Atony of the bladder: what is it? In medicine, this term refers to the weakening of the walls of the bladder. The most striking symptom of the disease is the lack of control over the process of urination, and this is a huge discomfort and inability to lead a normal lifestyle.
This unpleasant process occurs against the background of damage to the nerves that connect the spinal cord and the bladder, resulting in urinary incontinence. Timely seeking medical help gives great chances for a full recovery.
The prevalence and causes of pathology in women
In the female half of humanity, atony is diagnosed more often. This is due to the fact that hormonal changes often occur in the female body. So after childbirth, many mothers observe urinary incontinence. According to statistics, 25% of women giving birth have symptoms of this disease. However, in no case should you let everything go by its own accord, if incontinence lasts more than two months after childbirth, you should consult a gynecologist, it is possible that urinary treatment is required immediately.
Secondary causes of the development of the disease in women
In addition to pathologies associated with postpartum activity, atony in women can develop against the background of other ailments:
- injuries in the perineum;
- obesity;
- chronic cystitis;
- surgical operations;
- kidney and liver stones;
- constant stress, depression;
- inflammation of the mucous membrane of the organ;
- age-related changes;
- menopause
- stretching in the sacral region.
The disease can manifest itself not only with frequent urges to urinate, but also with the almost complete disappearance of those, sometimes they arise so unexpectedly that a woman simply does not have time to get to the toilet.
Causes of the disease in men
Atony of the bladder in men, although it rarely happens, but still occurs. Most often this occurs against the background of spinal cord injuries, especially if they occur in the lumbar region. After all, it is in this area that the roots are located that allow you to control the process of urination.
Often, the causes of the appearance of pathology are nervous diseases.
Injuries in the genitourinary system can also provoke the development of atony. A problem may occur with prostate adenoma.
Disease in the elderly
In old age, the muscular walls of the bladder weaken, the pelvic floor also loses its elasticity. Against this background, almost all elderly people observe symptoms of atony of the bladder.
Most often, those who have Alzheimer's disease are also diagnosed with atony.
Childhood disorders
In rare cases, atony can be diagnosed at an early age. And the cause of this condition is a congenital anomaly. It is impossible to cure such a pathology, you can only alleviate the condition with special devices. In children, against the background of damage to the central nervous system, urinary incontinence can also occur.
Incontinence in childhood (up to 2-2.5 years) is a common phenomenon. However, if the child has already learned to control the process, and there is no history of a diagnosis of spinal cord or head injury, then this is a dangerous “bell”, which may indicate that there are lesions of the nervous system. As in adults, in children the symptoms of atony can manifest as incontinence or delay in urine. Often this disease leads to the appearance of cystitis.
Parents should pay special attention to what time of day incontinence manifests itself, what regularity and frequency of episodes, whether there are related factors. And, of course, immediately seek medical help.
Clinical picture
The most common symptom of atony of the bladder is involuntary urination. Most often this happens during laughter, physical exertion or when crying. The patient may be disturbed by pulling pains in the lower abdomen.
And there may be a reverse situation when a person has no urge to urinate. Simply put, the brain does not receive a signal that it is necessary to empty the organ. Other people have false desires.
There may also be problems with the process of urine excretion itself, the trickle can be very thin or excreted in drops, and only with tension in the abdominal muscles. It may seem to the patient that the organ is not completely empty after going to the toilet.
Symptoms are directly related to the department that is damaged. If the sphincter is weakened, then uncontrolled urine production occurs. If everything is fine with the sphincter, and the problem is in the musculature of the walls of the organ, then the patient has to make efforts to empty the organ.
Diagnostic measures
If bladder atony symptoms appear, what should I do? It is natural to immediately consult a doctor and undergo all the necessary examinations. To identify the root causes of the disease are assigned:
- general urine analysis, culture on bacteria;
- Ultrasound of the genitourinary and excretory systems;
- CT scan.
After receiving the results of the analyzes, you will need to consult specialized specialists: a gynecologist, a neurologist and others.
