Aa
Losin' It - How we Micturate Properly
Rendean's questions about her urogynecologist's statements made me realize that we need a good explanation of the very complicated way in which we control urination. So, this is a condensed description of the process and then in a later installment, a description of my current experiences with Bladder Physical Therapy.
URINATION IN A NUTSHELL
(Disclaimer - the actual act of urinating in a nutshell is NOT recommended. Experience shows that this results in a large cleanup and the uttering of bad words.)
The brain is the master controller of the process of micturition - known in the medically uppity world as urination. The bladder is supposed to be submissive to the power of the brain.
The cycle of urination begins with the bladder filling up. This is passive as the bladder quietly receives the urine produced by the kidneys. The great bladder wall muscle, the Detrusor - has a low tone and allows the filling and stretching of the bladder to hold a normal amount of urine. At the same time the external sphincter keeps a high tone squeezing the urethra closed. As long as the tone in the sphincter is higher than that of the bladder wall, the detrusor, you are continent. (Other continents are Europe, Africa, North and South America, Australia, etc.)
When the bladder is appropriately full the stretch receptor of the detrusor muscle sends a signal to the pons. The pons is part of the brainstem and houses the Pontine Micturition Center, the PMC. The PMC is a major coordinator of all the things that need to happen to stay continent. (see above) Think of the PMC as a set of relay switches. The PMC relays the signal of bladder fullness to the brain, specifically to the Micturition Control Center in the frontal lobe of the brain. The purpose of this center is to cause you and me to be aware of the need to urinate. The brain at the same time sends screaming signals to the bladder, via the PMC, to "hold on" and wait until we find a socially acceptable time and place to relieve ourselves. This is where we recognize that a nutshell, a theater seat or the dance floor is not "the right place." This part of the cycle is completely under the control of the normal person. (Meanwhile I am headed toward the nearest bathroom at a discouraging slow, lurching place looking longing at all nutshells, purses and planters and 'woe be' if I am hurrying through a department store's cookware section!)
As infants the nervous system is immature, and the PMC does not communicate with the brain. So the cycle of filling is followed immediately and involuntarily by emptying. The brain's recongnition of the signal of fullness from the PMC shows up typically by the age of 3 to 5 years and allows successful toilet training.
Upon arriving at said socially acceptable place and removing the necessary layers of clothes, the brain then sends out the "voluntary" signal to let it all out. This signal goes to the pontine center which sends out signals for the urinary sphincter to relax and for the detrusor muscle to contract and expel the urine. This is to happen easily and full emptying to occur forthwith. A relieved *sigh* is optional. Necessary layers are then reassembled and the cycle begins again. (and again....and again....)
Neurogenic Bladder
This is one of my favorite overview articles on the neurogenic bladder. It is extremely long so I am writing an abreviated version.
http://emedicine.medscape. om/article/453539-overview
Quote: "Neurogenic bladder is a term applied to a malfunctioning urinary bladder due to neurologic dysfuntion or insult...Symptoms of neurogenic bladder range from detrusor (bladder muscle) underactivity (low tone) or overactivity (high pressures), depending on the site of neurologic injury....
MS and the Urinary Bladder
MS is most likely to affect the smooth process of urination by damage to the brainstem or the spinal cord, but a lesion anywhere along the route from the bladder to the sacral nerves to the spinal cord to the PMC to the brain will disturb the whole cycle. With a spinal cord lesion the person will experience a spastic bladder most typically. This is called Detrusor Hyperrflexia or DH. Spastic bladders have high resting pressures. They have "urge incontinence" because the high pressure in the bladder exceeds the pressure in the sphinctor as the sapsm of the bledder becomes worse. This is when the bladder empties too quickly and too frequently with the brain not being allowed to play its rightful role. We may feel an overwhelming need to urinate and begin to look favorably on our briefcase, purse or an innocent nutshell. But, in MS it is also common to have spasms in the sphincter as well. If both the bladder and the sphincter spasm at the same time we won't be able to empty the bladder effectively because the sphincter is tight also. The net result may be retention of urine - a common endpoint in persons with MS. This loss of coordination between the bladder and the sphincter is called Detrusor-Sphincter Dyssynergia, DSD. The normal synergy of bladder contraction coupled with sphincter relaxation is lost.
