Before

We will assess you and your bladder before any anti-spasm bladder injections. This is to make sure this is the right treatment to try. Assessment will likely include a urodynamic study.

In the week before the procedure you should have a urine test. This is to exclude any infection. If you have an infection you need treatment before your injection.

You should stop blood thinning medications prior to your procedure – but check with your surgeon first. You will likely need to stop these medications 3-10 days prior, depending on the medication. Sometimes you may need to continue the medication – so always check first!

The procedure

The anti-spasm bladder injections are a short procedure of approximately 15 minutes. It can be done under local anesthetic or general anesthetic. This often depends on your preference or other health issues. A small cystoscope is inserted into your urethra. Multiple injections

Afterwards

You will be asked to empty your bladder before you leave us. You might have some burning and stinging when you pass urine. There may be a small amount of blood in your urine. These will improve over 24 hours.

The anti-spasm bladder injections will start to work over the next few days. You might notice that your urine stream is slower and that you begin to leak less.

Follow-up

If this if your first injection, you should have an ultrasound with us in 10-14 days to make sure you are emptying your bladder.

We will review you in the clinic about 6-8 weeks following your surgery. Please contact us for an earlier appointment if you have any concerns.

The injections will wear off between 6 and 12 months. You may want a new injection.

Side effects

Anti-spasm botox injections are a relatively safe procedure. Most patients will have minimal or no side effects.

The main side effect is urinary retention. This is when the injections work too well and you are unable to empty your bladder. If you cannot empty your bladder at all, or there is a large amount left, we will teach you how to empty your bladder with a catheter. This is called clean intermittent self-catheterisation (CISC). You may need to do CISC until your bladder begins to empty again.

Urinary tract infections are common after injections. They may occur even with the antibiotics we give you to take after the injections. They do not always cause symptoms.

Haematuria (blood in the urine) is common in the first few days after surgery.