If you have a spinal cord injury, specifically at or above the T6 level, you may be at risk for a condition called autonomic dysreflexia (AD). This is a serious medical issue where your body reacts to certain noxious (“bad”) triggers below your level of injury, with sudden and dangerous spikes in blood pressure. One of the most common triggers for AD is a full bladder or issues with the bladder. That’s where intermittent self-catheterization may play a vital role. 

There are often varying levels of sensation and movement after a spinal cord injury, which can inhibit someone’s ability to feel when their bladder is full, or to empty their bladder in a “typical” way. When the bladder becomes too full, it tells the body in a different way that something needs attention; the bladder sends signals to your body that can trigger autonomic dysreflexia. Intermittent self-catheterization