Bladder pain is also known as urinary bladder pain or cystodynia. Most often, the pain occurs as a result of inflammation and irritation in the bladder wall area. Bladder pain can be acute or chronic.
What is bladder pain?
Bladder pain often occurs in the setting of a urinary tract infection, such as cystitis. Bladder pain often occurs in the setting of a urinary tract infection, such as cystitis. In this case, the symptoms may be manifested by pain above the pubic bone, as well as painful burning during urination or frequent urination. In the small pelvis on the pelvic floor, the urinary bladder is located in the area of the pubic bone. It is a muscular hollow organ of the urinary tract and stores urine temporarily. In addition, the bladder is connected to the two kidneys by a ureter each. Then, the urine is excreted through the urethra.
Causes
Primarily, bladder pain is caused by difficulty in voiding urine. This is also called urinary urgency or urinary retention. However, other causes, such as bladder stones, foreign bodies in the bladder, bladder tumors, prostate disease, and gynecologic conditions can also lead to bladder pain. The most common cause is a urinary tract infection in the form of cystitis or urethritis. There is usually painful burning urination with difficulty in urination at the same time. Young women, pregnant women or even menopausal women are very susceptible to bladder pain and urinary tract infections.
Diseases with this symptom
- Prostate enlargement
- Ureteral stone
- Cystitis
- Irritable bladder
- Urinary bladder diverticulum
- Bladder cancer
- Incontinence
- Urethritis
- Vaginitis
- Uterine prolapse
- Bladder stones
- Chlamydia infection
Diagnosis
In case of severe and recurrent bladder pain, a doctor should be consulted. First, the doctor will ask where exactly the pain is located and how long the bladder pain has existed. The doctor will also ask about other complaints, such as a frequent urge to urinate or a burning sensation when urinating, pain in the flanks or fever. Among other things, the doctor will tap the kidney bed in the flank area and take a blood sample. The blood is examined primarily for inflammation levels. The urine can then be tested for leukocytes and nitrite using a test stick. In addition, a urine culture can be prepared by the physician so that the pathogen can be specifically determined. He can then also prescribe an appropriate antibiotic. If the doctor suspects foreign bodies, stones or bladder tumors as the cause, further diagnostic methods, such as ultrasound examination or X-ray examination are useful.
Complications
Bladder pain can lead to various complications, depending on the cause. If left untreated, bladder pain initially develops into a chronic infection of the urinary tract, which can spread to the kidneys as it progresses. If the pain is accompanied by a serious condition such as a tumor or infection of the internal organs, chronic, sometimes life-threatening symptoms such as urinary retention may occur. Bladder pain due to infection of the urinary bladder can cause diffuse infection and chronic pain in the urinary region. In severe cases, sepsis occurs, which can be fatal if left untreated. If there is underlying inflammation of the urinary tract, it can develop into renal pelvic inflammation or a tumor. Ureteral stones or prostate enlargement are also possible complications. Urinary bladder pain as a symptom of tuberculosis is equally problematic and can lead to infection or serious illness. Regardless of the underlying disease, bladder pain is almost always accompanied by strong feelings of discomfort. Sufferers feel listless, tired and powerless, and in the case of infection or cystitis, dehydration may also occur. If the bladder pain is due to medical treatment with drugs such as cyclophosphamide or pelvic radiation, the complications are usually harmless and disappear after a few days.Nevertheless, it is recommended to consult a doctor in case of prolonged urinary bladder pain.
When should you go to the doctor?
Bladder pain is usually an indication of cystitis. This should be addressed in its early stages. Fever and lower back pain necessitate an examination by a urologist. If cystitis is carried over, it can develop into a chronic disease that is difficult to treat. Admixtures in the urine are a further alarm sign. A visit to the doctor is therefore important, because various causes of the disease are possible. Burning during urination and accompanying pain can be caused by a fungal infection. This, too, can only be treated with appropriate medication prescribed by a specialist. Acute cystitis is manifested by severe pain. The patient should drink a lot, because the liquid flushes germs from the body. If there is no improvement after self-medication with herbal remedies such as teas, medical help must always be sought. Diabetics, pregnant women, patients with bladder dysfunction and people who regularly take medication must always consult a doctor. Some risk factors can be avoided even in everyday life. Hypothermia and a weak immune system favor urinary tract infections. Due to their anatomy, women are more prone to bladder infections than men. Therefore, they should keep their lower back as warm as possible and avoid sitting on cold stones. Changes in the prostate can also lead to frequent bladder infections. To clarify the exact cause, it is important to visit the doctor.
