Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity
Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity – All You Need To Know
Neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) is a condition that affects a person’s ability to control their bladder’s storage and release of urine. It is a type of lower urinary tract dysfunction. It is caused by dysfunction in neurological pathways that control the bladder. It can often be caused by diseases like multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or stroke.
If someone has NDO, they may find it hard to stay dry for a long period of time, loss of the sensation of a full bladder or the urge to urinate, frequent urination, and difficulty in voiding.
Symptoms of Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity
The following are common symptoms of NDO:
- Frequent urination
- Feeling a strong sense of urgency to urinate
- Nocturia (urinating at night time)
- Incontinence (the inability to control urination)
- Leakage of urine when coughing or straining
- Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
- Straining when urinating
- Painful urination or bladder spasms
Causes of Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity
NDO is caused when there is a disruption of the neurological pathways that help control the bladder. This can be caused by spinal cord injury, diseases like multiple sclerosis, and stroke. Other possible causes of NDO are bladder stones, bladder tumors, and nerve damage due to surgery or radiation.
Treatment of Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity
Treatment options for NDO vary depending on the individual and the cause of the condition. Common treatments include medications, bladder training, physical therapy, and nerve stimulation. Surgery is usually only used as a last resort.
Medications are the most common treatment for NDO. They work by relaxing the bladder and are most commonly prescribed for those with conditions that are neurologically based. Common medications for NDO are anticholinergics, beta-agonists, and alpha-blockers.
Bladder training is a treatment option that helps the person retrain their bladder. This includes tactics like tracking the amount and timing of when you urinate and using timed voids to help increase the time between voids.
Physical therapy can also be beneficial. This type of therapy can help strengthen and retrain the muscles of the pelvic floor. It can also help improve bladder control and reduce urinary urgency.
Nerve stimulation is a treatment that works by stimulating the bladder nerves with electrical impulses. This can help with bladder control and reduce the need to urinate.
Surgery is usually used as a last resort when other treatments have been ineffective. The type of surgery used will depend on the individual and the cause of the condition.