I Feel A Lot Of Pressure On My Bladder

Get A Diagnosis Not A Self

Its also important to consider whether the uterus and other organs of the gynecological system could be causing bladder pain, Siddiqui says, as they are close to the bladder. Pelvic floor dysfunction, such as tightness or spasms of the pelvic muscles, commonly occurs with bladder pain and may make bladder pain worse, she explains. Pelvic pain can also be caused by endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or ovarian cysts. Additionally, gastrointestinal problems such as inflammatory bowel diseases can sometimes be the source of pelvic pain, notes Mayo Clinic.

If none of these conditions are present and women have ongoing bladder pain, they are typically treated for bladder pain syndrome, which refers to painful conditions of the bladder where other causes such as UTI and cancer have been excluded,” says Siddiqui.

The bottom line for women to keep in mind: Dont self-diagnose your bladder pain. Addressing and treating the issue can offer relief for body and mind.

Lifestyle Changes To Treat & Prevent Painful Urination

Treating the underlying cause often eliminates or reduces painful urination. People can also undertake lifestyle changes to prevent painful urination. Treatments include:

• Antibiotics to treat UTIs, prostatitis and some sexually transmitted infections
• Drugs to treat interstitial cystitis
• Using condoms during sex to protect against infections
• Avoiding scented detergents and toiletries that may cause infections
• Avoiding foods and drinks that can irritate the bladder, such as:
• Caffeine

Preventing Pressure On Bladder

The best way to treat bladder pressure is to avoid experiencing it in the first place. Below are some tips to help prevent infections, and in turn, pressure on the bladder.

Underwear: Wearing loose, comfortable, cotton underwear prevents bacteria from being trapped near the urethra and causing an infection.

Shower: Showering rather than bathing reduces your risk of getting an infection, as the warm water of the tub is great for bacteria and the soap can wash away any protective mucous membranes.

Dont hold it: If you have the urge to urinate, do so as soon as you can. Holding urine in your bladder can create a breeding ground for bacteria, which leads to infection.

Water: Drinking plenty of water helps to flush your system and can reduce the risk of getting a bacterial infection.

While pressure on the bladder has a variety of causes that can vary by sex, most are not very serious and can be treated easily. However, it is important to seek the advice of a healthcare professional if you are experiencing bladder pressure so that its cause can be accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated before your condition worsens.

Recommended Reading: How To Fix Bladder Leakage After Pregnancy

Stages Of Bladder Prolapse

The severity of bladder prolapse can be measured in several ways. Terms such as mild, moderate and severe are not always completely accurate, as they depend on a persons opinion, but are often used in day-to-day conversations to help people understand the severity of the prolapse.A more commonly used grading is:

• Stage 1 the bladder protrudes a little way into the vagina
• Stage 2 the bladder protrudes so far into the vagina that its close to the vaginal opening
• Stage 3 the bladder protrudes out of the vagina
• Stage 4 most severe form, in which all pelvic organs including the bladder protrude out of the vagina.

Many gynaecologists now use the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system, which measures in centimetres where the prolapse is in relation to the vaginal entrance to ascertain the stage of prolapse.

How Is Ic Diagnosed

There are no tests that make a definitive diagnosis of IC, so many cases of IC go undiagnosed. Because IC shares many of the same symptoms of other bladder disorders, your doctor needs to rule these out first. These other disorders include:

There is no cure or definitive treatment for IC. Most people use a combination of treatments, and you may have to try several approaches before you settle on the therapy that provides the most relief. Following are some IC treatments.

Recommended Reading: How Long Can You Live With Aggressive Bladder Cancer

Interstitial Cystitis: A Severe Form Of Bladder Pain Syndrome

More than three million American women live with pelvic pain related to interstitial cystitis, a condition in which the bladder wall becomes irritated and inflamed, according to the NIDDK. Interstitial cystitis is a severe form of bladder pain syndrome, Siddiqui says.

Bladder discomfort from interstitial cystitis may range from tenderness to severe pain, according to the institute. Another clue that interstitial cystitis is the culprit: Menstruation tends to worsen bladder pain.

Interstitial cystitis is not caused by a urinary tract infection, although the symptoms may worsen if you have interstitial cystitis and get a UTI. While the cause is not understood, according to the NIDDK, certain events or factors seem to trigger flares in symptoms. These include stress, changes in diet, allergies, and taking certain drugs, among other things.

Treatment options for interstitial cystitis include distending the bladder, taking oral medication, physical therapy, and using electrical nerve stimulation to alleviate pain, but there is no known cure. In severe cases, where other treatments havent worked, sometimes surgery is an option.

Causes Of Painful Urination

Several kinds of infection or inflammation can cause painful urination. These include:

• Urethritis and prostatitis. These two inflammatory conditions are the most frequent causes of painful urination in men.
• Vaginal infection, such as a yeast infection. Women who have a vaginal infection may notice vaginal odor, discharge and painful urination.
• Sexually transmitted infections. STIs such as chlamydia, genital herpes and gonorrhea can cause painful urination.
• Can be caused by:
• Irritation of the urethra from sexual activity or activities like bicycling or horseback riding.
• Irritation from douches, spermicides, bubble baths, soap or toilet paper with fragrance.
• Side effects of certain medications, supplements and treatments.
• Stones in the urinary tract.
• Vaginal changes related to menopause .
• Tumor in the urinary tract.