Treatment and therapy
For bladder pain, treatment is always based on the underlying cause. In this regard, the most common cause of bladder pain is a bacterial urinary tract infection, which is treated with antibiotics. In addition, it is recommended to drink enough fluids and to ensure good intimate hygiene. Painkillers as well as antispasmodic drugs can help against bladder pain itself. If bladder tumors, bladder stones or foreign bodies are found, surgical therapy must be performed. Often this can be done during a cystoscopy. In addition, bladder stones can be broken up using shock wave therapy. Since bladder pain tends to come back again and again, in many cases it can be prevented from recurring by preventive measures. Since the bladder is very sensitive to cooling of the abdomen and feet, this should be avoided. Standing too long in the cold can also affect the bladder. In addition, even in summer, refreshing cooling should not be exaggerated. Above all, drinking a lot in everyday life can prevent cystitis. Thus, about 2 to 3 liters of fluid should be consumed daily. A large part of this should consist of water and herbal tea, so that the bladder is always well flushed and bacteria cannot settle. Toilet hygiene is equally important for prevention. Thus, especially women should be sure to wipe from front to back when going to the toilet, because this is the only way to prevent bacteria from the intestine to the urethra.
Outlook and prognosis
If the body’s natural protective function, the immune system, is lowered, urinary tract infections develop more easily, especially in women. Anatomically, the path of bacteria to the urinary bladder is shorter in women than in men. In many cases, bacteria are also carried from the anus to the urethra. People with weak immune systems thus have a higher susceptibility to infections, which is increased in stressful situations. Some medications, physical abandonment and diabetes also increase susceptibility to infection. To protect against future bladder infections, the immune system should generally be strengthened. A healthy diet, sufficient sleep, plenty of exercise in the fresh air and abstaining from alcohol and cigarettes make an important contribution here. Excessive intimate hygiene in women can increase the tendency to bladder infections. Some soaps destroy the skin‘s natural acid mantle, making it easier for pathogens to take root. If necessary, affected women should make changes here. Once cystitis has subsided, preventive measures should be taken. In winter, it is important to wear warm clothing. The kidneys and pelvis in particular must be protected from hypothermia. Sitting on cold stones is not advisable.Drinking plenty of fluids helps just as much as a preventive measure in acute cases. The liquid flushes bacteria out of the urinary tract. Herbal teas are excellent for this purpose. Kidney and bladder teas are supportive to drug treatment. In severe cases, antibiotics must be administered.
Prevention
To prevent bladder pain, avoid full baths that are too hot, because the heat stimulus can have a similar irritating effect on the bladder as a strong cold stimulus. In addition, full baths soften the mucous membranes, making them more prone to inflammation. Finally, the warm bath water makes it easier for bacteria to migrate from the anal region to the urethra. Full baths should be taken as infrequently as possible and should also last only 5 to 10 minutes. Recurrent bladder infections are also often associated with sexual intercourse (e.g. anal intercourse). Thus, bacteria can enter the urethra here due to hygiene errors. For this reason, both partners should wash before and also after sexual intercourse.
This is what you can do yourself
If the reason for bladder pain has been clarified with a doctor, those affected can also do a lot themselves to improve their well-being. The most common cause of a painful bladder is a urinary tract infection that affects the urethra in addition to the bladder itself. In addition to conventional medical methods, a number of home remedies as well as herbal medicines are available here, especially in mild cases. Tea from bearberry leaves is such a popular home remedy. Bearberry leaves, which are available in pharmacies, not only have an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect, but also protect the mucous membrane. Therefore, they are an effective urinary tract antiseptic, which at the same time relieves pain. Cranberry-based preparations also promise success. The cranberry, which originates from North America, contains the active ingredient proanthocyanidin, a secondary plant substance that has a strong antibacterial effect. In addition, due to their high content of vitamins and minerals, cranberries boost the body’s own defenses. A painful bladder infection can thus be overcome more quickly and new infections prevented. Physical therapies also have a pain-relieving effect on urinary tract infections. A hot water bottle on the lower abdomen or a warm sitz bath quickly relieve mild bladder pain. Drinking plenty of fluids, especially mineral water and fruit or herbal tea, also ensures that bladder pain subsides quickly.
