enerally there are two ways the bladder works after a spinal cord injury.

Spastic or Reflex Bladder means that when your bladder fills with urine, a reflex automatically triggers the bladder to empty. The problem in a reflex bladder is you do not know when the bladder will empty. Reflex or spastic bladder usually occurs when the injury is above the T12 level. The choice of bladder management methods for an individual with a spastic/reflex bladder include intermittent catheterisation, indwelling catheter and condon drainage.

Flaccid or non-reflex bladder means ones reflexes may be sluggish or absent. You may not feel when the bladder is full. It then becomes over distended and stretched. This can cause the urine to back-up through the ureters to the kidneys. Individuals with injuries below T12/L1 usually have a flaccid bladder. The bladder management system most commonly used is intermittent catheterisation. To avoid problem do not allow more than 400 cc of urine to fill in your bladder.