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Stabbing Bladder Pain

Bladder pain can range from a dull ache to a sharp, stabbing pain that can be unbearable. In a situation where mild to severe stabbing bladder pain is present, our bodies are telling us that something is wrong. Typically, bladder pain is the result of one of several underlying illnesses. These illnesses can be mild and treatable, or they can be something more serious. It is always recommended to visit a doctor if there is any pain in the bladder.

  1. Urinary Tract Infection

    • A urinary tract infection (UTI) usually affects the urethra and bladder, which are located in the lower urinary tract. This can occur when bacteria infiltrates the urethra, traveling into the bladder. Nearly 50 percent of all women will experience a UTI at some point in their lives. UTIs typically affect women who are sexually active, using birth control such as diaphragms, are post-menopausal, are experiencing kidney stones or use catheters. Symptoms include pain in the lower abdomen or bladder, frequent and painful urination and bloody urine.

    Urethral Stricture

    • Urethral stricture is more common in men than women, due to the fact that men's urethras are longer and are more susceptible to injury or scarring. When a urethra experiences scarring, the passageway for urine to exit the body narrows, causing painful, infrequent urination and bladder pain. Urethral scarring can be the result of various sexually transmitted diseases, using a urethral catheter for a long period of time, cancer, prostate gland removal surgery or a pelvic injury. The stricture, or narrowing, can be opened to avoid urine backup, which can cause prostatitis or even kidney failure.

    Interstitial Cystitis

    • This disease is often referred to as "painful bladder syndrome," due to the mild to severe bladder pressure and pain that can occur. Interstitial cystitis is a chronic condition, which means it can be long-lasting. This disease is the result of abnormalities in the bladder that cause bladder function signals to perform incorrectly. This means people afflicted experience frequent urination in small amounts--up to 60 times a day--due to the fact that the bladder is not signaling to the brain when it is actually full. Other symptoms include pelvic pain during sex, painful ejaculation in men and pain in the perineal area between the genitals and anus.

    Torulopsis

    • Torulopsis is a rare type of yeast infection that is caused by the fungus Torulopsis glabrata. This fungus is typically found on the human body, including the skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. The fungus only causes a problem when the person infected is experiencing weakness or deficiency in the immune system. It generally affects women, and symptoms include a sore or itchy vagina, frequent and painful urination, bloody urine and bladder pain.

    Bladder Cancer

    • Bladder cancer, if caught in its early stages, is a highly treatable form of cancer that occurs when normally healthy cells in the bladder mutate and overpopulate, causing a tumor. There are a number of possible causes for bladder cancer; smokers have a higher risk than most people due to the ingestion of toxic chemicals into the body, which also travel into urine. Other causes include chemotherapy and radiation, cystitis and dangerous exposure to chemicals. Symptoms include frequent, painful urination, abdominal pain and bloody urine.

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