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Lower motor neuron damage

Lower motor neuron damage or autonomous bladder

This type of bladder dysfunction occurs if the spinal cord damage occurs at or below the so called sacral micturition centre S2-S4. The connection to the central nervous system is broken, resulting in the loss of the reflex arc between the bladder and the spinal cord.

Characteristics:

  • No feeling of "needing to pee" in the case of complete damage.
  • Bladder muscle has little or no emptying strength.
  • The bladder is often stretched and overfull.
  • Residual urine that can lead to incontinence and UTI.
  • The pressure in the sphincter muscle is often low, which leads to urine incontinence when pressure in the abdomen increases, for example when coughing, sneezing or during physical exertion.