Neurogenic Bladder?

[notmybestday]

Hi all --

I've been doing some heavy internet reading, and I'm wondering about this condition called neurogenic bladder and its connection to IC.

I ask because I can't feel my bladder anymore. The only indication I have of having to pee is irritation and pressure at the very tip of my urethral area. And when the urethral sensations are absent for some reason or another, I get nothing from my bladder, only this vaguely heavy sensation in my back. And this is hours after I've drank a good two cups of water and should definitely be feeling some kind of urge, based on my small capacity.

I am also unable to fully empty my bladder most of the time, which I read is a symptom of neurogenic bladder.

Granted, I have no history of spinal injury (just scoliosis) which seems to generate this kind of condition. Is neurogenic bladder possible without these kind of preconditions though? Is it possible that the inflammation from IC caused some kind of nerve damage as well?

I mentioned this to my uro, but he absolutely discredited nerve damage. Is this something that would have become apparent during urodynamics and cystoscopy/hydrodistention?

Yes, as you can tell, this has made me quite paranoid.

Any answers or input would be appreciated.

[Claredale]

I know my doctor checked for any nerve damage to my spine since I had fallen into a 3 to 4 foot hole (just one leg went in the hole) a couple years before my IC symptoms started, but I mainly hurt my neck, not my lower back, so after an "attempt" of an MRI. I freaked out and they couldn't do it, but they did a number of x-rays.

So their may be something to it being associated with IC.

[SharonA]

Take a look at the information here: http://www.ic-network.com/whatisinterstitialcystitis/
paying special to the part about neuroinflammation and neurosensitization.

[Sarojini]

Your urodynamic evaluation would have pointed to neurogenic bladder if you had it... this is one of the things urodynamic evaluations are designed to pick up. Sometimes doctors will check the lower spine during an IC workup, like they did for Tracey, but it's usually only if you report having had an accident or back injury - or if your doctor is super thorough.

It is possible to have IC and a neurogenic bladder at the same time, but the conditions are usually not related. The nerve damage in neurogenic bladder cases is "higher up" the nerve, near the spine... and nerve damage from IC is usually localized within the nerve endings of the bladder.

Two different etiologies....

[jen74]

I believe anything is possible. I have motility issues which are neuropathic as well. I also have frineds who have gastroparesis so bad they are on feeding tubes since their stomachs will no longer work at all, and they do not have diabetes, or any other disease that would or could cause this. They then call it an idiopathic disease origin, meaning there is no known cause as to why it happened. I honestly do not think you nessasarily have to have a spinal injury or MS to get these issues, they can just happen. I am so sorry you have to deal with this. I pray you will get some help and answers.
Jen

[Silverfox]

I have a low thyroid and this has caused me to suffer with some neurological damage, and I suffer with gastroparesis of the stomach and my entire digestive system. Gastroparesis (paralzed stomach muscles, means food stays in the stomach for several hours) is the result of damage to the vagus nerve which controls movement of food through the digestive system. Another name for this type of nerve damage is dysautonomia. I do not have any inflamation in my bladder and I also suffer with neurological damage in my bladder, and both my sensory nerves (nerve endings that send warning to your brain that they are damaged) and autonomic nerves are affected.

For the gastroparesis, It helps me to eat small meals and to eat soft foods and avoid some high-fat and high fiber foods. The autonomic nerves control many glands and important organs and the vagus nerve is one of the more important nerves in the body as it stretches from your brain to the colon.

I hope my input is helpful.

If you think you have any nerve damage, it is extremely important to know what the cause is, as if your Doctor knows the cause the damage process can be halted or slowed way down! Sometimes with good care and treatment for the basic cause the nerves can regenerate and recover to normal function of the organs and or glands involved.!!!