BODY SIGNAL ALERT URINATION, DIFFICULTY IN: SPECIAL MENTION FOR THE ELDERLY
A total inability to urinate usually affects men who are in their 70s and older. If an elderly male relative is unable to urinate and feels a pain in his groin, he should head for the emergency room immediately. This condition is called acute urinary retention and is most often caused when an enlarged prostate totally obstructs the bladder.
Your relative’s doctor will first look for causes that are easily reversible, such as over-the-counter cold preparations, antihypertensive medication, antidepressants, or any new medication he’s started taking recently. These are the most common causes of acute urinary retention; the prostate may already be enlarged, but other medications can make it even larger.
The first thing the physician will do is to place a thin rubber tube called a Foley catheter through the penis and into the bladder, which will bring immediate relief. The subsequent treatment will include a full prostate exam and the tests described previously. The Foley catheter will be removed after a day or so, when normal urination has resumed.
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