t Go Away
Seeing a urogynecologist as early as possible can help ensure that you have a complete understanding of your condition and treatments options.
“Both stress and urgency incontinence typically respond well to behavioral modifications, but if things are not improving, it’s best to get evaluated,” says Dr. Lindo. “This is why I always recommend seeing a specialist about your condition right away. You never want to play the guessing game with your health, especially when your condition affects your quality of life.”
In addition, your doctor can recommend a pelvic floor physical therapy program. While Kegels can play an important role in alleviating urinary incontinence, Dr. Lindo says they’re performed incorrectly more than 80 percent of the time.
“An incorrect Kegel will not help correct urinary incontinence,” warns Dr. Lindo. “Seeing a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor exercises can help ensure you’re performing Kegels and other exercises correctly and truly strengthening your pelvic floor.”
And if your condition continues to progress or worsen, your urogynecologist has expertise to perform testing and recommend a range of urinary incontinence treatment options and procedures that can help to correct your condition and address your specific situation.
You May Like: Azo Urinary Tract Defense Vs Azo Urinary Pain Relief
Urinary Retention In Men: Symptoms Causes And Treatments
Discussing bladder control problems, even with the doctor, can cause discomfort, and embarrassment.
Bladder control, however, is an issue that affects far more people than perceived. So bear in mind, if you are unable to empty your bladder properly, you are definitely not alone.
Urinary retention is defined as having great difficulty in completely, or even partially, emptying the bladder.
Many people have problems starting urination, as well as keeping the urine volume going, which results in the bladder not being fully drained.
The bladder is a very integral part of the body, and when it is not functioning as it should, it is very distressing, and at times, even painful.
Fortunately, there are several treatments available, most of which have a good record of success.
How Does The Urinary System Work
The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, the bladder and urethra. The kidneys filter the blood to remove waste products and produce urine. The urine flows from the kidneys down through the ureters to the bladder. A ring of muscle squeezes shut to keep urine in the bladder and relaxes when we need to wee. The urine passes through another tube called the urethra to the outside when urinating .
Read Also: Does Cranberry Juice Clean Urinary Tract
Are You Looking For A Urogynecologist In Houston
Urinary retention in women can be treated in a number of different ways. While acute urinary retention is a medical emergency and needs to be tended to immediately, chronic urinary retention can be treated if it is creating urinary tract complications or if its affecting your quality of life.
If you think you might be experiencing urinary retention, contact us today with questions or to schedule an initial consultation.
How Can I Spot The Symptoms
Acute urinary retention is extremely painful and causes abdominal bloating.
There may not be any noticeable symptoms with chronic urinary retention, but symptoms can include urinary incontinence and urinary tract infections, an increased urge to wee more frequently, difficulty getting started and producing a weak or interrupted stream of urine when weeing. There may also be mild abdominal discomfort.
Also Check: Is Coconut Water Good For Urinary Tract Infection
Precautions And Proper Diagnosis
The main symptoms of OAB can also occur in other health conditions like bladder cancer, urinary tract infection and enlarged prostate. Seeing blood in your urine is not a symptom of OAB.
A sudden and frequent need to urinate is common in both OAB and a UTI. How can you tell the difference between these two urinary health issues? Unlike OAB, a UTI also comes with other symptoms such as discomfort while urinating. In addition, OAB symptoms are continuous while UTI symptoms are sudden and may also include a fever.
Overflow incontinence is characterized by the involuntary release of urine from an overfull urinary bladder, often in the absence of any urge to urinate. This condition is not associated with OAB. It typically occurs in people who have a blockage of the bladder outlet, which can occur with benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer or a narrowing of the urethra. Overflow incontinence can also occur when the muscle responsible for removing urine from the bladder is too weak to empty the bladder in a normal way.
It is very important to see a doctor to ensure a proper diagnosis if you experience any changes in your urine and/or urination habits.
You May Like: Can Smoking Weed Cause Urinary Problems
Add Vitamin C To Your Diet
Not only does vitamin C help strengthen your immune system, but it may also acidify your urine, which limits the growth of some bacteria and may prevent urinary tract infections from occurring. Just be careful of eating too many acidic foods when you have a UTI, as they can potentially irritate your bladder, which may only make your UTI symptoms worse.
Read Also: What Happens If A Urinary Tract Infection Goes Untreated
How Is It Diagnosed
To diagnose urinary retention, a doctor will first ask about the history of your symptoms and perform a physical exam. The physical will include an examination of your genitals and rectum to look for any symptoms affecting those areas that may also affect the urinary tract.
Some other tests that may be used to confirm a diagnosis
likely be inserted to help quickly drain the urine. Local anesthesia will be used to make sure you dont feel pain or discomfort from the catheter.
