Why Have a Bladder Management Program?

Bladder Care and Management Sections

•    Function of the Urinary System
•    Function of the Urinary System After a Spinal Cord Injury
•    The Spastic (Reflex) and Flaccid Bladder
•    Reasons for Requiring a Bladder Management Program
•    Methods of Bladder Management and Care
•    Possible Urinary System Complications Following a Spinal Cord Injury

Reasons for Requiring a Bladder Management Program

A bladder management program will allow someone with a spinal cord injury to empty their bladder in a way that is acceptable to them. It will allow them to carry out day to day activities, work, and be socially active without having to worry  about incontinence issues.

By following a bladder management program, complications involving the bladder can be reduced, and an increased quality of life can be achieved by reducing the risk of bladder infections, kidney damage, skin sores and bladder accidents when socially active.

In people with a spinal cord injury of T6 and above, a condition called Autonomic Dysreflexia can occur when the bladder pressure become too high. Autonomic dysreflexia is a life threatening condition, and even at a mild onset, can seriously impair a persons quality of life. Following a bladder management program can greatly reduce the frequency of such occurrences.

As no two spinal cord injuries are alike, there are a number of factors which need to be considered when choosing a bladder management program. These factors mean that two people with the same injury, may have different bladder management programs, as there are many factors to consider on an individual basis.

Such factors to consider when choosing a bladder management program are:

The type of post spinal cord injury bladder
Physical barriers, ie, weight, fixation of the spine etc.
The level of spinal cord injury
The completeness of spinal cord injury
The gender of the patient
The spinal cord injured person’s preference
The long term goals of general rehabilitation
The spinal cord injured person’s manual dexterity
The mental condition of the patient
Pre-existing urinary conditions
The availability and expertise of Personal Assistants, carers, District Nurses etc.

Only when the above factors have been considered, can a bladder management program be prescribed for the spinal cord injured person concerned.

Read Next Section

Function of the Urinary System
Function of the Urinary System After a Spinal Cord Injury
The Spastic (Reflex) and Flaccid Bladder
Reasons for Requiring a Bladder Management Program
Methods of Bladder Management and Care
Possible Urinary System Complications Following a Spinal Cord Injury