The bladder is a hollow organ that serves to store urine. It is located in the pelvis and is part of the urinary system. It receives urine produced in the kidneys through the ureters and stores it for a time until it is eliminated through the urethra.
Urinary infections, bladder inflammation or cystitis, kidney stones, and even intestinal or uterine inflammation are some causes related to the presence of pain in the bladder, where the manifestation of other symptoms such as fever, pain when urinating, increased urinary frequency, vaginal discharge or penile secretions.
Indeed, these conditions tend to affect many more women than men. However, regardless of the cause, anyone who suffers from bladder pain should be evaluated and treated by their GP, gynecologist, or urologist, who will be able to identify the cause: cause and the best treatment to effectively eliminate pain and its associated symptoms. If you want to know more about this topic, continue reading this article by FastlyHealon bladder pain: causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Table of Contents
Causes of pain in the bladder
The bladder works basically by storing the urine coming from the kidneys and then being expelled to the outside through the urethra. It is common for bladder pain to indicate the presence of a urinary infection. However, going much further than this, this symptom can revolve around many conditions:
- Urinary infection: this is the most common cause of bladder pain. In addition to affecting the bladder and urethra, Urinary infection can spread to organs such as the kidneys if not treated in time. It is common for urine infection to be much more common in women than in men.
- Interstitial Cystitis: Another reason why there may be bladder pain is what is known as painful bladder syndrome or interstitial cystitis. This condition is characterized by inflammation or irritation of the bladder wall, and its cause is unknown. It affects men and women equally.
- Neurogenic bladder: This condition is defined as the inability to contract and relax the bladder and urinary tract, causing incontinence, a feeling of incomplete emptying, and pain. This condition is subclassified, in turn, into an underactive neurogenic bladder and an overactive neurogenic bladder, either of which is associated with the presence of pain in the bladder.
- Inflammation: obviously, if there is an inflammatory process in the bladder triggered by some other cause, such as endometriosis, use of a urinary catheter for an extended period, or changes in the size of the prostate, any of them can trigger a process inflammatory in the bladder and, therefore, cause pain in it.
- Kidney stones: kidney stones, kidney stones, or kidney stones can travel and settle anywhere in the urinary tract, from the kidneys to the urethra. When these moves or impact any segment of the urinary system, in this case on the bladder, they cause severe pain, especially in this area, and are also associated with the presence of other characteristic symptoms.
Other possible causes of bladder pain can include:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Menstrual cramps.
- Inflammation of the pelvic muscles.
- Inflammation of the pelvic joints.
- Endometriosis of organs such as the ovaries, intestine, peritoneum, and fallopian tubes.
- Bladder pain from pregnancy.
- Tumor in the bladder.
Although some of the latter are not bladder conditions, they may reflect radiating pain in them due to the proximity of the abdominal and pelvic regions.
Symptoms of pain in the bladder
In addition to the typical symptom of bladder pain, any of the causes associated with its appearance can manifest with symptoms such as:
- Blood in the urine or hematuria.
- Pain during sexual intercourse.
- Fever.
- Increased urge to urinate.
- Decrease in the amount of urine.
- Pain in the pelvis
- Burning when urinating.
- The desire to urinate frequently at night or nocturia.
The manifestation of one or more of these symptoms will depend directly on the cause related to the pain in the bladder, be it a urinary infection, neurogenic bladder, kidney stones, or inflammatory processes associated with other reasons.
Treating bladder pain
A timely medical evaluation will be necessary to diagnose any condition effectively. In this case, it will be essential to the physical examination, the performance of a urine test, and a blood test.
Unquestionably, after medical evaluation and identification of the cause of bladder pain, treatment will be aimed at treating the triggering factor, including:
- In the case of a urinary tract infection, treatment may include the use of antibiotics such as norfloxacin or fosfomycin. Analgesics, such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, which will considerably relieve the pain associated with urinary infection, may also be helpful.
- In the case of an inflammatory process in the bladder, this will require over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and pain relievers.
- Suppose the cause of bladder pain is the neurogenic bladder. In that case, treatment is individualized and may include drugs such as tolterodine and oxybutynin, physical therapy, bladder catheter placement, and, ultimately, the surgical procedure is required.
- Kidney stones are usually treated depending on the size and location of the rocks. Initially, it will be necessary to increase water consumption to facilitate their expulsion or elimination, and, in other cases, when they are larger, surgery may be required.
Within compliance with treatment, it is also necessary:
- Maintain good intimate hygiene.
- Drink at least 2 liters of water a day.
- Wear light and comfortable clothing.
- Get enough rest.
Most of the causes of bladder pain are simple to treat if they are assessed promptly by the specialist, do not underestimate any symptoms, and do not lose details. The doctor will require questioning for diagnostic guidance.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Bladder pain: causes, symptoms, and treatment, we recommend that you enter our Kidney and urinary system category.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.