It is an embarrassing situation when you have an urge to pass urine, but you may not be able to void immediately due to various reasons. The result is you have a distended bladder with mild pain in lower abdomen. Often we all come across such situation mostly while traveling. We only feel relieved after emptying our bladder.
However, apart from these normal phenomenon that we sometime face, there are many pathological conditions that may cause distended bladder. There may be an urge to pass urine, but the person may not be able to pass urine or if at all, he may void minimal quantity. This typical presentation is found in retention of urine, which leads to distension of bladder. Distension of bladder is a result of large accumulation of urine.
Bladder distension can occur primarily due to two main reasons:
Following are some important causes:
Urinary tract causes:
Neurological:
Damage to nerves which control bladder contraction and relaxation to empty the collected urine may be a cause for distended bladder. These nerves can get compressed and damaged as a result of spinal cord compression, spinal cord tumor, or injury to spinal cord. Infection of spinal cord such as pott’s disease can also compress the spinal nerves and become a cause for bladder distention.
In females, compression of bladder as a result of ovarian tumor or uterine fibroid or pelvic cyst may also cause distention of bladder.
Certain drugs such as smooth muscle relaxants, antihistamines, anesthetic drugs, can cause bladder enlargement.
In neurological causes there may be associated symptoms such as weakness in muscles, pins and needles in limbs, decreased muscle tone etc.
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I am a 45 year old female. I just returned from a five days trip. My bladder feels full. I have the urge to urinate but cannot empty it fully at one time. I have to go the bathroom 4- 5 times to empty my bladder. What is the solution?
Your symptoms indicate urinary tract infection as one of the most probable cause. It may happen when you go out on a journey or an outing. You may not find a suitable place to void and you hold on for a long time. This may precipitate the growth of bacteria and urinary tract infection.
• Drink plenty of water and fluids as it will flush out the bacteria.
• Drink cranberry juice or coconut water.
• Send a sample of urine in a laboratory for routine examination.
• If bacteria are found in urine test, consult your doctor and take the recommended antibiotics.