If a catheter doesnt work or cant be used because of an injury or other condition, a doctor may insert a suprapubic catheter into the skin above your bladder to drain the urine.
Causes Of Urinary Retention
There are many different causes.
Blockage In men, the urethra may be constricted by an enlarged prostate a common condition for men over 50. In women, blockage can be caused by certain types of pelvic prolapse, including Cystocele and Rectocele .
Other blockage reasons for both men and women include urethral stricture and urinary stones.
Infection / Swelling In men, prostatitis , can cause swelling that blocks the free flow of urine. Urinary Tract Infections and Sexually Transmitted Diseases can also cause swelling that leads to urinary retention.
Nerve Problems Urinary retention could be caused by a problem with the nerves that control the bladder. If the nerves are damaged, it can cause a breakdown in the signals between the brain and bladder. Some causes of nerve damage include:
Recommended Reading: Urinary Tract Infection Prescription Online
What Are The Possible Complications Of Urinary Retention
The complications of urinary retention and its treatments may include:
UTIs: the normal flow of urine usually prevents germs from infecting the urine. With urinary retention, bacteria may be able to infect the urine because the urine cannot flow out of the bladder.
Bladder damage: if the bladder becomes stretched too far or for long periods, the muscles may become damaged and unable to work properly.
Chronic kidney disease: for some people, urinary retention causes urine to flow backwards into the kidneys. This backward flow is called reflux and it may damage or scar the kidneys.
Urinary incontinence: this may occur together with chronic urinary retention or after surgery .
Prostate gland surgery may cause urinary incontinence in some men. This problem is often temporary and gets better quite quickly. Most men recover their bladder control in a few weeks or months after surgery.
What Is The Food Can Help To Cure Urine Retention
If you are suffering from chronic urine retention then changing your diet can help to get rid of this problem.
- Drink more coconut water to ease the difficulty in passing urine.
- Increase the intake of water.
- It will help to flush out harmful toxins and prevent infection.
- Avoid acidic and spicy food.
- Do drink sugary soft drinks.
- Avoid drinking too much coffee.
- Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Add cucumber, watermelon, muskmelon to your diet to prevent urine retention.
- Raisins also help to treat urine retention at home.
Also Check: What Relieves Urinary Tract Infection Pain
Urinary Retention: 5 Reasons You May Have Trouble Peeing
Did you know that we spend roughly 2,208 hours on the toilet in our lifetime? Thats a lot of time on the potty! And, if youre having trouble going No. 1, it could be costing you even more time than you like. Time spent anywhere else but a bathroom stall.
If you cant get the flow going when you feel you need to, and your bladder is full, you may have urinary retention. Urinary retention is the inability to pass urine in your bladder, and it can be acutea sudden inability to urinateor chronica gradual or slow inability to empty the bladder.
The difference can be from the cause and sometimes the symptoms, said James Wolach, MD, a urologist at Banner Health Clinic in Colorado. Acute is usually painful and they have the sensation to void but cant, whereas many people with chronic retention dont have any feeling they are not able to empty their bladders. While chronic may not seem as serious, it can lead to serious problems, so its important that both receive attention from your doctor.
There are many different causes for urinary retention, and much of your treatment will depend on the underlying cause. Here are five reasons you may be stuck and ways to improve your flow.
Your Urology Specialist Can Help
Having difficulty urinating is an uncomfortable and inconvenient experience. While urinary retention remedies are good practice in preventing future health concerns, not being able to urinate is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
Managing mild urinary retention symptoms is possible, but it is always best to see a urology specialist for a professional opinion to learn about traditional treatment options. Schedule an appointment with us, or visit your local emergency room, if you start showing symptoms of urinary retention.
This content was originally published in March 2019 and was refreshed in January 2021.
Don’t Miss: Urinary Tract Infection Medication Walmart
Medical Procedures And Devices
Your health care professional may recommend a medical procedure or device to treat your urinary retention, depending on the cause of the retention. Examples of these procedures and devices include
- cystoscopyusing a cystoscope to look inside the urethra and bladder to find and remove blockages such as urinary tract stones
- laser therapytherapy that uses a strong beam of light to treat an area of enlarged prostate tissue by breaking up the blockage and reducing the obstruction
- prostatic urethral lift, or UroLiftusing tiny implants to lift and hold the prostate away from the urethra so urine can flow more freely
- transurethral electrovaporizationa procedure that uses heat to vaporize an area of enlarged prostate tissue
- transurethral water vapor therapy, or Rezumtherapy that uses water vapor, or steam, to shrink an enlarged prostate
- urethral dilationgradually increasing the size of the urethral opening by stretching the scar tissue, to help treat urethral stricture
- vaginal pessarya stiff ring that is inserted into the to help stop urine leakage, such as with cases of a cystocele or rectocele