As a parent, there are lots of things worse than a few wet sheets now and then. Vomit, diarrhea, the flu. .. those are just nasty. But, repeated episodes, night after night after night. Yeah that gets old. So what exactly is the trouble with those children who are constant bedwetting? What's the cause for enuresis (fancy medical term for bedwetting)? Let's take a step back for a minute and look at how the bladder is controlled. First, it like every other part of the body, is connected with nerves that eventually find their way back to the brainstem and brain. After all, that's the reason we have nerves in the first place. The nerves are like electric lines that transmit vital information from the brain to the body parts so that they can function.
The bladder is basically a large muscle. When it's full, a nerve signal is sent from the brain to the bladder muscle (known as the detrusor muscle) and it signals it to empty. The muscle is a type of smooth muscle, not uncommon in other organs. The bladder begins to squeeze and urine is forced out.
For bedwetters, this isn't always the case. They want to stay dry. Of course they do! So why doesn't their brain send the correct signals? Well, it does; all the time. Often times, children who wet the bed have a problem with the nerves in the neck and those signals from the brain never quite make it to the bladder. I know, you might be wondering, "Yeah but my kid doesn't have neck pain or problems." Maybe. But here's the link: the nerves that leave the 3rd, 4th and 5th vertebrae in the neck are responsible for controlling the breathing muscle, the diaphragm.
In kids, a normal healthy reflex -the phrenic reflex- causes the child to take a deep breath when they are in a deep sleep. Have you ever watched your child sleep and wonder if they will ever take a breath again? The breathing slows down and as it gets slower and deeper, the carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the blood rise. When they get too high, the reflex kicks in and the child breathes. Bedwetters often have irritation to the nerves that control this reflex. So for them, the reflex is there, but impaired. Instead of breathing regularly during sleep, they fall into a very deep sleep. The CO2 levels raise and the smooth muscle in the bladder slowly relaxes. End result: oozing urine out of the bladder. The problem with the bladder may be a problem in the neck.
When's the last time your child was checked for spinal nerve irritation? If the bladder isn't getting the correct brain messages, what else might be lacking? Have your child checked TODAY. If you want me to do it, I'd be honored. If I can help you find someone else. . . please feel welcome to contact me and we'll make it happen.
