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Painful bladder syndrome is a chronic condition causing inflammation and swelling of the bladder lining, resulting in frequent urges to urinate and lower abdominal pain. It is not caused by infection and has no clear cure, but anti-inflammatory drugs and surgical techniques can help. The causes are unknown, but it may be linked to an autoimmune disease or genetic factors. Diagnosis is difficult, and treatment involves pain relief, stress reduction, and medication. Ongoing research aims to find a permanent cure.
Painful bladder syndrome is a chronic disease involving inflammation and swelling of the tissue lining inside the bladder. People who have the condition usually experience frequent urges to urinate and constant lower abdominal pain. Unlike most urinary tract problems, painful bladder syndrome doesn’t appear to be caused by an infection. There is currently no clear cure for the syndrome, but many patients respond well to oral anti-inflammatory drugs and minimally invasive surgical techniques to stimulate better bladder function.
The causes of painful bladder syndrome are not known. Symptoms of the condition resemble those of common urinary tract infections, but on examination, patients show no signs of bacterial, fungal, or viral infestations. Many doctors believe the syndrome is a sign of an underlying autoimmune disease that causes an inflammatory response in the walls of the bladder, although current research is unable to support the theory in all cases. Some patients have family histories of the syndrome, suggesting that an inherited genetic factor may contribute to the disorder.
Painful bladder syndrome occurs when the protective tissue lining on the walls of the bladder becomes inflamed and damaged. When the bladder is irritated, it usually causes chronic pelvic pain and makes a person feel like they need to urinate very frequently. Only a small amount of urine is produced each time a person goes to the bathroom, despite overwhelming urges and a sense of fullness in the bladder. The condition is much more common in women than in men, and patients between the ages of 20 and 40 are affected more often than any other age group.
It can be difficult for doctors to make a clear diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome. In many cases, a diagnosis is made after all other possible explanations for the symptoms have been ruled out. Samples of blood, urine, and mucus are tested to look for signs of infection and autoimmune problems. A physical examination of the urinary tract with the aid of an endoscope is often done to detect the location and severity of inflammation. Imaging scans and a biopsy of the bladder may also be needed to rule out the possibility of bladder cancer.
Treatment decisions are made based on the patient’s specific symptoms. Doctors often prescribe pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs and encourage patients to lower their stress levels to ease symptoms. A drug called pentosan may also be prescribed to help repair damage to the bladder walls and prevent future bouts of severe inflammation. If medical treatment fails, a small electrical device may be implanted in the back to help regulate nerve impulses in the bladder. Ongoing research hopes to discover a permanent and effective cure for the syndrome in the near future.
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