Some people may assume that severe urinary retention is always caused by a bladder that cannot contract, a floopy bladder, but in MS this is not usually the case.
This article states that between 50% and 90% (depending on the studies) of people with MS who have urinary problems will have Detrusor Hyperreflexia (high tone in the bladder). The typical location of MS damage is in the posterior and lateral columns of the spinal cord. There is a poor correlation between symptoms and what is actually happening. As my urogynecologist stated, "The MS bladder is a poor historian." Along with the findings of excessive pressures in the detrusor muscle, about 50% will also have the discoordination with relaxation of the sphincter. This is called Detrusor Sphincter Dyssynergia - Detrusor Hyperreflexia or DSD-DH
Now, among people with MS who have urinating troubles (beyond the errant desire to pee into nutshells) 20% to 30% will have an areflexic bladder ("a-" meaning "without"). This is called Detrusor Areflexia or floppy bladder. The sphincter my be normal, spastic or open.
Any questions?
Quix
URINATION IN A NUTSHELL
(Disclaimer - the actual act of urinating in a nutshell is NOT recommended. Experience shows that this results in a large cleanup and the uttering of bad words.)
The brain is the master controller of the process of micturition - known in the medically uppity world as urination. The bladder is supposed to be submissive to the power of the brain.
The cycle of urination begins with the bladder filling up. This is passive as the bladder quietly receives the urine produced by the kidneys. The great bladder wall muscle, the Detrusor - has a low tone and allows the filling and stretching of the bladder to hold a normal amount of urine. At the same time the external sphincter keeps a high tone squeezing the urethra closed. As long as the tone in the sphincter is higher than that of the bladder wall, the detrusor, you are continent. (Other continents are Europe, Africa, North and South America, Australia, etc.)
When the bladder is appropriately full the stretch receptor of the detrusor muscle sends a signal to the pons. The pons is part of the brainstem and houses the Pontine Micturition Center, the PMC. The PMC is a major coordinator of all the things that need to happen to stay continent. (see above) Think of the PMC as a set of relay switches. The PMC relays the signal of bladder fullness to the brain, specifically to the Micturition Control Center in the frontal lobe of the brain. The purpose of this center is to cause you and me to be aware of the need to urinate. The brain at the same time sends screaming signals to the bladder, via the PMC, to "hold on" and wait until we find a socially acceptable time and place to relieve ourselves. This is where we recognize that a nutshell, a theater seat or the dance floor is not "the right place." This part of the cycle is completely under the control of the normal person. (Meanwhile I am headed toward the nearest bathroom at a discouraging slow, lurching place looking longing at all nutshells, purses and planters and 'woe be' if I am hurrying through a department store's cookware section!)
As infants the nervous system is immature, and the PMC does not communicate with the brain. So the cycle of filling is followed immediately and involuntarily by emptying. The brain's recongnition of the signal of fullness from the PMC shows up typically by the age of 3 to 5 years and allows successful toilet training.
Upon arriving at said socially acceptable place and removing the necessary layers of clothes, the brain then sends out the "voluntary" signal to let it all out. This signal goes to the pontine center which sends out signals for the urinary sphincter to relax and for the detrusor muscle to contract and expel the urine. This is to happen easily and full emptying to occur forthwith. A relieved *sigh* is optional. Necessary layers are then reassembled and the cycle begins again. (and again....and again....)
Neurogenic Bladder
This is one of my favorite overview articles on the neurogenic bladder. It is extremely long so I am writing an abreviated version.
http://emedicine.medscape. om/article/453539-overview
Quote: "Neurogenic bladder is a term applied to a malfunctioning urinary bladder due to neurologic dysfuntion or insult...Symptoms of neurogenic bladder range from detrusor (bladder muscle) underactivity (low tone) or overactivity (high pressures), depending on the site of neurologic injury....
