Management of bladder problems in patients with multiple sclerosis

Bladder problems are a common feature in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Many patients experience distressing symptoms such as frequency, urgency and incontinence, unaware of the range of treatments which are available to either overcome or manage their bladder problems. While patients with MS may experience many types of bladder dysfunction, certain types of problem are more common in this patient group. These problems can be grouped under the headings of storage, emptying or combined dysfunction. Community nurses are well-placed to offer methods of containment by providing first-line treatment as well as identifying which patients need to be referred to other members of the multidisciplinary team.