I had this conversation early on in my saga of strictures, blockages, and catheters. A nurse, that was assisting while putting in an emergency cath in the early days, assured me, that no matter how great the pain was, that it wouldn't do any perm damage to my bladder. She said that the bladder was an incredibly strong muscle. When blocked, it fills, and stretches to a certain degree, and that is causing the pain. Once now more urine can enter the bladder from the feeder tubes from the kidneys, it will start to back up there too, causing more pain. It can become dangerous when the kidney's themselves get backed up.
I have had bladder spasms so intense and long, that I was convinced that there was an explosion inside my bladder, and as painful as they are, so far, no real damage, other than the trauma of how much it hurts, and the trauma of knowing that it is going to hurt bad when I feel a spasm coming on.
Interesting question and answer though.
David in SC
Age: 57, 56 dx, PSA: 7/07 5.8, 7/08 12.3, 9/08 14.5, 10/08 16.3
3rd Biopsy: 9/08 - 7/7 Positive, 40-90% Cancer, Gleason 4+3
Open RP: 11/08, Rht nerves saved, 4 days in hospt, on catheters for 63 days, 5th one out 1/09
Path Rpt: Gleason 3+4, pT2c, 42g, 20% cancer, 1 pos margin
Incontinence: 1 Month ED: Non issue at any point post surgery, no problem post SRT
Post Surgery PSA: 2/09 .05,5/09 .1, 6/09 .11. 8/09 .16
Post SRT PSA: 1/10 .12, 4/8 .04, next one: July
Latest: 7/9 cath #6 - 41 days, 8/9 2nd corr surgery, 8/9 cath #7 - 38 days, mapped 9/9, 10/1 - 3rd corr. surgery - SP cath, 10/5 - 11/27 IMRT SRT 39 sess/72 gys ,cath #8 33 days, Cath #9 35 days, Cath #10 43 days, 1/19 - Corr Surgery #4, Caths #11 and #12 ,Cath #11 - 21 days, Cath #12 - 41 days, 3/2- Corr Surgery #5, Cath #13 - 4 days, Cath #14- 27 days, Cath #15 - 26 days, Cath #16 - 31 days, Cath #17 - 39 days, 7/2 - Corr Surgery #6, 7/2 - Caths #18 & #19