MS and the Urinary Bladder
MS is most likely to affect the smooth process of urination by damage to the brainstem or the spinal cord, but a lesion anywhere along the route from the bladder to the sacral nerves to the spinal cord to the PMC to the brain will disturb the whole cycle. With a spinal cord lesion the person will experience a spastic bladder most typically. This is called Detrusor Hyperrflexia or DH. Spastic bladders have high resting pressures. They have "urge incontinence" because the high pressure in the bladder exceeds the pressure in the sphinctor as the sapsm of the bledder becomes worse. This is when the bladder empties too quickly and too frequently with the brain not being allowed to play its rightful role. We may feel an overwhelming need to urinate and begin to look favorably on our briefcase, purse or an innocent nutshell. But, in MS it is also common to have spasms in the sphincter as well. If both the bladder and the sphincter spasm at the same time we won't be able to empty the bladder effectively because the sphincter is tight also. The net result may be retention of urine - a common endpoint in persons with MS. This loss of coordination between the bladder and the sphincter is called Detrusor-Sphincter Dyssynergia, DSD. The normal synergy of bladder contraction coupled with sphincter relaxation is lost.
Some people may assume that severe urinary retention is always caused by a bladder that cannot contract, a floopy bladder, but in MS this is not usually the case.
This article states that between 50% and 90% (depending on the studies) of people with MS who have urinary problems will have Detrusor Hyperreflexia (high tone in the bladder). The typical location of MS damage is in the posterior and lateral columns of the spinal cord. There is a poor correlation between symptoms and what is actually happening. As my urogynecologist stated, "The MS bladder is a poor historian." Along with the findings of excessive pressures in the detrusor muscle, about 50% will also have the discoordination with relaxation of the sphincter. This is called Detrusor Sphincter Dyssynergia - Detrusor Hyperreflexia or DSD-DH
Now, among people with MS who have urinating troubles (beyond the errant desire to pee into nutshells) 20% to 30% will have an areflexic bladder ("a-" meaning "without"). This is called Detrusor Areflexia or floppy bladder. The sphincter my be normal, spastic or open.
Any questions?
Quix
Thank you so much for taking the time to address each of us! I am frustrated that the neuro did not address my bladder issues when I was at the Mayo clinic in January.
I am seeing my new PCP on March 28th and will definitely be speaking to her about ALL of my symptoms with the hopes that I can get some answers to what is happening to me.
Chrisy
I am seeing my new PCP on March 28th and will definitely be speaking to her about ALL of my symptoms with the hopes that I can get some answers to what is happening to me.
Chrisy
Bio - I am wounded!
I am going to discuss some possible scenarios for the different problems (other than with my humor) that people brought up. But, this should NOT stand in place of telling your PCP or neuro about them.
Leaking a small amount everytime you stand up. Tracy and several people complained about this. (And yes, Tracy, this should be mentioned to your PCP and neuro.)
This is usually a mechanical problem, meaning it has to do with the anatomy and not malfunction of the nerves. Something happens to change the situation at the urethra when you stand.
1) Kathy brought up a common one was a small diverticulum (pouch) coming off of the urethra. It fells with urine while you are peeing and then is squeezed when you stand expelling just enough urine to make you mad. Yes, a nutshell would work here. I have taken several large washcloths and cut them into small 4" squares. Then I use these to catch the "after leak" and this solved the problem.
2) Ess is correct that constipation can cause this problem. The stool sitting in the rectal vault shares the same space as the bladder. The pressure from hard stool can cause some urine to not reach the urethra until we stand up. When this is the cause the leakage is intermittent. Sometimes it's a problems and some not. If we are aware of being constipated we can begin to see if that is causing the problem.
Constipation can also cause us to urinate more frequently because the pressure on the bladder doesn't let it hold as much. Or the constipation may prevent some urine from being expelled at all so it just remains in the bladder. This can be a cause of UTIs in all ages. I frequently saw it in girls in my practice.
