Acute urinary retention is a life-threatening medical emergency
Acute urinary retention is a medical emergency in which a person cannot urinate, despite a painfully full bladder. The person may be able to release no or very little urine. Our North Austin bladder specialists caution that this is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.
I need to go, but I cannot urinate
Urinary retention is often caused by a blockage that prevents urine from leaving the bladder. Other potential causes include medication, nerve damage, spinal cord damage and anesthesia. Acute urinary retention is much more common in men than women. It can occur at any age, but it is most common between the ages of 60 and 80.
See a doctor if you experience acute urinary retention
This condition occurs suddenly and can cause severe pain. Our North Austin bladder specialists instruct patients experiencing these symptoms to contact a urologist immediately.
- Inability to urinate
- Strong need to urinate
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Bloating or swelling of the abdomen
- Lower back pain
Relief of your symptoms happens quickly
Releasing the urine from the bladder is the priority. A catheter is used to drain the urine, relieving pain and preventing damage to the bladder or kidneys.
Once the acute urinary retention is treated, a urologist will perform tests to determine why you cannot urinate. The cause will likely require additional treatment by a urologist.
Additional catheterizations may be necessary to drain the bladder and relieve pain and pressure until the cause of the retention is treated.
Do not wait to get medical attention
It is critical that you do not delay treatment. You cannot treat this condition at home, and it won’t resolve without medical treatment. Immediate medical treatment is necessary to prevent kidney damage, urinary tract infections or life-threatening urosepsis.
If you are in acute urinary retention, cannot urinate, or are experiencing any of the other symptoms, contact our North Austin bladder specialists immediately. North Austin Urology will provide medical direction. If it is outside regular office hours, proceed to the emergency room for immediate medical attention.