Arthritis and Your Bladder—What's the Connection? | Tennessee Valley Urology Center

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that there are more than 54 million people living in the United States with arthritis. What you may not know is arthritis can cause more than just pain, swelling and/or stiffness in joints. Arthritis can also cause issues with your bladder.

During Arthritis Awareness Month, our team at Tennessee Valley Urology Center wants you to understand how living with arthritis can also increase a person’s risk of bladder conditions.

Can Arthritis Cause Bladder Problems?

Bladder problems are not a symptom of arthritis. However, because the symptoms of arthritis include joint stiffness and mobility loss, it can cause a person to run into issues with making it to the bathroom in time.

Constipation can also be a condition that many people with arthritis experience, which, in turn, can cause incontinence. Therefore, it is important to learn how to effectively manage their arthritis in order to prevent bladder issues and constipation.

Is There a Cure for Arthritis?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis. However, there are things you can do in order to find relief from arthritis symptoms and, as a result, prevent bladder issues in the future due to arthritis.

For instance, weight management is extremely important for both arthritis relief and bladder problems. When you are overweight, you are putting more pressure on your joints, which can cause more pain associated with arthritis. Being overweight can also increase your risk of incontinence, so maintaining a healthy weight can kill two birds with one stone!

You also want to make sure you are doing what you can to get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week, which can help in maintaining a healthy weight and managing arthritis symptoms. Some of the best exercises for those with arthritis include:

• Stretching
• Walking
• Flowing movements
• Pilates
• Water exercises
• Cycling
• Strength training
• Hand exercises

Acupuncture, massage and hot/cold therapies are also wonderful treatment options for arthritis relief.

We are still here for you! Give the team at Tennessee Valley Urology Center a call to schedule an appointment and to learn what protocols we have set in place at this time to keep patients and team members safe.