Recovering from a hysterectomy and bladder spasms, especially after laparoscopic surgery, can be challenging for many women. After all, the pelvic area is sensitive—even more, sensitive than usual.
Vocalizing your discomfort or keeping it to yourself doesn’t make dealing with the side effects of a hysterectomy any easier. But there are ways to cope with bladder spasms after hysterectomy that don’t require you to suffer in silence.
Understanding the reasons why you’re experiencing bladder spasms after hysterectomy is the first step in understanding how to deal with those spasms properly.
This article addresses everything you need to know about handling bladder spasms after a hysterectomy.
What is a Vaginal Hysterectomy?
A vaginal hysterectomy is an open abdominal surgery that can be performed in one of two ways: Laparoscopically or via open abdominal surgery. The procedure removes the uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes in both instances.
The choice of which method gets used depends on the woman’s health and the complexity of her particular case.
While the exact details of each method vary slightly, both techniques have one thing in common: they result in bladder spasms. That’s because a hysterectomy requires the surgeon to make an incision in the abdomen and then remove the uterus by lifting it out. This process puts pressure on the bladder and surrounding tissues, which can lead to bladder spasms.
A hysterectomy might be recommended if you have abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or a malignant (cancerous) growth.
It’s important to note that a hysterectomy is not the only treatment for these conditions. But since we’re talking about bladder spasms after hysterectomy, we should also address the why.
Reasons for Bladder Spasms After Hysterectomy
As we explained above, a vaginal hysterectomy induces bladder spasms because it puts pressure on the bladder during the surgery. But why does the bladder get affected during a hysterectomy in the first place?
Women who undergo open abdominal surgery experience the same bladder spasms. This happens because the procedure affects your pelvic anatomy. When the uterus isn’t there anymore, the remaining organs shift around.
The ovarian arteries, fallopian tubes, and other vascular structures shift closer to the bladder. This increased proximity puts pressure on the bladder and causes those pesky bladder spasms.
In some cases, the bladder spasms after hysterectomy are caused by pelvic muscle spasms. This happens when the surgeon cuts into the muscles in the pelvic area to access the uterus and other reproductive organs.
The incisions might also put pressure on the nerves that run to the bladder and cause bladder spasms.
How to Manage Bladder Spasms After Hysterectomy
The best way to deal with bladder spasms after hysterectomy is to prevent them in the first place.
Here are some helpful tips to keep the spasms at bay:
- Stay hydrated: Helps to reduce the pressure on the bladder.
- Urinate before and after surgery: This will help to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.
- Use a low-impact exercise technique: Swimming, cycling, and other non-impact exercises are great options.
- Apply heat: Helps to reduce inflammation, which reduces the pressure on the bladder.
- Avoid constipation: Keep your bowels moving regularly and avoid straining when you go to the bathroom. This will help to reduce the pressure on the bladder.
- Avoid heavy lifting: This puts unnecessary pressure on the pelvic area and can cause bladder spasms.
- Avoid spicy foods: Spicy foods can irritate the bladder and make bladder spasms worse.
- Avoid caffeine: Caffeine can irritate the bladder and make bladder spasms worse.
5 Ways to Relieve Urinary Tract Discomfort Due to Bladder Spasms
Bladder spasms after hysterectomy are a sign that something isn’t right. If the spasms are interfering with your daily life, it’s okay to reach out to your doctor for advice.
But in the meantime, there are a few ways to relieve the discomfort caused by bladder spasms:
- Urinate as soon as you feel the urge: This is the best way to prevent bladder infections.
- Avoid constipation: This helps to reduce the pressure on the bladder and the risk of bladder infections.
- Manage stress and anxiety: In addition to preventing bladder spasms, this also helps to reduce the risk of bladder infections.
- Use a heating pad: This helps to reduce the pressure on the bladder.
Don’t Be Afraid of Medication
If bladder spasms after the hysterectomy are causing you significant discomfort, you might want to talk to your doctor about medication. Medications can help to reduce the pressure on the bladder and ease the discomfort caused by bladder spasms.
- Pain relievers: If you experience pain along with bladder spasms, pain relievers can help to ease the discomfort.
- Muscle relaxants: Muscle relaxers can help to ease the spasms by relaxing the pelvic muscles.
- Anticholinergic drugs: These drugs reduce the pressure on the bladder and ease discomfort.
- Bladder relaxants: Helps to reduce the pressure on the bladder and ease discomfort.
Try Biofeedback and Breathing Exercises
Bladder spasms after a hysterectomy can be frustrating. They can interfere with your daily life and make you feel like you aren’t in control of your own body. But you are.
You can learn to manage the discomfort of bladder spasms with the help of biofeedback and breathing exercises.
Biofeedback is a therapy that helps people reduce stress and anxiety, relax, and gain control over their bodies. It can be applied to the pelvic muscles and will help to ease the spasms.
Breathing exercises are simple, but they can help you relax and ease the discomfort of bladder spasms.
Follow these three steps to ease the discomfort of bladder spasms:
- Inhale through your nose: This is the first step in the breathing exercise.
- Hold your breath for a few seconds: This will increase the amount of carbon dioxide in your system.
- Exhale through your mouth: This will help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in your system and help you to relax.
Practice Kegel Exercises
Kegel exercises are simple, but they can be challenging. They help to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and ease the pain caused by bladder spasms.
This exercise is best done every day and can be done anywhere: while watching TV, while on the phone, or while sitting at your desk at work.
Here’s how to do it:
- Squeeze your pelvic floor muscles for five seconds: This is the contraction part of the exercise.
- Release the squeeze and hold the muscles for another five seconds: This is the relaxation part of the exercise.
- Repeat the exercise 10 times: This is the number that experts suggest.
At first, you might only be able to squeeze and release the muscles for a few seconds. But with consistent practice, you’ll be able to perform the exercise for longer and longer each day.
Bottom line
Bladder spasms after hysterectomy can be painful and difficult to deal with. Luckily, there are a few ways to reduce the likelihood of experiencing them and ease the pain if you experience them.
Biofeedback and breathing exercises will help you relax, while Kegel exercises will help you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.
You can also try to reduce your risk of experiencing bladder spasms by staying hydrated, avoiding constipation, and avoiding heavy lifting.
Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about which medications might help to ease the pain of bladder spasms.
Then, make sure to practice your exercises and tips daily to help prevent the pain caused by bladder spasms and to help ease the pain if they do happen.