3) The shape or position of the bladder may allow some urine to not reach the bladder and when we stand up it dumps toward the urethra. The urethra is still in "pee mode" and releases the urine as we stand up. This may result in the release of a little or a lot of urine.
It is not unusual for women with or without MS to have to learn to wiggle around to get all the urine possible out. They may have to lean to the right and left, rock their pelvis back and forth and then stand up and sit back down. If this is sounding a little like a "lap dance" then you have the picture.
Another common problem is Stress Incontinence. This is often due to poor support of the pelvic floor muscles. The bladder may be full or not full enough yet to have signaled the need to find the "socially appropriate place. The act of laughing, coughing, sneezing, jumping, etc causing the pressure in the abdomen to rise. In a perectly normal person there is also a tightening of the pelvic floor muscles when we do these things, along with the tightening of the shpincter. This causes pressure on the bladder as if it were contracting (but its not). The sphincter is weak and the perineal muscle is weak and can't hold the urine back under the increased pressure and we leak. This is a very shortened explanation of stress incontinence.
The more neurological problems:
Chrisy (goofysmom), Kathy complained about the urine flow starting and stopping. The medical term for this is hesitancy. This can be from one of two problems or a combination of the two. The urinary spincter may suddenly spasm closed mid-stream. This will stop the flow. Or the detrusor muscle of the bladder may relax so there is no pressure to allow the urine out. Mostly this is called Detrusor Sphincter Dyssynergia - lack of a proper coordination between the two muscles. The two need to act in synergy. The sphincter must relax at the same time the bladder muscle contracts.
Guita_grrl - It sounds like you had an episode (the "Not so fast!" one) of having the two muscles being out of sync with each other.
Wobbly - Losing it all without any signal is pure incontinence. Somehow the whole "signal to the brain" thing got sidetracked. This MUST be reported to your neurologist. I would tend to blame the Pontine Micturition Center, but it could be a problem in other places in the whole pathway.
Urge Incontinence - This is when the urge hits suddenly and let's you know you need to pee NOW! This may be coupled with frequency. You spend your life acting like someone trying to steal second base, afraid to get your foot away from the bathroom threshhold. The leakage may begin immediately or during the rush to the bathroom. Often it occurs at the arrival at the toilet itself as you frantically try to remove all necessary layers. Or the classic one is that the leakage occurs as you fumble to get your key in the front door.
The typical problem is that the bladder is spasming like crazy, and the spasms are enough to overcome the tightness of the sphincter. There is also likely a part of the problem that involves the sphincter relaxing too early and allowing the leakage. This is a classic case of Overactive Bladder. Opie, you are correct in stating that your bladder is just too sensitive to having a little bit of urine in it.
It is important for people with urge incontinence to get a urinalysis to make sure they don't have a UTI (urinary tract infection). An infection will cause identical symptoms to Overactive Bladder. A person can have a low-grad urine infection without feeling ill or without burning - just enough to keep the bladder in spasm.
Ess has Urinary Retention, the situation that worries the docs the most - a bladder that just retains the urine and does not send proper signs to the brain that it is full. Or if it does, the detrusor muscle is "areflexic" and cannot contract to expell the urine. This may be coupled with a sphincter in spasm. The concern here is that the bladder my overfill and push the urine up the ureters. These are the tubes that drain urine from the kidneys to the bladder. If the urine backs up into the kidneys it will cause kidney damage. It happens more easily in men, but can happen in women also. Ess they have done ultrasounds of your kidneys or an IVP haven't they?
So, this is how malfunctions of the urinary system can cause the different symptoms and problems we have. I will do a new post on what is happening to me in my Continence Physical Therapy.
Quix
I am going to discuss some possible scenarios for the different problems (other than with my humor) that people brought up. But, this should NOT stand in place of telling your PCP or neuro about them.
Leaking a small amount everytime you stand up. Tracy and several people complained about this. (And yes, Tracy, this should be mentioned to your PCP and neuro.)