Diagnosis of atony of the bladder involves special examinations, for example, urofluometry. This technique allows you to determine the volume of output urine and flow rate. Cystometry is also often performed. This examination involves the introduction of a catheter into the bladder and filling it with a warm solution. Then the patient is asked to say when he begins unbearable urge to remove urine. At this moment, the intravesical pressure is measured, as well as what volume will be withdrawn.
Therapies
The results of treatment for atony of the bladder completely depend on how the patient relates to the problem. Simply put, if the patient will responsibly treat the doctor’s recommendations, perform all the indications, then the chance of a cavity to recover is very large.
The main emphasis in the treatment of atony is placed on the process of strengthening the pelvic muscles, and, as a result, the resumption of the ability to control the process of urination.
Drug therapy
Depending on the underlying cause, symptomatic therapy is prescribed. Each patient is assigned only an individual course of treatment. Drugs may be prescribed to treat atony of the bladder:
- antidepressants;
- calcium antagonists;
- myotropic drugs;
- anticholinergic drugs.
If the patient has a persistent delay in the process of urination, then antibacterial agents are prescribed, since there is a huge risk of developing a bacterial infection.
Most often, the drug "Kalimin" (calcium antagonist) is used in drug therapy. However, it is not allowed to take the drug on its own, since it has a huge list of contraindications. In particular, it should not be taken in the presence of bronchial asthma, during breastfeeding, for children under 16 years of age, with a history of thyrotoxicosis, intestinal obstruction, and in some other cases. The drug is not recommended for use in diabetes. In addition to contraindications, Kalimin has many side effects: muscle weakness, vomiting, rash on the body, diarrhea, decreased blood pressure, and so on. When treating with this drug, alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Kegel exercises
The essence of these exercises is that they allow you to strengthen the muscles in the pelvic floor and stop stressful, uncontrolled urine output. You can do the exercises almost anywhere, in transport and on the bed, at work and at home.
This technique for treating atony of the bladder is exactly the same for both sexes.
The exercises are very simple: you need to alternately strain and relax the muscles that are involved in the process of urination. You need to start from 3 seconds, gradually increase the relaxation time and tension to 20 seconds.
Exercises are done 3-5 times throughout the day, 10 times. In women, such exercises resemble attempts to push the fetus out. In men, you can compare with the attempts that they do, being in the toilet in a sitting position.
Improvements after gymnastics can already be noticed at 3 or 4 weeks, but on condition that it will be carried out regularly.
Dietary nutrition and physiotherapy
How to treat atony of the bladder? Have to rethink your diet. First of all, give up alcohol, as it irritates the mucous membranes of the walls of the bladder. To products irritants also include: spices, tomatoes, milk, citrus fruits and chocolate.
Patients are advised to consume pumpkin seeds, even in unlimited quantities. Even if pumpkin seeds do not help completely get rid of the problem, in any case they will strengthen the effect of herbs and physiotherapeutic procedures.
In the treatment of atony, peripheral electrical stimulation may be used. The main goal of this physiotherapeutic procedure is to stimulate the work of muscles and nerves.
Good results in strengthening the pelvic muscles can be achieved if you regularly visit the pool.
Pessary catheterization and placement
Bladder atony can be treated with a catheter. However, this procedure requires special precautions so that bacteria do not enter the body, so the technique is used only in extreme cases. There are two types of catheter: soft and hard. The last device can only be entered by medical personnel.
Removing the device is done until the bladder is completely empty so that urine flushes the urethra.
Treatment of atony of the bladder in women can be carried out using a pessary. This is a special device that is inserted into the vagina. The pessary creates additional pressure than regulates the normal process of urination.
Hardware therapy
Not the least role in the treatment of atony of the bladder is played by hardware treatment. A sufficiently high efficiency is shown by the Vitafon apparatus. With it, the nutrition of tissues improves, blood flow in the capillaries is restored. The procedure allows you to normalize the lymph flow in the pelvic organs and improve nerve conduction.
