Since bladder function is connected to three different levels of the CNS, it's not surprising that bladder problems are fairly common in MS. Urinary urgency and frequency are the most common symptoms. Other symptoms include difficulty initiating or completing urination and urinary incontinence. The management of bladder dysfunction involves two components: drug treatment and/or catheterization. If you're experiencing bladder problems you're not alone: up to 90 percent of people with MS have this symptom at one time or another. There are quite a few coping strategies you can add to your MS toolbox to help manage this symptom — which for many, can be taxing both psychologically and physically.

Drug treatments target the mechanisms in your bladder that cause the dysfunction — a series of interconnected nerves and muscles that coordinate the muscle contraction and relaxation necessary for normal bladder control. Different drugs target different symptoms.

Most often, problems emptying the bladder completely cause you to feel urinary frequency or urgency. You may even run to the bathroom and find that nothing happens when you get there. Lioresal (baclofen) may be able to help, as well as intermittent self-catheterization (ISC), which might sound a little scary at first, but most people come to appreciate the comfort and security it provides. For many, it's also easy to do (believe it or not). It involves inserting a catheter into the bladder and emptying the urine into the toilet. In some cases, ISC becomes a form of physical therapy and actually resolves the problem within a matter of weeks or months.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are often the unfavorable consequence of a bladder that doesn't fully empty, so it's important to get a handle on bladder problems. UTIs are very common in MS, so your doctor will probably check for them (with a quick urine test) if your symptoms flare up. An unchecked UTI can pose a serious risk to your health. The signs aren't always obvious, but some of the symptoms of a UTI are painful urination, frequent urination, and foul-smelling urine. UTIs are treated with a course of antibiotics.

A storage problem occurs when the bladder is unable to retain urine when it accumulates. Instead of expanding when urine collects, the bladder contracts, which can make you feel as if you have an urgent need to go to the bathroom all of the time. It can also interfere with a good night's sleep. Fortunately, there are several medications you can try that can calm your bladder down, including Ditropan (oxybutynin), Vesicare (solifenacin succinate), Detrol (tolterodine), and others. See your urologist or neurologist for help with these problems.