Chronic Pelvic Pain: Bladder Pain
Treatment
I
frequently experience pain in my bladder area, what can I do to relieve
the symptoms?
Also
See:
Chronic Pelvic Pain: EFUDEX
(5FU) for Vulvadynia
Chronic Pelvic Pain:
Trigger Point Injections
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I frequently
experience pain in my bladder area, what can I do to relieve the symptoms?
We have learned from past experience that
some women can control bladder symptoms by doing a few simple things. If
you follow the advice listed below, you may have greater comfort and
freedom from the unpleasant urges you experience. These are things you can
do to help yourself.
WATER, WATER, WATER!
-
Drink at least 6-8 cups of water a day.
You may need to drink 12-16 cups if you do a lot of exercise. If you are
not drinking this much water presently, gradually increase your intake
over the next 7-10 days. You can do this by adding 1 extra cup of water a
day.
-
The increased water intake may initially
make your urinary frequency worse. The urgency will diminish. Then you
will be more comfortable holding larger volumes and the frequency will
gradually improve. Do not give up TOO soon!
AVOID IRRITATING FOODS AND DRINKS
All
alcoholic beverages
Apples & apple juice
Cantaloupes Peaches
Carbonated
products
Chilies or spicy foods Plums
Chocolate
Citrus fruits Tea
Coffee, including decaf
Cranberries (also
juice)
Grapes
Guava
Pineapple
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Vinegar Vitamin B complex
-
Try choosing 2 or 3 of the above foods and
stopping them for 10 days. Then binge on those foods one at a time. If you
experience greater pain when you start eating them again, you should avoid
those foods. If you don’t feel greater pain, you may feel free to eat
them.
-
If your symptoms are related to your diet,
it may take months to reach a fully effective diet. STAY MOTIVATED!
RELAX YOUR PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLES WHEN URINATING
The pelvic floor muscles support your bladder and surround your urethra.
These can become irritated and be responsible for part of your symptoms.
Practice tightening and relaxing these muscles throughout the day. Then
make sure they are relaxed when you urinate. A warm bath may be a good way
to get these muscles relaxed.
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