A while ago I wrote a post saying how having an infection that left me bed-bound was the worst thing about spinal cord injury. I said I wasn't too bothered by bladder leaks: they're "unpleasant but washing machines are a godsend". How wrong could I be?
This post is about bladders and bodily fluids. Those of a sensitive or nervous disposition should read no further and click here instead.
Damage to your spinal cord usually (though not always) affects your bladder. The signal that passes from your bladder to your brain can no longer get through so you don't know when you need to urinate. Voiding just happens by itself when the bladder gets too full. Voiding can also be caused by spasms. If you really want to know the (unpleasant) details, read this.
There are many and varied ways of managing your bladder after a spinal cord injury. I use several, but none are totally effective. And that means lot of leaking. At the moment, I have to change trousers at least once a day. I'm often waking up at night in a pool of urine. There's the smell too. It's depressing In the extreme. It's not so bad if the leaks happen at home: they're fairly easy to fix. But when I'm out, it's a complete nightmare.
There are some dramatic surgical options, one of which involves cutting the spinal cord. I've been trying alternatives, but the situation at the moment is quickly becoming unbearable. It may be time to go under the knife again.
