Retention of Urine

Acute failure to pass urine, causing great pain as bladder is stretched by accumulating urine; not unusual after abdominal surgery and catheterization (passage of a small tube into bladder to drain urine), or after injury to bladder or urethra (see Injury to Kidney, Bladder, or Urethra); more commonly, it may be due to enlargement of the prostate gland (see enlarged prostate and prostatitis under Prostate Problems). Prompt action is necessary, so consult your doctor if there is no improvement in 2 hours; a catheter will have to be inserted into the bladder to drain it.

Increasing difficulty in passing urine - less and less urine passed over a period of months or years - results in gradual expansion of the bladder; in severe cases the bladder pushes up to just below the navel! Sneezing, coughing, laughing, straining, etc. cause leakage of urine, and there is great vulnerability to infections such as Pyelonephritis and Cystitis. Sooner or later retention becomes acute.

Specific remedies to be given ½ -hourly for up to 10 doses where retention is acute

• Problem follows injury to groin or lower abdomen Arnica 30c
• Problem brought on by surgery Causticum 30c
• Inability to pass urine in presence of others Natrum mur. 30c
• Pain but no urge to urinate Opium 30c
• Person too hyped up and restless to relax urethral muscles and let urine out Tarentula 30c
• If retention is a hysterical reaction to grief Ignatia 30c

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