Although others may continue to have symptoms, their severity and frequency can usually be alleviated with treatment.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle plays a major role in the treatment of OAB irrespective of the underlying cause.
Fluid Restriction
One of the simplest and most effective lifestyle changes is fluid restriction.
These include:
High sodium intakecan also increase the frequency and volume of daytime andnighttime urination.
Bladder Retraining
Bladder retraining is one of the first-line treatments of OAB.
It also can help alleviate leakage and the sense of urgency associated with OAB.
The loss of pelvic muscle strength directly corresponds to an increase in the risk of leakage and urinary incontinence.
Kegel exercisescan help strengthen these muscles and train you to activate them whenever there is urinary urgency.
MRAs work by relaxing the bladder muscles and removing the sense of urgency.
These are more commonly used in people with refractory (treatment-resistant) OAB symptoms.
In 2010, the FDA formally included OAB as an indication for treatment.
PTNS is a form of nerve stimulation.
An acupuncture needle with attached electrical current is inserted into the ankle.
It stimulates the peripheral endings of nerves innervating the bladder.
PTNS is performed once weekly on anoutpatient basisand involves a total of twelve 30-minute sessions.
People tend to experience an improvement of urinary function within six weeks.
SNS requires surgery undergeneral anesthesiato implant the gear in the area between the lower back and buttock.
External leads are then connected to a permanent battery in a second outpatient procedure.
In rare cases,bowel obstructionand anincisional herniacan occur.
Surgery for OAB is always considered a last resort.
Expert consultation is needed to weigh the potential benefits and risks of treatment.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
There are manycomplementary and alternative therapiesused to treat OAB.
These includemind-body therapiesthat help minimize urinary urgency and symptoms of stress incontinence (see Bladder Retraining above).
In such cases, seek treatment from a specialist in urological conditions.
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