Positive results can be achieved by using DENS-therapy. The main effect of therapy is to stimulate smooth muscle, relieve spasms and improve kidney function. This device allows you to reduce dysuric manifestations.
Behavioral therapy
This method of treatment can reduce the number of drugs, therefore, reduce the risk of side effects from their use.
The essence of behavioral therapy is to correct the urethra. It’s no secret to anyone that we are taught from childhood: go to the toilet before leaving the house, but is it always advisable? They explain to patients that on average a person should go to the toilet “little by little” from 7 to 8 times throughout the day. If urination occurs more often, then you should reconsider the drinking regimen or diet. Most likely, an excessive amount of water enters the body, and the food is too salty and spicy, which causes a feeling of thirst.
It is recommended to many patients to keep a diary and gradually learn to urinate at certain intervals. Such a diary allows a doctor to learn about the patient’s drinking regimen, and to learn about triggering factors. Simply put, behavioral therapy allows over time to increase the functional capacity of the bladder and lengthen the intervals between trips to the toilet, to prevent stretching of the walls of the bladder.
ethnoscience
Symptoms of atony of the bladder using herbs are treatable. Naturally, you do not need to abandon conservative therapy, but in parallel, after consulting with your doctor, use phytotherapy methods:
- The most popular recipe for this pathology: burdock, licorice root, birch leaves are mixed in the same proportions. Three tablespoons are placed in a thermos and poured with boiling water (1 liter). Insist broth and consume daily.
- Dill seeds are recommended. One tablespoon of seeds is poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted for 3 hours. After the tincture has cooled, it is drunk at a time.
- You can prepare a decoction from a shepherd’s bag. In one glass, three tablespoons of grass are bred, insisted for 20 minutes, filtered and drunk throughout the day, distributing the tincture in 4 doses. The course of treatment is 14-21 days.
- It is recommended to take baths with the addition of herbal decoctions. In this case, it is better to do not a common bath, but a local one. The broth can be made from horsetail. 2 grams of water will require 150 grams of horsetail. The mixture is cooked for 30 minutes over low heat. After that, the mixture is filtered and added to the bath. You can use the resulting broth for wraps or compresses.
- Treatment for women with atony of the bladder is often carried out using sage and chamomile, these are the herbs that allow you to quickly remove the symptoms of the inflammatory process.
- A good anti-inflammatory effect from baths with field herbs, which best help if the pathology is a consequence of a stressful situation. Half a kilogram of herbs will require 5 liters of water, all the flowers are mixed, and boil for 20 minutes. After this, the composition should be filtered and added to the bath, in which you can sit or lie down for about 20-25 minutes.
Surgical intervention
If conservative, apparatus therapy and traditional medicine did not give positive results in the treatment of atony of the bladder in men and women, then there is only one way out - surgery. Such operations may be performed under local or general anesthesia.
Despite the fact that such operations have been carried out for quite some time, they still have a huge list of complications. There is a huge risk that other organs and nerve endings will be damaged during the surgery, which will cause a worsening of the condition.
Danger and forecast
To cure any disease, you should find out the cause of its appearance and eliminate it. If the cause is identified, and it can be eliminated in a certain time, then the prognosis for recovery is positive. In other cases, if the cause of atony cannot be eliminated, for example, if there was a serious injury or the disease is a genetic disorder, then you will have to use modern hygiene products that will eliminate the consequences of the disease.
If conservative therapy does not give a positive effect, then you will have to resort to the services of a surgeon.
Preventive actions
If there are factors in life that can cause atony of the bladder, then prophylaxis should be carried out immediately. First of all, you should strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor with the help of Kegel gymnastics. Avoid hypothermia of the pelvic organs, monitor your weight and prevent obesity. Women are not recommended to give birth frequently; at least 2 years should pass between pregnancies.
It is also recommended to refuse diuretic drinks: coffee and alcohol, carbonated drinks. It is better to drink juices and fruit teas. After 40 years, it is recommended that all people pay special attention to strengthening the muscular muscles of the organ, since with each year the symptoms of the developing disease will only increase.