Learning About Your Neurogenic Bladder

Learning About Your Neurogenic Bladder


A normal bladder works by filling and emptying. Think of it as a pouch that collects the urine from the kidneys and then empties the urine when you consciously choose to (such as being on the toilet and ready to go). 

The bladder itself is just a reservoir and is mainly controlled by nerve endings. The nerves tell the bladder what to do and when. When the nerves are injured, the balance of bladder function is one of the first things to be affected. It is also one of the last things to heal or come back when nerve function is restored. 

When a person has a spinal cord injury, there is more than a 75 percent chance that the bladder will not work normally. For some people, this means they can still empty the bladder, but have a lot of trouble holding on to urine and have leaking. For many people, this means that the bladder will not empty.

Illustration shows outline of a person, with brain sending signlas down spinal cord to nerves, connected to the bladdder, whihc control the flow of urine. Urine is leaking out of the urethra.  

This means 3 things:     

  1. You will need a safe way to empty your bladder
  2. You will need a urologist 
  3. You will need to closely monitor your kidney and bladder function 

You can learn to manage your bladder. We have developed the MyChart Care Companion for Neurogenic Bladder to help you learn how your bladder now works, and to keep you and your kidneys safe.  

© 2022 – August 5, 2022, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or health care team if you have any questions about your care. For more health information, call the Library for Health Information at 614-293-3707 or email: health-info@osu.edu.