Bladder spasm

A bladder spasm is an acute spasmodic pain which arises from the bladder.

Bladder spasms are usually experienced by children following ureteric reimplantation surgery.

In spite of adequate post-operative analgesia, such as an epidural or an opioid infusion, bladder spasms remain a problem. Bladder spasms are traumatic for the child and a cause of frustration for hospital staff and anxious parents who find it difficult to deal with the fact that a child is in excruciating pain in spite of being on strong analgesia.

A bladder spasm is also a common symptom of ageing in both men and women. Its daily cycle of intensity often reaches a peak at about 3 AM. It can be treated with anticholineurgic medicines which relax the bladder muscles, but these also relax bowel muscles and may contribute to constipation, and other side effects.

Bladder spasms can also be caused by infection, interstitial cystitis (IC) as well droopy bladder syndrome.

It should not be confused with an enlarged prostate which also causes urinary frequency but also causes a weak stream, which spasms do not.