Is It Interstitial Cystitis or a UTI?

Bladder and urinary tract problems often present as similar, and it can be hard to know which is which without the help of a trained doctor. If you have what you think are persistent UTIs but also have other pelvic pain and pressure, it’s time to see a professional.

At CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center, with multiple locations in Maryland and Delaware, our providers can determine if you have a UTI or interstitial cystitis and provide appropriate treatment to help relieve your symptoms.

UTI basics

A urinary tract infection affects the urinary tract, which runs from your urethra (the exit point for urine) up to your bladder and includes the kidneys. The most common cause of UTIs is bacteria entering through the urethra and traveling to the bladder, where they multiply. 

Symptoms of a UTI can include:

• A persistent urge to urinate but only a tiny amount of urine
• A burning sensation when you urinate
• Small amounts of urine frequently 
• Cloudy, pink, or red urine
• Pelvic pain low in your abdomen

UTIs can usually be treated with an antibiotic to deal with the bacterial infection and possibly phenazopyridine, a targeted analgesic that can numb the bladder and urinary tract to alleviate pain and burning.

Interstitial cystitis 101

Interstitial cystitis (IC), also known as bladder pain syndrome (BPS), is a chronic condition. The exact cause is unknown, but it’s more common in women and people with autoimmune disorders, chronic inflammation, and thinning or damaged bladder lining tissue. 

Symptoms of IC/BPS are similar to those of a UTI and can include:

• The constant need to urinate
• Extreme urgency when there’s urine in your bladder
• Urinating frequently but only a little bit at a time
• Pressure in your bladder even if you just urinated
• Chronic or recurring pain in your bladder and pelvic area

Only a qualified doctor can tell the difference between IC and a UTI. 

Bacteria cause urinary tract infections, which can be treated with antibiotics, but if there are no bacteria present in the case of interstitial cystitis, we must treat the symptoms instead. Typical treatments include:

• Oral medications to reduce pain and urinary frequency
• Bladder instillation, putting numbing medication directly into your bladder
• Hydrodistention and bladder training to stretch the bladder and calm bladder urgency 
• Nerve or trigger point injections to calm nerves in and around the bladder
• Electrical stimulation to ease pain symptoms in your bladder and pelvic region

Surgery for interstitial cystitis is a last resort; only a few patients are good candidates for this solution. 

Are you experiencing frequent urination with pain? Book an appointment online or over the phone today with the CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center location near you.