Botox injections are a popular cosmetic treatment method involving injecting a toxin produced by clostridium botulinum into the skin to reduce wrinkles.
While some people may find this procedure invasive, it is relatively safe when administered correctly by an experienced medical professional. However, besides the facial treatments, botox injections help treat ongoing bladder continence.
Ongoing bladder continence issues may manifest in frequent urinary tract infections, incontinence, and nocturia. These conditions can cause chronic discomfort, embarrassment, and physical pain for the affected individuals.
It is essential for people living with these ongoing issues to maintain a healthy lifestyle, practice good hygiene, and seek medical advice from qualified professionals. Botox treatment relaxes the detrusor muscle responsible for the involuntary contraction of the bladder, resulting in improved continence control.
What Happens When You Have an Overactive Bladder?
With an overactive bladder, muscles contract too often and more forcefully than usual. It can result in a frequent and urgent need to urinate. People with overactive bladder may also experience stress incontinence and urine leakage when coughing, sneezing, or engaging in other activities.
Other symptoms include-
- Frequency and urgency to urinate.
- Increased frequency of urinary leakage.
- Feeling of a stressed bladder.
- Incontinence or unintentional urine loss.
The exact cause of this condition is unclear. Possible causes include neurological disorders, bladder irritants like caffeine, alcohol, acidic foods, or aging.
You must visit your doctor to determine the underlying cause if you have an overactive bladder. Depending on the cause, a doctor may prescribe treatments such as medication to reduce contractions or bladder retraining to increase bladder capacity. More invasive treatments, such as injections or surgery, are recommended in severe cases.
Preventative measures such as cutting caffeine and alcohol, avoiding spicy and acidic foods, and doing pelvic floor exercises may help reduce symptoms. Additionally, lifestyle changes such as reducing stress and practicing mindfulness can inhibit symptom severity.
How Do Botox Injections Cure Bladder Continence?
Botox is a type of toxin produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. When doctors inject it into specific muscles, it causes temporary paralysis, controlling the urinary bladder.
The injection is usually performed in the clinic by a qualified doctor who knows the bladder’s anatomy and lowers the urinary tract. The doctor injects small doses of botox into the bladder muscle to paralyze the muscle, reducing frequent and urgent urination problems.
Injections in Botox Treatment
The main action of botox on the bladder is detrusor overactivity, which causes a rapid, sustained, and often painful bladder muscle contraction.Botox weakens this contraction and allows the bladder to relax and fill up with urine. It relieves bladder symptoms such as leaking urine (urinary incontinence) and frequent urination (urinary frequency).
Currently, two primary botox injections work treat bladder continence: intradetrusor injections and transurethral injections. Intradetrusor injections are placed directly into the bladder wall and are used for treating urinary incontinence due to “overactive” bladder muscles. These injections effectively reduce involuntary urine leakage to improve the urine holding capacity for extended periods.
Transurethral injections are usually only used when intradetrusor injections do not provide sufficient relief. This injection is inserted through the urethra and the bladder wall. Once the needle is locked, the doctor injects a small amount of botox into the muscle. This injection weakens the muscles and reduces bladder symptoms.
Advantages of Botox Injections in Curing Urinary Continence
- Convenient Treatment
Botox is an injection-based solution that is convenient, non-invasive, and quick to administer. After an initial discussion and approval from your doctor, you will be injected within minutes to avoid surgical procedures or extended recovery times.
- Long Lasting Results
Botox’s effects are long-lasting, besides the fast relief benefit from urinary continence symptoms. Therefore, those treated with botox are relieved from ailments for an extended period.
- Effective and Painless Treatment
Botox injections can help improve your bladder’s functionality by decreasing the sphincter muscles’ tone. It helps reduce pressure while emptying your bladder without experiencing pain.
- No Complications
Botox injections can also help reduce the risk of complications due to urinary continence. Strengthening the muscles that regulate bladder control can help reduce future risks, such as urinary tract infections.
- Cost-Effective
When compared to surgery or other techniques to treat urinary continence, botox injections are incredibly cost-effective. For a lower price, you can enjoy long-lasting relief from your urinary continence symptoms with minimal fuss or expense.
Post-Treatment Tips
Here are a few post-treatment care tips to help ensure you maintain your bladder control:
1. Wear a bladder control pad – Wear bladder control pads to help manage daytime bladder leakage. These pads absorb any leakage and help to improve your overall bladder control.
2. Regular Exercise – Exercise helps strengthen your pelvic floor muscles to maintain the effects of botox treatments work.
3. Avoid certain foods – Caffeinated beverages, acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits(lemon, oranges) and alcohol can irritate the bladder and worsen urine incontinence.
4. Drink plenty of water – Drinking eight glasses can keep your bladder and urinary tract healthy while reducing urine acidity
5. Reduce your stress levels – Stress triggers bladder contractions and worsens urinary incontinence. Hence, it’s essential to reduce and manage your stress levels.
These post-treatment care tips should help maintain your botox injections’ effectiveness and improve your continence.
Risks of Botox Injection Treatment
- Urinary Tract Infections
Botox relaxes the bladder muscles, which leads to urinary tract infections. It is due to the reduced bladder pressure caused by the bacterial presence after the treatment. UTIs are prevented by practicing good hygiene habits.
- Urine Leakage
Botox injections can weaken the bladder leading to unintended urinary leakage. You can compound it further if muscle toning treatments are performed simultaneously with the injections.
- Bladder Spasms
Botox treatments can sometimes result in bladder spasms, causing uncomfortable sensations.
- Adverse Reactions
As with all medications, there is a risk of allergic reactions or other adverse side effects from the botox injections. In some cases, possible side effects can include nausea, vomiting, the response of the eyes and throat to the injection, and muscle weakness.
- Nerve Damage
If a doctor injects botox improperly, it can lead to nerve damage and other complications, such as bladder numbness.
- Frequent Urination
Botox treatments can increase urine frequency. Though the risk is minor and usually goes away after a few weeks.
- Pain
Pain or a burning sensation may occur during and immediately after the injections and can last several days.
Conclusion
It is vital for people affected by frequent urinary tract infections, incontinence, and nocturia to maintain a healthy lifestyle, practice good hygiene, and seek medical treatment advice from a qualified professional. Furthermore, Botox injections can also help relax the detrusor muscle responsible for the involuntary and help reduce the risk of developing more severe complications.
With the proper diagnosis, lifestyle modifications, and treatments, people suffering from bladder continence issues can manage and even overcome their condition, improving their quality of life. At Nortex Spine & Joint Institute, we strive to provide you with the best treatment for any medical condition. Contact us today to learn more about our Botox injection service for bladder continence.
