Diseases / Painful Bladder

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Treatment of the painful bladder

The treatment of the painful bladder can be a long hall treatment if it is a significantly advanced condition. The treatment methods include painful bladder or bladder pain syndrome or previously called interstitial cystitis incorporates a spectrum of conditions which causes pain to the bladder while the bladder is filling. This is invariably due to long-standing inflammation of the lining of the bladder which is usually due to frequent urinary infections. This can cause ongoing damage to the lining of the bladder and continuing chemical irritation from the urine prevents the healing of this inflamed lining. Eventually, this inflammation can affect the muscle part of the wall of the bladder causing a reduction in bladder capacity. This extremely inflamed bladder condition is called interstitial cystitis. Bladder pain can be a very difficult and challenging condition to treat depending on the stage of the presentation of the disease. Unfortunately even in the western world patients invariably wait for a few years before seeing a urologist with a special interest in treating this condition by recognising it and offering different methods of treatment. The treatment of the painful bladder can be a long hall treatment if it is a significantly advanced condition. The treatment methods include

1. Medical treatment with painkillers, low dose antibiotics to prevent any further infections. Other medications that would reduce inflammation in the bladder lining and create a protective layer in the bladder can be also used.

2. Bladder treatments with  Hyaluronic acid or Chondroitin sulphate which are normal substances produced in the body in the lining of the body cavities. These can be given into the bladder by inserting a small catheter through the urethra. Usually, these treatments are given on a weekly basis on an induction course for up to 6 weeks to be followed by a maintained treatment for up to 12 months or longer if necessary.

3. Certain injectable substances that would reduce the pain perception and contractility of the bladder may be also helpful.

If the painful bladder is associated with the overactive bladder proven by a test called urodynamics study showing abnormal contractions of the bladder muscle while the bladder is filling, then certain medicines  can be injected into the bladder wall for treating overactive bladder.

It takes a lot of patience on the part of the doctor and the patient to go through these treatment options and achieve a better outcome. The treatments may not achieve a complete cure all the time, but even small improvements can improve the quality of life significantly for the patients. In any case, preventing any further episode of infection is also paramount in importance.

It is also important to avoid any bladder stimulants or irritants such as tea, coffee, fizzy drinks and alcohol that could cause further aggravation of the symptoms.