PPS and Bladder Control
Original Post: My bladder control problems have worsened over the years. My primary care physician (PCP) recently put me on Trospium, but I'm not sure it is helping. Are there any reasons why a post- polio patient should not take these antispasmodic types of meds? I am thinking of going off this med, because it causes my mouth and throat to become very dry, and I am afraid of choking. My physiatrist says that polio/PPS does not affect bladder muscles.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: The Polio virus affected smooth muscle nerves (like those around blood vessels and in the intestines) by damaging the autonomic nervous system in the brain stem and spinal cord. Right after polio inability to pee was most common, but leaking was also seen. These problems were usually short lived, but the damage remains.
Today, polio survivors' bladder problems are most likely due to aging but can be made worse by polio virus-damage. There is no question that polio affected the vagus nerve, which should automatically control urination. Right after polio, the inability to void was most common, but the inability to retain urine could also occur. These were usually short-lived problems, but the damage remains.
So, just as with bowel issues, bladder problems can be caused by poliovirus-damage but are usually age-related and made worse by having had polio.
Regardless, bladder issues should be treated as in non-polio survivors, but with doctors keeping in mind that the drugs they use may be more or less effective due to underlying poliovirus damage.
In addition, should they prescribe pelvic floor physical therapy, the therapist needs to be made aware of you having had polio. I recommend this article: Physical Therapy and Post Polio Sequelae.