This is usually a mechanical problem, meaning it has to do with the anatomy and not malfunction of the nerves. Something happens to change the situation at the urethra when you stand.
1) Kathy brought up a common one was a small diverticulum (pouch) coming off of the urethra. It fells with urine while you are peeing and then is squeezed when you stand expelling just enough urine to make you mad. Yes, a nutshell would work here. I have taken several large washcloths and cut them into small 4" squares. Then I use these to catch the "after leak" and this solved the problem.
2) Ess is correct that constipation can cause this problem. The stool sitting in the rectal vault shares the same space as the bladder. The pressure from hard stool can cause some urine to not reach the urethra until we stand up. When this is the cause the leakage is intermittent. Sometimes it's a problems and some not. If we are aware of being constipated we can begin to see if that is causing the problem.
Constipation can also cause us to urinate more frequently because the pressure on the bladder doesn't let it hold as much. Or the constipation may prevent some urine from being expelled at all so it just remains in the bladder. This can be a cause of UTIs in all ages. I frequently saw it in girls in my practice.
3) The shape or position of the bladder may allow some urine to not reach the bladder and when we stand up it dumps toward the urethra. The urethra is still in "pee mode" and releases the urine as we stand up. This may result in the release of a little or a lot of urine.
It is not unusual for women with or without MS to have to learn to wiggle around to get all the urine possible out. They may have to lean to the right and left, rock their pelvis back and forth and then stand up and sit back down. If this is sounding a little like a "lap dance" then you have the picture.
Another common problem is Stress Incontinence. This is often due to poor support of the pelvic floor muscles. The bladder may be full or not full enough yet to have signaled the need to find the "socially appropriate place. The act of laughing, coughing, sneezing, jumping, etc causing the pressure in the abdomen to rise. In a perectly normal person there is also a tightening of the pelvic floor muscles when we do these things, along with the tightening of the shpincter. This causes pressure on the bladder as if it were contracting (but its not). The sphincter is weak and the perineal muscle is weak and can't hold the urine back under the increased pressure and we leak. This is a very shortened explanation of stress incontinence.
The more neurological problems:
Chrisy (goofysmom), Kathy complained about the urine flow starting and stopping. The medical term for this is hesitancy. This can be from one of two problems or a combination of the two. The urinary spincter may suddenly spasm closed mid-stream. This will stop the flow. Or the detrusor muscle of the bladder may relax so there is no pressure to allow the urine out. Mostly this is called Detrusor Sphincter Dyssynergia - lack of a proper coordination between the two muscles. The two need to act in synergy. The sphincter must relax at the same time the bladder muscle contracts.
Guita_grrl - It sounds like you had an episode (the "Not so fast!" one) of having the two muscles being out of sync with each other.
Wobbly - Losing it all without any signal is pure incontinence. Somehow the whole "signal to the brain" thing got sidetracked. This MUST be reported to your neurologist. I would tend to blame the Pontine Micturition Center, but it could be a problem in other places in the whole pathway.
Urge Incontinence - This is when the urge hits suddenly and let's you know you need to pee NOW! This may be coupled with frequency. You spend your life acting like someone trying to steal second base, afraid to get your foot away from the bathroom threshhold. The leakage may begin immediately or during the rush to the bathroom. Often it occurs at the arrival at the toilet itself as you frantically try to remove all necessary layers. Or the classic one is that the leakage occurs as you fumble to get your key in the front door.
The typical problem is that the bladder is spasming like crazy, and the spasms are enough to overcome the tightness of the sphincter. There is also likely a part of the problem that involves the sphincter relaxing too early and allowing the leakage. This is a classic case of Overactive Bladder. Opie, you are correct in stating that your bladder is just too sensitive to having a little bit of urine in it.
It is important for people with urge incontinence to get a urinalysis to make sure they don't have a UTI (urinary tract infection). An infection will cause identical symptoms to Overactive Bladder. A person can have a low-grad urine infection without feeling ill or without burning - just enough to keep the bladder in spasm.
