BOTOX® for Bladder Control
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BOTOX® injections have become a successful way to treat bladder control problems like incontinence and overactive bladder if you’ve not had success with other treatment options.
The injections may be right for you if you suffer from any of the following:
- A sudden urge to urinate that is difficult to control
- Leakage of urine
- An involuntary loss of urine, as soon as you feel the need to urinate
- Frequent urination – up to eight or more times per day
- Wake up two or more times in the night to urinate
This treatment may help give you more time to get to the bathroom when you feel the need to urinate.
How it Works
Your urologist injects BOTOX into your bladder to help the muscles relax. The injections are done in our Spokane Urology office locations or sometimes in the operating room. Although the injections aren’t usually painful, you may have some short-term discomfort. Many patients have compared it to a cramp.
Symptom relief begins within the first few weeks, sometimes within a few days. The treatment results last about six months on average, although it can be longer or shorter in some patients. Once they are no longer effective you can come back for additional injections. One possible side effect is urine retention – not being able to empty the bladder completely, which may require a catheter to be placed.
BOTOX is not recommended for men with a risk or history of an enlarged prostate unless they have had this treated first.
When to Get Help
While incontinence is more common as we age, it is not a normal part of aging. Unfortunately, too many people wait too long to talk to their health care team about their symptoms. There are many different treatment options available which can have a positive impact on the quality of your life. BOTOX is one of them. Don’t hesitate to discuss your bladder control problems with your Spokane Urology provider.
