When there is damage to the nerves that allow a person to control when they urinate the bladder fills, but the person has no sensation that they need to empty their bladder. When the bladder becomes overfull, it will eventually empty on its own, which is called reflex urinary incontinence. This type of incontinence is most commonly found in people who have a spinal cord injury, suffered a stroke, have Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis or have a brain tumor.
People suffering from reflex incontinence are unable to control the release of urine from the bladder, and it can occur when the bladder contracts involuntarily causing urine to leak. This type of incontinence can be diagnosed by a gynecologist, urologist, or family doctor.
There are several different types of tests that your doctor may request to determine the cause of your incontinence problem including a physical exam, urinalysis, x-rays or cystoscopy. Your doctor may ask you to keep a journal of your urination schedule and to note when urinary leakage occurs.
Your doctor may choose to do an IVP, which is a specialized procedure that injects contrast dye before x-raying internal organs. The test is looking for blockages or obstructive growths that may cause the reflex incontinence.
A cystoscopy involves your urologist inserting a thin tube into your urethra to check for abnormalities that may be causing the reflex incontinence. They may also choose to take a biopsy of any suspect tissue that they encounter.
If the reason for your reflex urinary incontinence is unknown, you will want to have a medical professional diagnose you as soon as possible. Aside from being inconvenient and annoying, it may be warning you of some more sinister problem lurking in the shadows. By having your doctor properly diagnose your problem, you will be able to start a course of treatment to manage and maybe even cure your problem.
As your doctor is working on properly diagnosing the cause of your reflex urinary incontinence, the right incontinence products can free you from the worry of having accidental leakage in public. Incontinence pads come in many different sizes and absorbencies to deal with any problem from mild to severe. DryForLife supplies a variety of incontinence products, which may be ordered online and discreetly delivered to you.
Further Incontinence Articles
- Infection as a Cause of Bladder Incontinence
- Definitions of Incontinence
- Childbirth and Incontinence in Women
- Making Sense of Mixed Urinary Incontinence
- Looking at Urinary Incontinence in General Terms
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Tags: Incontinence, Incontinence Pads, incontinence products, reflex urinary incontinence, Urinary Incontinence, urinary leakage
