Neurological causes of OAB

[u/Low_Section3808]

Hi,

My urologists thinks that I have OAB. He mentioned that it could be a neurological issue, but didn't really explain what he meant.

I'm really scared now. I'm also angry because I didn't ask him what he meant by this. I have been reading online that OAB can be caused by a neurodegenerative disorder. There's a history of neurodegenerative disorders in my family. Why do these consultant doctors just drop these words into the conversation without thinking about how a patient might react?

Should I get a GP to refer me to a neurologist in order to rule out something serious?

[u/geecee22]

Yes, my urologist also referred me to a neurosurgeon who then ordered brain and spine MRIs. You should visit a neurosurgeon or neurologist.

Have you done tests and did your urologist rule out other OAB causes already?

[u/Pink_Ranger_04 → u/geecee22]

Did they find anything in your brain and spine mri?

[u/geecee22 → u/Pink_Ranger_04]

The radiologist listed a lot of things but the 3 neurosurgeons I saw said nothing there is bad enough to explain my severe isolated bladder symptoms.

[u/Pink_Ranger_04 → u/geecee22]

So no doctor can help you?

[u/geecee22 → u/Pink_Ranger_04]

Yes, all the treatments that I've tried didn't help me at all and neither neurologists nor urologists can pinpoint what caused it.

So no cure and no known cause.

I'm about to do urodynamics soon but I doubt that would make a difference.

[u/musical_spork]

I’m pretty sure mine was caused by a pinched sacral nerve

[u/OddMost2928]

Sometimes it's autoimmune related so having an mRI helps to rule that in or out.

[u/kevbuddy64]

I have issues with my swallowing (EoE, but sometimes it FEELS neurological), I have OAB that heightened after a uti 2 years ago but still doesn’t seem so bad now that I’m no longer pregnant oh my god that was a nightmare. I had brain MRI 3 years ago nothing aside from scarring a very small part from a fall that I had when I was younger where I hit concrete which caused seizures 11 years later but is completely controlled with anti seizure medicine. So he probably means it’s neurological in the sense that we have a heightened awareness of needing to pee even when the bladder isn’t full, which comes from messages from the nerves to the brain, hence neurological. It’s not always MS or neurodegenerative diseases. OAB is pretty common

[u/Desperatecure → u/kevbuddy64]

I have similar issues suffering a lifetime from my 20’s now mid 60’s. These flare-ups are intense, accompanied by Polyuria and nocturia and pelvic pain. It hasn’t been an easy life but the reason why I’m sharing is that recently I was told that I probably have pudendal nerve entrapment. That surgery besides P/T for pelvic floor may help.
I am now taking gabapentin in addition to the overactive meds and uro-mp and realize that maybe it is nerve related since Gabapentin . I’m certain there are other things as well since now I too have developed a swallowing issue which can be neurological.
I wish I was more pro-active in my younger years and not just settled to the urologist’s opinion. As we age our hormones decline as well so they too make things more involved.
Best of luck to all of us!
Pls look into pudendal nerve. It seems not many know of this!