Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options for Interstitial Cystitis and Bladder Pain
Contrary to popular belief, not all discomfort, pain, and pressure in your bladder is a urinary tract infection (UTI). Even though clinicians initially diagnosed Interstitial cystitis in people over 50 years of age it is a misunderstood condition that affects people of all ages. The condition occurs when the urinary bladder wall becomes inflamed or irritated. This compromise stiffens, pressurizes, and increases scar formation in the bladder. Several treatment options for interstitial cystitis and bladder pain (before it becomes severe) are available. Continue reading to find out how you can treat and manage this condition.
How Interstitial Cystitis and Bladder Pain Develop
Interstitial cystitis is also commonly known as bladder pain syndrome because of the long-term pain and discomfort felt in the bladder. However, many patients with interstitial cystitis may not experience pain at all. Nevertheless, bladder pain from preexisting condition increases your susceptibility to interstitial cystitis.
Other symptoms of interstitial cystitis include:
- Persistent strong urges to pee lasting for at least six weeks
- Frequent need to urinate
- Pain in the lower belly as urine fills the bladder
- Difficulty peeing
- Urinating small amounts of pee
- Sometimes you may spot blood in the urine
Symptoms first appear mildly and gradually become worse. Most misdiagnoses occur during the early stages of the condition.
Clinicians have several plausible explanations for the development of interstitial cystitis and bladder pain including:
- Autoimmune conditions which may destroy the lining of your bladder through inflammation, interfering with its function. The resulting damage irritates the bladder and exposes nerves in that area.
- Bladder wall defects such as congenital abnormalities like the bladder diverticulum can weaken the bladder wall, interfering with its function. Other bladder lining defects include an abnormally thickened wall, lining integrity loss and abnormal formation, or a disruption in the blood vessel distribution.
- Problems in the pelvic floor muscles that control peeing.
- Foamy or bubbly pee because of the presence of high protein levels.
- Other medical conditions like cancers and malignant tumors.
What Happens When You Visit Your Providers Office?
Since interstitial cystitis and bladder pain have symptoms resembling other medical conditions, like UTIs, your provider will perform a series of tests to verify the prognosis.
Your Medical History
Your provider will ask questions to establish your urination patterns and areas of concern. They may also inquire about your fluid intake and its effect on peeing to rule out other possibilities.
A Urine Test
Your provider will recommend a urine test to rule out other causes of bladder pain and urine inconsistencies. The physician will require your urine sample to test for infection, foreign molecules like protein, sugar, pus, or blood molecules like white blood cells. Treatment options will be presented based on the results of the test. You only get a positive prognosis for this condition once your bladder is free from any identified infection. The urologist will give you an interstitial cystitis diagnosis if the tests come out negative for pathogens or other molecules.
A CT Scan
Your provider may order a CT scan to examine your bladder’s integrity. They will perform additional tests if the scan shows any abnormalities.
Biopsy
Your provider will request a biopsy to analyze the cells in your bladder lining for abnormalities. Remember, you can experience pain, discomfort, and pressure if cancerous cells are in your bladder or if the integrity of the bladder wall is compromised. Your provider has to rule out each possibility.
Urine Cytology
The provider will perform urine cytology to test your bladder wall cells to establish cancer is not the cause of the symptoms you are experiencing. The tests also show the root of your interstitial cystitis by exposing the problem. Your provider uses the results to develop your treatment plan. The intervention is comprehensive to minimize symptom severity, heal your bladder wall, and improve bladder
function.
Prostate Examination
Male patients can also get a prostate exam to analyze their secretions for infection or inflammation.
Treatment Options for Bladder Pain and Interstitial Cystitis
Treatment for interstitial cystitis focuses on management. It is not possible to repair the damaged bladder wall. However, you can lessen symptom intensity to manageable levels and adjust your lifestyle to accommodate to the condition.
Oral Medication
Your symptoms and diagnosis determine the medications prescribed.
- Painkillers – your provider may prescribe over-the-counter medication like paracetamol to reduce the pain threshold.
- Nerve damage medicine – your provider may also prescribe medications like amitriptyline and gabapentin to control the pain when the damage in the bladder lining extends to the nerves.
- Histamine blockers – your physician could prescribe antihistamines or other anti-inflammatory medication to contain your allergies and autoimmune reactions damaging your bladder lining.
Bladder Installations
Your provider can administer a cocktail of medications directly to your bladder using a catheter to numb the pain and lessen the symptom severity. You will be under anesthesia during this process.
Lifestyle Modification
Interstitial cystitis and bladder pain require lifestyle adjustments to improve function and reduce discomfort. Examples of lifestyle changes include:
- Using the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge to lessen bladder pressure and pain.
- Your provider may recommend physical therapy for pelvic muscle strengthening exercises to improve your urine control.
- Learn stress management techniques like meditation and mindfulness because stress worsens interstitial cystitis symptoms.
- Dietary changes – your provider might recommend a dietary plan that does not irritate the bladder.
Surgical Intervention
Your provider may recommend removing a portion or all of your bladder if you do not respond to any intervention. Surgery is also an option if you have unbearable symptoms that interfere with daily living. Other surgical options include:
- Removing ulcerations inside your bladder using electricity or laser technology
- Stretching your bladder with sterile water to increase its pee-holding capacity
- Bladder nerve stimulation to reduce urination urgency and frequency
- Botulism injections to numb your bladder muscles and reduce pain and discomfort after every four to six months
Reach Out to Urology Specialists of the Carolinas Today
You do not need to suffer with your bladder’s pain and discomfort. We have urologists on board to handle bladder pain and interstitial cystitis. To discuss your symptoms with a professional, feel free to schedule an appointment on MyChart, or contact our offices directly.