Treatment for Bladder Spasms
Most surgical patients end up with a catheter placed into the bladder to drain urine (Foley catheter) some time during their stay. One bothersome side effect of these catheters can be painful and recurring bladder spasms. The best treatment is to remove the catheter of course. If the catheter can not be removed, often B and O (belladona and opium) suppositories are prescribed. However, this is also unpleasant for the patient.
One trick that urologists and urology nurses usually try before the b and o suppository is simply moving the Foley bag from its usual position on the floor or hooked onto the railing to placing it flat on the bed. This puts the catheter, tubing, and bag close to the level of the bladder and removes the pressure that the catheter exerts on the sensitive lower part of the inside bladder. This maneuver is often enough to stop the spasms but still allows the urine to drain.
Leave a Reply