Painful bladder syndrome is a chronic disease that causes mile to severe pain in the pelvic area. In men, its symptoms often feel similar to a prostate infection, and can cause patients to feel pressure on and pain around the bladder.
Also known as interstitial cystitis, painful bladder syndrome typically causes patients to use the restroom more often, or have emergency cases in which they need to go to bathroom,
says the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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The average person urinates no more than seven times a day,
the Urology Care Foundation notes, but people with painful bladder syndrome may need to go much more often and more urgently.
What causes this is mixed up signals being sent from the bladder to the brain, the
Mayo Clinic explains. With painful bladder syndrome, the brain thinks the bladder needs to be emptied more frequently and with lesser amounts of urine than normal.
The disease is not caused by a bacterial infection, so antibiotics are not effective in combating painful bladder syndrome. Scientists are looking into a hereditary link.
While men do experience interstitial cystitis, it is more common in women, the Urology Care Foundation notes. It may be consistently painful or alternate between uncomfortable and not. Some, especially women, also have problems with irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.
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Due to the variety of symptoms and extremes of painful bladder syndrome, some doctors believe it to be more than one disease, according to the NIDDK.
Some patients have irritated or scarred bladder walls. Around 10 percent have Hunner’s ulcers, which are patches of broken skin on the bladder walls. Bleeding that happens in only certain areas of bladder walls called glomerulations can occur as well, the NIDDK reports.
Symptoms vary depending on a number of factors. Certain foods may lead to a worsening of symptoms, says the Urology Care Foundation, and having sexual intercourse may also cause pain.
Diagnosing painful bladder syndrome can include discussion of medical history, looking at a schedule of times the patient uses the restroom, a pelvic examination, and urine tests. According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors may also see how a patient reacts to potassium in the bladder or perform a cystoscopy to examine the lining of the bladder, or a biopsy to remove tissue.
No cure for interstitial cystitis currently exists. Treatments for symptoms include physical therapy, nerve stimulation, and surgery. Oral medications — including anti-inflammatory drugs, antihistamines, and antidepressants — may be used. Speak with a physician before starting any treatment.
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