Ess has Urinary Retention, the situation that worries the docs the most - a bladder that just retains the urine and does not send proper signs to the brain that it is full. Or if it does, the detrusor muscle is "areflexic" and cannot contract to expell the urine. This may be coupled with a sphincter in spasm. The concern here is that the bladder my overfill and push the urine up the ureters. These are the tubes that drain urine from the kidneys to the bladder. If the urine backs up into the kidneys it will cause kidney damage. It happens more easily in men, but can happen in women also. Ess they have done ultrasounds of your kidneys or an IVP haven't they?
So, this is how malfunctions of the urinary system can cause the different symptoms and problems we have. I will do a new post on what is happening to me in my Continence Physical Therapy.
Quix
I, thankfully don't have leakage problems. For a year of so, I could not relax the sphenctor. (sp?) Now, I feel the urge, hold it, go. BUT soon after, It starts again. As if my bladder is too sensative. Just a little, and I have got to search for the nutshel or pot, or borrow the kids diaper. LOL again, and again, and again. It is really bad when I go to bed.
Kathy, for a friend of mine, her chronic constipation was at the 'bottom' of her slight leakage. This makes sense to me, since if the bowel gets rather impacted it can impinge on the space the bladder normally takes up. Hey, move over! And problems result.
I think it was you who posted the world's best natural constipation remedy, wasn't it? Or called something like that. Bran and prune juice and other things that can be frozen into ice cubes and added to tea or other drinks. I sent my friend the recipe and it has really helped her. Haven't heard any more about the problem since then.
For me, based on my uro report, I seem to have floppy bladder, coupled with a little confusion in the urination headquarters. Either the bladder would contract and the sphincter just sat there, or vice versa. But I've always been really uncoordinated. :-)
ess
I think it was you who posted the world's best natural constipation remedy, wasn't it? Or called something like that. Bran and prune juice and other things that can be frozen into ice cubes and added to tea or other drinks. I sent my friend the recipe and it has really helped her. Haven't heard any more about the problem since then.
For me, based on my uro report, I seem to have floppy bladder, coupled with a little confusion in the urination headquarters. Either the bladder would contract and the sphincter just sat there, or vice versa. But I've always been really uncoordinated. :-)
ess
bumping this up for Quix - wondering her thoughts on what we have all posted so far.
Hugs,
Chrisy
Hugs,
Chrisy
Was that fun, or what? :o) Thanks, Quix, I thoroughly enjoyed the explanation and the giggles. A friend called when I was reading it; I read her part of it, and I think she laughed so hard she may have been looking around for a nutshell!
I also have the stop and start flow of urine, and some leakage. My awesome urogynecologist did a lot of testing, and couldn't find any reason for any of my probems, though she said that the reasons don't always show up right away in a neurogenic bladder situation.
One of the suggestion she had for the leakage was a possible diverticulum in the urethra (little pocket in the side of the tube that the urine comes out through) that could retain some urine, which is then pushed out when I stand up.
I had a pelvic MRI with contrast, and it didn't show any diverticulum. It was interesting to see in the report " There are several T2 hyperintense lesions withing the lower uterine segment which is likely to represent small nabothian cysts." Those are just a benign incidental finding, but I thought "gee, I've got glowing spots at both ends!" :o)
Kathy
I also have the stop and start flow of urine, and some leakage. My awesome urogynecologist did a lot of testing, and couldn't find any reason for any of my probems, though she said that the reasons don't always show up right away in a neurogenic bladder situation.
One of the suggestion she had for the leakage was a possible diverticulum in the urethra (little pocket in the side of the tube that the urine comes out through) that could retain some urine, which is then pushed out when I stand up.
I had a pelvic MRI with contrast, and it didn't show any diverticulum. It was interesting to see in the report " There are several T2 hyperintense lesions withing the lower uterine segment which is likely to represent small nabothian cysts." Those are just a benign incidental finding, but I thought "gee, I've got glowing spots at both ends!" :o)
Kathy
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