Recommended Reading: Recurrent Bladder Infections And Cancer

Changes In Bladder Habits Or Symptoms Of Irritation

Bladder cancer can sometimes cause changes in urination, such as:

• Having to urinate more often than usual
• Pain or burning during urination
• Feeling as if you need to go right away, even when your bladder isn’t full
• Having trouble urinating or having a weak urine stream
• Having to get up to urinate many times during the night

These symptoms are more likely to be caused by a urinary tract infection , bladder stones, an overactive bladder, or an enlarged prostate . Still, its important to have them checked by a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

What Is Interstitial Cystitis

Painful bladder syndrome or bladder pain syndrome, also commonly known as interstitial cystitis, is a chronic inflammation of the bladder wall. It is not caused by bacteria and does not respond to conventional antibiotic therapy. It can affect both women and men, although it is more common in women.

It can be a long and difficult process to correctly diagnose painful bladder syndrome. The disease affects individuals in different ways. There are no generalised symptoms and day-to-day life is seriously upset. It is important to rule out any other conditions that have similar symptoms to painful bladder syndrome, such as cancer, kidney problems, vaginal infections and neurological disorders. Painful bladder syndrome is often debilitating and can cause feelings of desperation and despair.

There is no cure for this condition and there is no one individual specific treatment that works for everyone. People who suffer from painful bladder syndrome need to investigate ways to help themselves manage the condition. Unfortunately, it is a case of trial and error for the patient.

Read Also: What Does Overactive Bladder Feel Like

Frequent Urge To Urinate Increased Passing Gas Pain Or Discomfort And Pressure Or Fullness

• Medical Author: Carol DerSarkissian, MD

Reviewed on 6/15/2020

Your symptoms match a wide variety of different medical conditions, including bladder problems like a urine infection. Another possibility is constipation or irritation of your bowels. Try to drink plenty of fluids and call your doctor if you don’t get better after a day or two. In some instances in adults, these symptoms can point to something more serious like a problem with your aorta, a large artery in your lower belly. If these symptoms concern you, it’s best to give your doctor a call right away.

While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:

What Causes Bladder Pressure

Doctors arent sure what exactly causes IC. What they do know is that the bladder normally fills and then tells your brain to use the bathroom. It communicates this through the nerves in your body.

With IC, these signals get mixed up. You may feel like you need to urinate more frequently but without a lot of urine at each bathroom trip.

Bladder pressure may also be caused by:

• a defect in the lining of the bladder
• an autoimmune reaction

IC is more common in women than in men. Some people who have IC, also have other health issues such as irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia. Other pain syndromes are also possible.

People who have both fair skin and red hair also have a greater risk of IC.

IC is primarily diagnosed in people in their 30s or older.

Recommended Reading: New Treatments For Neurogenic Bladder

Key Points About Interstitial Cystitis

• Interstitial cystitis is an inflamed or irritated bladder wall.

• The cause of IC is unknown and it does not get better with antibiotics.

• Symptoms of IC include changes in urination such as frequency and urgency pressure, pain, and tenderness around the bladder, pelvis, and the area between the anus and vagina or anus and scrotum and pain during sex.

• There is no best way to diagnose IC. A variety of tests may be needed. Urine tests will be done and imaging tests may be used to look at the different parts of the urinary tract and make sure everything is normal. Tissue samples may be removed from the bladder and examined under a microscope to see if cancer or other abnormal cells are present.

• Treatments are aimed at easing symptoms. A variety of procedures, medicines, and lifestyle changes may be advised.

Is Bladder Pressure The Same Thing As A Spasm

Do you have pressure in your bladder that just wont go away? This type of chronic bladder pain is different from the spasms you may get with a condition such as overactive bladder or a urinary tract infection .

Bladder pressure feels more like constant ache rather than a muscle contraction. Doctors typically attribute bladder pressure to interstitial cystitis . IC is also known as bladder pain syndrome.

Heres more about this syndrome, its causes, and how to get relief from the pressure.

The Feeling Of Bladder Pressure But Youre Not Voiding Any Urine Prompts A Trip To The Doctor But Your Uti Test Comes Back Negative

You were kind of hoping it was a urinary tract infection since that can easily be cured with antibiotics.

So if an infection isnt causing bladder pressure, then what might be?

There are many reasons why a patient may have symptoms similar to a UTI with a negative urine analysis, says Dana Rice, MD, a board certified urologist and creator of the UTI Tracker mobile app, which helps patients catalogue daily urinary tract symptoms, medication and behavioral patterns, and offers personalized tips for UTI prevention.

For some people, its very puzzling that a test for a urinary tract infection would come back negative in the face of uncomfortable bladder pressure for no apparent reason.

Dr. Rice explains, Urine cultures are a more accurate assessment of bacterial infections, but they too can be limited.

Standard urine cultures do not test for atypical organisms such as urea and mycoplasma.

In addition, there are other diagnoses that could present with UTI-like symptoms.

