Can MS affect the bladder?

Here is My Question:
My sister is 37 and has had problems of frequency, dysuria and stress incontinence for the last 3-4 years, but these symptoms have been bothering her a lot for the last 2 years. Last year she had an ovarian benign cyst removed and the doctor also did a TVT procedure but both did not improve her present complaints. She now urinates every 10 - 20 minutes.

She has been recently diagnosed with MS but her MS specialist is reluctant to start the treatment since MS can be seen only in brain and not in spine even though she has MS symptoms,  for example severe pain in hands and legs which comes and goes, tingling and numbness, migraine, dizziness and severe weakness.

According to him MS has nothing to do with bladder since it doesn't show up in spine MRI. Her urologist though disagrees with her MS doctor and insisting that it is due to MS. I wonder if there is anyway you can help us out. She is in lot of pain and there is no treatment that can give her some relief.

Thanks a lot.

Answer:
The fact is that MS can affect the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord.  Spinal cord involvement typically manifests with (among other things) bladder dysfunction.  I would suggest you get another opinion from an MS specialist.  If you provide your location and the distance you are willing to travel for the second opinion, we can help identify a fellowship trained MS specialist to assist you.  The MS specialist can also make sure that the patient does indeed have MS and not a mimicked of the disease that can also cause bladder problems.

A. Scott Nielsen MD MMSc
Neurologist and MS Specialist at Kaiser Permanente