Managing bladder symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). The cause is still unknown but there is evidence that suggests there is an autoimmune component to the disease that causes damage to the myelin sheath, a complex material that surrounds the axon of myelinated nerves (Fig 1). It affects 100-120 people per 100,000 population, approximately 75 per cent of whom will develop urinary symptoms (NICE, 2003). Bladder problems usually occur when the disease involves the spinal cord (Fig 2) and these can get worse as the disease progresses and the patient becomes less mobile. Bladder symptoms affect many aspects of daily life and their management is extremely important. As the disease progresses and symptoms worsen, a well-planned strategy can offer patients the most effective pathway to manage their bladder problems.