These conditions are not infections, but could cause a sensation of pressure on the bladder despite what seems to be a complete voiding.

Kidney stones, interstitial cystitis, overactive bladder, incomplete emptying of the bladder and even bladder cancer are a few that come to mind quickly, says Dr. Rice.

Three more possible causes for the sensation of pressure on the bladder is a prolapsed bladder, an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer.

For more information on the UTI Tracker, go to utitracker.com.

Pressure On Bladder: Remedies And Treatment

In addition to medical treatments needed for infections and cancer, there are lots of home treatments for pressure on the bladder. Some of these treatments consist of:

1. Usage prescription antibiotics for infection

If you have think you have an infection , see your healthcare provider who will recommend an antibiotic for the infection. In addition, make use of some of the home treatments to assist the pressure on the bladder.

2. Take analgesic

Over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen can assist alleviate the pain and inflammation which will assist with the bladder pressure.

3. Consume cranberry juice

Cranberry juice is believed to fight urinary system infections that are a leading reason for pressure on the bladder. The active ingredients in cranberry juice are not destroyed by the digestive process so can fight versus bacteria in the urine.

4. Drink water

Consume lots of water each day. Unless you have a medical condition that restricts you from drinking water, attempt to take in a minimum of 8 glasses of water each day. This will help flush dangerous bacteria from your bladder.

5. Prevent bladder-irritating drinks

On the other hand, attempt to avoid or restrict your intake of alcohol, caffeine and other citrus juices that may irritate your bladder.

6. Use heat pads

A heating pad or wet warm compress on your lower abdominal areas might assist to ease spasms that may be triggering the pressure on your bladder.

Pressure In Lower Abdomen

The abdomen contains the vast majority of the organs in the body. Pressure in the lower abdomen could mean a problem with any number of those organs. The abdomen contains the digestive tract, which includes the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, cecum and appendix there are also accessory organs, such as the pancreas, gallbladder and liver. The spleen is also there, as well as the urinary systems, including the kidneys and ureters. Any of these could be in distress if you are feeling pressure in the lower abdomen.

Treatment For Symptomatic Bladder Prolapse

If you have symptoms of bladder prolapse it is recommended that, as for people with no symptoms, you make the same lifestyle changes, do pelvic floor muscle training and treat any chronic cough. Make them part of your routine.

However, sometimes prolapse can be more severe and these measures may not be enough on their own to relieve symptoms.

For these cases, there can be two different approaches:

1. Non-surgical approach vaginal pessaries

A pessary is a device made mostly of silicone. It is inserted in the vagina to support the bladder prolapse and front vaginal wall. Pessaries come in different shapes and sizes.You do not need surgery to put in a pessary. It can be done in the rooms of a pelvic floor physiotherapist, continence nurse or your gynaecologist.

Some women may prefer this option if they wish to avoid or delay surgery, and it may be the safest option for women who are unfit for surgery.You will need regular check-ups with your healthcare professional if you are using a vaginal pessary long-term.

2.Surgical approach

Suggestions may include:

• resting each day.

What Else Can I Do To Help My Symptoms

Diet. Alcohol, tomatoes, spices, chocolate, caffeine, citrus drinks, artificial sweeteners and acidic foods may irritate your bladder. That makes your symptoms worse. Try removing these foods from your diet for a couple of weeks. Then try eating one food at a time to see if it makes your symptoms worse.

How Does Bladder Pain Syndrome Affect Pregnancy

Some women find that their bladder pain symptoms get better during pregnancy. Others find their symptoms get worse. During pregnancy, you need to urinate more often and are at higher risk for urinary tract infections and constipation. This can make symptoms worse for some women. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids, especially water.

If you are thinking about becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor about your bladder pain syndrome and any medicines you might be taking. Some medicines and treatments are not safe to use during pregnancy.

What Behavioral Changes Can I Make To Help With Overactive Bladder

There are many techniques and changes to your typical behavior that you can try to help with an overactive bladder. These can include:

Keeping a log: During a typical day, write down your fluid intake, the number of times you urinate, the number of accidents and when they occur. Make a note about what happened when the accident happened, like when you:

• Cough.
• Laugh.
• Were unable to reach the bathroom in time.

Monitoring your diet: Eliminate or decrease foods or beverages that may worsen your bladder symptoms. These could include:

• Tea.
• Spicy and acidic foods and drinks.
• Foods and drinks that contain artificial sweeteners.

Maintaining bowel regularity: Constipation can place added pressure on the bladder and have a negative effect on your bladder function. By keeping healthy bowel habits, you may be able to avoid constipation and help to lessen bladder symptoms. The following are some suggestions for maintaining bowel regularity:

• Increase your fiber intake by eating foods like beans, pasta, oatmeal, bran cereal, whole wheat bread, and fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Every morning, take 2 tablespoons of this mixture: 1 cup apple sauce, 1 cup unprocessed wheat bran, and ¾ cup prune juice.
• Exercise regularly to maintain regular bowel movements.

Maintaining a healthy weight: Being overweight can add pressure on your bladder, which may contribute to bladder control problems. If you are overweight, weight loss can reduce the pressure on your bladder.