Chronic bladder pain may play in fibromyalgia

Bladder pain

Experts are increasingly recognizing the role that chronic bladder pain may play in fibromyalgia. “It’s a new focus [in pain research],” says Dr. Clauw. “It’s basically the irritable bowel syndrome of the bladder.” Symptoms include pain in the bladder or pelvic region accompanied by feeling the need to urinate frequently.

If these symptoms are short-lived, the most likely culprit is an easily treated bladder or urinary tract infection. Or, if the only symptom is the urge to urinate, the condition is called overactive bladder syndrome.

When combined with all-over chronic pain, bladder pain may be a component of fibromyalgia. Though currently called interstitial cystitis, Dr. Clauw says the name is rapidly changing to “painful bladder syndrome,” which more accurately describes it.