Are bladder control issues making it difficult to take on your everyday life with confidence?
Today I want to dive into a crucial yet often overlooked topic: bladder function, especially concerning Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Bladder issues are common (not only for those with MS) but for many of us as we navigate our bodies growing older.
Unfortunately, there's a lot of embarrassment and discomfort surrounding this topic - it shouldn’t be this way. Let’s break the silence, understand the challenges, and explore effective treatments and exercises.
Bladder symptoms of MS are often due to lesions in specific areas of the brain or spinal cord. These lesions can disrupt the signals between the brain and bladder, leading to various urinary problems. Here are some common bladder symptoms:
While the symptoms above can happen to anyone (not just those who have bladder control as a symptom of MS) neurogenic bladder is a type of condition that occurs in those with neurological and demyelinating diseases, like MS.
So what is a neurogenic bladder? This symptom occurs when there’s a disconnect between the nerves and the bladder, causing potential leakage, urinary tract infections, and if not properly diagnosed and managed, kidney damage.
While these symptoms can be uncomfortable, there are treatments available. If you’re looking for additional guidance on what methods would be best for you, I highly recommend talking to a urologist.
While these exercises and guidelines can help manage symptoms, it’s crucial to get a personalized assessment from a pelvic floor physical therapist. They can identify specific issues and tailor exercises to your needs.
Bladder symptoms in MS are a significant concern that shouldn’t be ignored. By discussing these issues openly and seeking appropriate treatment, you can improve your quality of life and reduce the risk of complications. Don’t hesitate to talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms and explore the best strategies for you.
While your symptoms of MS bladder control are unique, there are a few general guidelines I recommend to my clients as a start to follow when trying to identify individual symptoms:
Exercise may seem counterintuitive for bladder control, but specific exercises can greatly help manage MS bladder symptoms. Here’s how different types of exercises can help:
When these muscles are tight, they can make bladder problems worse (even leaking!). Stretching keeps these muscles flexible, helping to reduce tension and discomfort.
Targeted exercises, specifically pelvic floor exercises, strengthen the muscles that support your bladder. These exercises can reduce problems like urgency, frequency, and incontinence.
By doing these exercises and stretches regularly, you can manage your bladder symptoms better to help improve your quality of life. I always recommend consulting a pelvic floor specialist or physical therapist as well to ensure you exercise right for your body and specific symptoms.
While the idea of exercise to treat MS bladder control may sound ineffective, I can attest many of my clients have achieved a lot of success. The exercises I will walk you through today work on strengthening the muscles needed to help control your bladder to make daily life feel easier.
If you’re looking to see endless podcasts, exercises, and support for your MS symptoms, check out my YouTube channel - Dr. Gretchen Hawley - for additional guidance.
This exercise helps relax the pelvic floor and improve bladder control.
1. Sit comfortably with good posture.
2. Place your hands on your lower belly.
3. Inhale through your nose, allowing your belly to expand.
4. Exhale through pursed lips, letting your belly fall.
5. Repeat for 20 - 30 reps. This exercise is great because it can be done every day!
This exercise helps to strengthen your glute muscles to support bladder function.
1. Sit in a chair with your feet and knees touching.
2. Open your knees as wide as possible without moving your feet.
3. Squeeze your glute muscles at the end of the movement.
4. Relax and close your knees.
5. Repeat for 20 reps. Try to do this exercise 3-4 times a week.
This exercise helps to strengthen your inner thighs and pelvic floor.
1. Place a small ball or your fists between your knees.
2. Squeeze your knees together and hold for 3 seconds.
3. Relax.
4. Repeat for 20 reps. Try to do this exercise 3-4 times a week.
This exercise helps to stretch the muscles around the pelvic floor to alleviate tightness.
1. Begin in a seated position.
2. Cross one ankle over the opposite knee.
3. Sit up tall and hinge/lean forward at the hips.
4. Hold the stretch for 20-30 seconds and switch sides.
5. Repeat on each side. This stretch can be done every day as well!
This exercise is a gentle stretch for the entire back and pelvic area.
1. Sit with your feet flat on the floor.
2. Place your hands on your knees and round your back.
3. Let your head and arms hang forward.
4. Hold the stretch and return to an upright position. This exercise is great because it can be done every day!
While MS bladder control can feel like a difficult symptom to talk about, you are not alone. As a physical therapist specializing in MS, my goal is to support anyone experiencing the symptoms of MS on their journey to reclaiming independence.
To help strengthen your core to better control your bladder symptoms due to MS, I highly recommend utilizing with my Total Core Program! Together, we will work through simple movements that can create a stronger core to make moving, posture, and back pain much more manageable.
Do you have any further questions on how Cadense shoes can help walking with hip drop? Please let me know in the comments or DM me on Instagram @doctor.gretchen.
Do the “pins and needles” in your body make it difficult to take on everyday life? While tingling can be uncomfortable, and even painful at times, there are ways to manage it. Read all the details relating to MS tingling and more importantly, how to manage it correctly here.
Dr. Gretchen Hawley's The MSing Link offers a comprehensive guide to taking control of your MS symptoms and improving your mobility through MS-specific exercises and strategies.
6000+ copies sold in over 13 countries!
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As a physical therapist & Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist, I have spent the last 10 years teaching people with MS how to feel more confident & empowered through MS-specific exercises and strategies.
If you want support and encouragement, plus a healthy dose of tough love, come follow me on Instagram (@doctor.gretchen) or on YouTube @DoctorGretchenHawley. It's where I share daily tips, tricks, and information about new offers — plus, you’re bound to feel more empowered, hopeful, & motivated after watching each post and video!
Questions? Email me at Hello@DoctorGretchenHawley.com