Painful Bladder Syndrome Specialist

What is painful bladder syndrome?

Painful bladder syndrome, also known as interstitial cystitis, is a condition that causes pelvic pain and frequent, painful urges to urinate. The exact cause of painful bladder syndrome is not known, but the condition involves an inflammation or irritation of the bladder lining.

Painful bladder syndrome can significantly impact your quality of life. These frequent urinary urges, along with pelvic pain, can make just about every activity, including working, socializing, and exercising, difficult — or even impossible. You can also go weeks on end without getting a good night’s sleep.

What are the signs of painful bladder syndrome?

If you have painful bladder syndrome, you may feel the need to urinate at least once an hour and regularly wake up during the night to go to the bathroom. In severe cases, people with painful bladder syndrome urinate between 40 and 60 times a day.

Other signs that you may have painful bladder syndrome include:

• Chronic pain in your pelvis
• Continued need to urinate immediately after emptying your bladder
• Urination in small amounts

These symptoms can vary in intensity, including the severity of your pain, which can range from a dull, mild ache to sharp, stabbing pains.

There are several other conditions that cause similar symptoms, such as urinary tract infections and kidney stones, so your doctor may perform tests such as a urinalysis or cystoscopy to rule these out.

How is painful bladder syndrome treated?

Your doctor may recommend changes to your diet and lifestyle that focus on minimizing factors that trigger frequent urination and reducing the pressure on your bladder. Caffeine, alcohol, citrus fruits, and spicy foods can contribute to frequent urination, as can stress, so your treatment may also include relaxation techniques.

Your doctor may teach you exercises focused on retraining your bladder to hold more urine. These often involve tracking how often you urinate and gradually increasing the amount of time you wait before urinating.

Medications are available for painful bladder syndrome as well. These can reduce bladder spasms and urinary urgency, relax your bladder, and heal the inflamed bladder lining.

If you experience a frequent need to urinate or chronic pelvic pain, call Advanced Urology of South Florida or book an appointment online.