Bladder pain
If there is pain in the region above the pubic bone and stabbing, burning bladder pain in connection with a constant urge to urinate , in many cases there is a bladder infection , an inflammation of the lower urinary tract.
What is bladder pain?
Bladder pain usually originates in the urinary bladder , which lies on the floor of the small pelvis in the area of the pubic bone. It is a hollow, muscular organ that is part of the urinary tract. The urinary bladder has the function of collecting, storing and releasing urine.
A ureter connects the bladder to the two kidneys. The kidneys remove waste products from the blood and make urine in their place. Urine travels through the ureters to the bladder, which empties through the urethra. Kidneys, bladder, urethra and ureters make up the urinary tract, kidneys and ureters make up the upper urinary tract, and bladder and urethra make up the lower urinary tract.
Causes
Bladder pain has a variety of causes. They are usually caused by infections with bacteria , viruses , fungi or worms. The entire wall of the bladder and its mucous membrane are affected by the inflammation.Because men have a longer urethra, bacterial infection is made more difficult. They are more likely to be affected by prostate diseases that are painful.
Other causes of bladder pain can be tumours , foreign bodies in the bladder, an irritable bladder and gynecological diseases. Gynecological diseases are often endometriosis , uterine inflammation or vaginal inflammation. Bladder pain often occurs in combination with the urge to urinate , urinary retention or difficult urination.
Diseases
When to the doctor?
Bladder pain usually indicates a bladder infection, which requires immediate medical treatment. If fever and pain in the back region also occur, those affected should contact a urologist. If a bladder infection is delayed, a chronic disease that is difficult to treat develops in most cases.
Bladder pain accompanied by blood in the urine is another warning sign. Because of this, a doctor’s visit is essential, as various diseases are possible. If those affected feel a burning sensation when urinating or suffer from accompanying pain, a doctor is strongly recommended, because a fungal infection could also be behind the bladder pain. This can also be treated exclusively with medication. In the case of bladder pain caused by a bladder infection, those affected should drink enough fluids to flush the germs out of the body.
In addition, a doctor’s visit must take place in the case of bladder pain if the affected person suffers from diabetes or is pregnant. People who suffer from bladder dysfunction or need to take medication regularly should always see a doctor if they experience bladder pain.
Diagnosis and course
If bladder pain associated with a bladder infection is not diagnosed early enough, the infection can spread to the kidneys. Further symptoms can then be blood in the urine , fever and back pain as well as pain in the flanks , which usually occur when the inflammation has spread to the kidneys or prostate.
If urinary retention or difficult urination occurs, bladder stones or an enlarged prostate in men can also be responsible for the bladder pain. Prostate diseases occur more frequently after the age of 50. The pathologically enlarged prostate gland narrows the urethra in men. Because the bladder is often not completely emptied, pathogens can accumulate in the residual urine in the bladder and in the urethra. They resolve the complaints.
Benign enlarged prostates are widespread in men over the age of 50. This can be counteracted with medication or surgery. Malignant progressions are countered with a specialist examination. The individual check-up by the urologist is also particularly important here.
Complications
Bladder pain can lead to different complications depending on the trigger. In most cases, if symptoms are not treated, bladder pain will progress to a chronic urinary tract infection. This can spread to the kidneys as the disease progresses. If bladder pain occurs in connection with a serious illness, such as a tumor or an infection of the internal organs, the symptoms can become chronic and in some cases even life-threatening.
Bladder pain, which is due to an infection of the urinary bladder, often leads to infections and chronic pain in the urinary region. Severe cases can lead to sepsis , which can be fatal if left untreated. If the disease is based on an inflammation of the urinary tract, it can result in inflammation of the renal pelvis or, in extreme cases, a tumour. In addition, ureteral stones or prostate enlargement are possible complications.
Bladder pain as a result of tuberculosis is extremely problematic and often leads to infections. Regardless of the underlying condition, bladder pain has a negative effect on mood in most cases. Those affected feel tired, listless and powerless. If the bladder pain occurs as a result of drug treatment (such as cyclophosphamide), the complications are usually harmless and disappear a few days after they occur. Nevertheless, it is advisable to consult a doctor if bladder pain persists.
Treatment and therapy
A doctor can prescribe bladder pain medications that treat bladder infections effectively. In these cases, antispasmodic drugs, so-called spasmolytics, help against bladder pain. Bacterial-initiated cystitis is counteracted with the use of antibiotics . Accompanying large amounts of drinking and heat are recommended for healing the cystitis.
Stones also cause bladder pain. They are met with medication that supports elimination and counteracts the pain. Bladder stones can be shattered from the outside with the help of shock waves. If the stone deposits, calcifications and crystals are in the kidneys, they are often excreted without any symptoms.
Large stones can cause severe pain as they pass through the ureter and exit the body through the urethra. Dietary changes can reduce the risk of developing kidney stones . Medical treatment of risk patients to prevent and treat kidney stones is recommended.
Outlook and prognosis
The most common cause of bladder pain is urinary tract infection. These can affect both the bladder itself and the urethra. Urinary tract infections are mainly caused by bacteria. In the case of uncomplicated urinary tract infections that are not characterized by any other risk factors, spontaneous self-healing usually occurs, so that the prognosis is good. In addition, antibiotics can help fight the inflammation.
In the case of complicated urinary tract infections, which are also characterized by an enlargement of the prostate or diabetes, drug therapy is absolutely necessary, as otherwise the probability of developing chronic cystitis increases. In addition to treating the inflammation, other risk factors should also be treated. In the worst cases, if left untreated, urinary tract infection can lead to urosepsis , which is life-threatening. This disease can lead to septic shock , in which about 70% of all those affected die.
About one in five people with urinary tract infections suffer from recurrent urinary tract infections, ie the inflammation keeps coming back after the therapy. Other causes of bladder pain can also be diseases of the prostate. These can develop from a relatively harmless enlargement, the prognosis of which is very favorable with adequate treatment, to prostate carcinoma. In the case of prostate cancer, around 90% of those affected have a 5-year chance of survival.
Prevention
You can also effectively counteract cystitis and the risks of bladder pain and chronic inflammation yourself: To prevent this, you should drink 1.5 liters of water and 1 liter of other liquids every day. This flushing minimizes the risk of bacteria getting stuck in the urethra.Citrus drinks are counterproductive. Consuming them lowers the pH of the bladder mucosa, which in turn makes them more susceptible to pathogenic bacteria. Cranberry or lingonberry juice, on the other hand, contains bioflavonoids that strengthen the bladder lining.
Careful toilet hygiene prevents so-called smear infections and wearing warm clothing that is suitable for preventing cystitis in the cold. Sitz baths relieve and relax bladder pain and herbal preparations disinfect the urinary tract. They support medical treatment, which they accompany but can never replace.
It is also important to have warm feet and warm protection for the lower abdomen and kidney region, as constant hypothermia can often lead to bladder and kidney problems. Then repeated and not completely cured infections can become chronic cystitis.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.