SCI Health Series: SCI & Your Bladder

If you ask anyone who’s paralyzed what’s the number one thing that drives them crazy about their injury, most would say their bladder. The bladder is a muscle and when you become paralyzed, this too is affected. And it’s not easy to figure this out at first. However with practice, and trial and error, finding a happy place where you can manage your bladder and live a healthy life can be done.

The level of your injury of course has a lot of sway over what kind of cath products, and the method you end up choosing. Below we’ve outlined the most important bladder tips to know for both quadriplegics and paraplegics. Feel free to add yours in the comments below.

Quadriplegic Bladder Care

There are a lot of catheterization options for quadriplegics since their independence level can vary. For quadriplegics without arm movement, they will use an indwelling catheter – either a Foley catheter (inserted into the urethra and kept in place with an inflated saline-filled balloon) or a Super Pubic catheter (a surgically-created hole in the lower abdomen that goes to the bladder, specifically made for catheter placement), that is attached to a leg bag. Combined with an automatic leg bag opener, many high-level quads can be completely independent with their bladders by pairing these two things.

Having an indwelling catheter however lends itself to longterm bladder issues, such as an increased occurrence of UTIs and it’s also been reported to cause bladder cancer after long-term use. The main thing to remember however is that no matter the kind of catheterization method you use, drink plenty of water (up to 8 cups a day). The more water you drink, the more you will flush out your bladder.

When it comes to catheter options for quadriplegics with some arm movement, many opt to get a surgery that puts a hole into their bladder that can be accessed via their bellybutton. This is called the Mitroffanoff procedure and it allows quadriplegics to no longer use a leg bag and be free of indwelling catheters (for those who cannot undress and cath themselves the “normal” way).

Paraplegic Bladder Care

For paraplegics, male or female, most end up using a straight catheter to empty their bladder by inserting it directly into their urethra. This is an easy and no-fuss (no surgery required) option, and with minimal supplies needed.

Straight cathing, even for a female paraplegic, can be done quite easily. Many women will transfer out of their wheelchairs and onto a toilet to do it in public, but many will opt to wait to do it at home. Male paras, and many lower level male quads, straight cath themselves directly in their chairs.

Tips for All

– Flushing the bladder keeps it clear of sentiment and bad bacteria. Many will irrigate their bladder with saline on a daily basis to help completely flush it out. Saline (make sure to get a generous prescription) and a 60 cc syringe is all you’ll need to flush most catheters.

– Avoid soda and alcohol. Both of these can wreak havoc on your bladder

– Healthy eating promotes good bladder health.

– Get a Cytology test of your bladder each year to stay on top of bladder cancer (this tests the sediment?

What bladder care tips do you swear by?

Learn more

– Reeve Foundation Bladder Info

– Bladder Management, United Spinal Association

– Bladder Management Options 

Following Spinal Cord Injury, SCI Model System

Pressure Sore Prevention Videos

– Bladder Management After a Spinal Cord Injury

– Spinal Cord Injury ~ Are Your Bladder And Bowels Paralyzed?

– Bowl and bladder management

Photo courtesy of Steven Jacobo