Overactive Bladder

The Overview

The Scientific Mumbo Jumbo:
Most patients with Overactive Bladder disorder will be diagnosed with Detrusor Overactivity. The Detrusor is the muscle which surrounds the bladder. As the bladder fills with urine, the Detrusor muscle should stay at rest. When the relationship between the brain and the bladder is compromised, the Detrusor muscle may escape brain control. The result is involuntary contractions of the bladder. Involuntary contractions of the bladder may occur spontaneously or be provoked by activities such as coughing, laughing, or exercising.

Keeping it Simple:
Symptoms such as frequency of urination, excessive nighttime urination, urgency of urination, and urinary incontinence associated with the sensation of needing to urinate, most likely represents the inability to control your bladder muscle. Basically, you are trying to get the bathroom when the accident occurs. The media calls this Overactive Bladder (OAB) and your doctor calls it Detrusor Overactivity (DO) or Detrusor Instability. Most DO is not associated with any underlying disease. However, it can be caused by disorders such as MS, Parkinson's, or back disease. When DO is caused by another disease, it is called Neurogenic DO (NDO) and is more difficult to treat.