Bladder Pain

What causes bladder pain?

Bladder pain, also known as interstitial cystitis (IC) or bladder pain syndrome (BPS), is a long-lasting (chronic) condition that causes mild to excruciating pain in your bladder and pelvic area.

Bladder pain is caused by many different things. The Pelvic Physical Therapists at Inland Pelvic Health & Physical Therapy will assess the pelvis and bladder to help determine the causes and triggers for bladder pain. They will evaluate muscle tension, scar tissue, and inflammation to determine the cause of bladder pain. 

Does bladder pain cause other symptoms?

In addition to bladder and lower abdominal pain, you may experience:

• Pain in the perineum (the area between the vagina/scrotum and anus)
• Excessive urge to urinate
• Frequent urination (usually small amounts)
• Urinating during the night
• Pain or discomfort as the bladder fills
• Pain during sex

Your bladder pain may flare up in response to triggers like menstruation, physical activity, stress, diet, and sitting for a long time.

Does bladder pain affect the pelvic floor muscles?

Your pelvic floor muscles support your bladder, rectum, uterus, vagina, and prostate. They also control urine flow by encircling the urethra (the tube carrying urine out of your body). 

Chronic bladder pain may cause your pelvic floor muscles to spasm or stay constantly tightened (hypertonic). When these muscles become hypertonic, you may have symptoms like:

• Pain when urinating
• Difficulty starting or maintaining a urine stream
• Increased urgency
• Difficulty having a bowel movement
• Pain during bowel movements
• Constipation
• Pain during or after sex
• Inability to have an orgasm
• Erectile dysfunction
• Pain during an erection

You could also develop hypertonic pelvic floor muscles from another cause, and then the tight muscles could result in chronic bladder pain and changes in bladder function. 

The pelvic muscles could, instead, become very weak. The symptoms for pelvic weakness typically include 

• Urine leaking 
• Feeling of weakness or heaviness in pelvis or abdomen
• Low back pain or pain going down the leg

How is bladder pain treated?

The experienced Inland Pelvic Health & Physical Therapy team creates individualized care plans that relieve bladder pain and improve pelvic floor muscle function.

Your physical therapist may recommend techniques, such as:

• Dry needling
• Myofascial release
• Visceral manipulation
• Trigger point therapy

Inland Pelvic Health & Physical Therapy takes a holistic approach to pelvic care. When treating bladder pain, they may recommend exercise or dietary changes to prevent flare-ups.

You don’t need a doctor’s referral to seek the team’s help for bladder pain. Call Inland Pelvic Health & Physical Therapy today or request an appointment online.