Here at the London vulvar Pain Clinic, our highly experienced renowned world-class Pain Doctors, have helped countless people with bladder pain syndrome (BPS). They understand how interstitial cystitis and chronic pain can have a hugely negative impact on everyday life. It can impact mental health, work, family, social life and relationships. And this is why our Pain Consultants address both the physical and emotional sides of PBS.

As soon as you receive an accurate diagnosis, if your symptoms are complex and/or persistent, then your Pain Specialist (who offers both online and in-person consultations), will provide you with a comprehensive Personalised Treatment Plan to manage your symptoms (in the short or long-term), and get you back to your usual self as soon as possible.

Bladder pain syndrome (also known as interstitial cystitis/IC), refers to chronic bladder pain. Of note, as our BPS Consultants frequently explain: this is a poorly understood disorder which  generates pelvic pain and issues passing urine. And whilst this condition may feel as though it is a urinary tract or bladder infection, it is not. Moreover, because there is no single test to confirm BPS, and a process of eliminating other conditions has to be instigated, it makes it difficult to diagnose. Furthermore, if the case is complex, then a multi-disciplinary team may be call upon.  

Effective Treatment for Bladder Pain Syndrome

One or a combination of these treatments will be offered to you according to your condition and other factors:

  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Minimally Invasive Pain Management procedures (such as nerve blocks)
  • Neuromodulators (various techniques that act directly on the patient’s nervous system. By adjusting the way their nerves carry data to and from the brain, a patient’s pain can be minimised)
  • Specialist Physiotherapy
  • Psychological support
  • Advice on lifestyle and dietary modifications

Interstitial Cystitis Symptoms

Key BPS symptoms include:

  • Intense pelvic pain
  • Urgency to urinate
  • The need to pass urine more frequently than usual
  • Experiencing pain in the lower part of the stomach whilst the bladder is filling up (a feeling which dissipates when you pass urine)
  • Needing to pass urine several times during the night

Note: other symptoms can include:

  • Urinary incontinence
  • Finding it difficult to urinate, and
  • Haematuria (red, bright pink or dark brown blood in the urine)

Patients who are accurately diagnosed with BPS experience a feeling of pressure and discomfort in their bladder area for at least six weeks. (Furthermore, there will not be any infection or other obvious cause for the disorder).

Potential Causes of BPS

  • Damage to the bladder lining
  • Nerve Dysfunction
  • Autoimmune Response
  • Genetics
  • Various triggers including infection

Bladder Pain Syndrome Risk Factors

  • Female Sex (BPS is far more common in females than males)
  • Age (bladder pain syndrome is normally more prevalent in individuals over 30 years of age)
  • Genetics
  • Other Chronic Pain Conditions