Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
I have NMOSD, and incontinence and difficulties walking go hand in hand, making everything difficult. I schedule my entire day based on bathroom needs, being afraid of falling all the time.
How can a person aged 71 cope with both NMOSD incontinence and difficulty moving at the same time?
Is there a neurological connection between these two symptoms in the case of NMOSD, or are they addressed individually?
I get tired of handling aids, taking medications, and suffering from embarrassment.
Please help.
Hi,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I have gone through your query, and I apologize for such an unpleasant experience.
In neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, there are chances of spinal cord lesions involving nerves affecting both walking and controlling bladder functions. Therefore, both conditions could be associated and not isolated from one another, and problems of weakness, spasticity, balance issues, urgency, and falls may occur simultaneously.
Treatment of NMOSD patients will require addressing of both issues simultaneously. Your physicians can do the following:
Bladder retraining or scheduled toilet visits.
Medications for urgency and spasticity.
Physical therapy for walking and balancing.
Use of walkers or other devices for mobility.
Changes in the home environment, like installing grab bars or raising the toilet seat.
Sometimes rushing to the bathroom increases the risk of falling, while difficulties in walking make accidents more probable.
Your urologist can assess whether there is overactivity of the bladder or any difficulties in emptying it, as both issues may lead to accidents. Prevention of infection and falls is essential.
Long-term treatment of NMOSD also includes relapse prevention, which means prevention of further attacks of spinal cord disease, which may cause even greater disability.
First of all, these two symptoms could have a
Feel free to contact me for any other questions.
Thank you.
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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