They don't hurt as you'd expect, but you may experience some discomfort in the short term. Many patients have compared it to a menstrual cramp. The good news is that most people get relief from symptoms quickly, in just a few days. Treatment results last about six months and you may receive additional injections.
Botox is given as an injection into the detrusor muscle (the muscle that lines the bladder). You will receive these injections in your doctor's office. To treat bladder conditions, Botox is administered directly into the detrusor muscle, which is the main muscle of the bladder. Generally, there is no pain associated with this procedure, but some patients may experience a burning or itching sensation when they urinate for the first few days after receiving Botox injections.
Although there have been numerous studies conducted on the effects of Botox injections in the bladder, most of them have been small-scale and lacked adequate control groups. Additionally, the duration of the study after BTA injection varied. It has been suggested that chronic bladder irritation can cause long-term changes in the central nervous system (CNS). The doctor can view the inside of the bladder with a cystoscope and administer Botox injections through it.
This procedure blocks nerve signals to the bladder muscle, which helps to reduce involuntary urine release and other symptoms associated with overactive bladder. In the first 12 weeks after receiving Botox injections into the bladder, there is a small chance of experiencing side effects. These may include fatigue, pain or difficulty urinating, and temporary inability to empty the bladder. To learn more about potential side effects, please refer to this detailed Botox article or to the medication guide for this medication.
Most major health insurance providers, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover the cost of Botox medical treatments. Adults with detrusor overactivity will receive a higher dose of Botox, which is injected at 30 sites located 1 cm apart into the detrusor muscle. Other treatments for overactive bladder include electrical stimulation of the sacral nerve, which can alter functioning of both the bladder and intestine. One possible side effect of Botox injections into the bladder is an increase in post-urination residue, or the amount of urine left in the bladder after urination.
Fortunately, because these injections don't require general anesthesia, you can drive yourself back and forth to your treatment appointment. Most people can manage overactive bladder symptoms with just two Botox treatments a year.
