Lower urinary tract pain in men

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I know this is going to be subjective, but I'm curious to what lower urinary tract pain feels like. Burning? Dull, Achey? Sharp?

I have what I can only describe as sudden, sharp and rather intense pains from what I suppose is my prostate/bladder. There's no leakage with it. There's also no pattern to how often it occurs, or if it happens more than once at a time. More frequently I would say I have a low dull ache in what I suspect is my bladder.

I've got plans to go back to my urologist, I just a little indecisive on seeing my last one or finding a new doctor - not to mention how frustrating it is to visit a doctor with a pandemic.

 

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Female here chiming in, so this may not be helpful. It depends on the person and the sensation for them as well. I was diagnosed with possible Interstitial Cystitis and that can feel like a burning UTI, glass shards, but with PFD or Pelvic Floor Dysfunction that can also feel more dull and achy or sharp. There is also prostatitis which is similar to both, but unsure what the symptoms are. I have both PFD and IC, there is quite a bit of overlap.



What makes you want to switch doctors? I would get it looked at right away if possible, just to rule out other issues. From what I recall, if your urine flow is bad and you have pain that can be a prostate issue if I remember correctly.

 

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I don't believe I have any issues with flow. It's been a long time since I've been and I wasn't quite thrilled with the last visit. I had a urodynamic study and between the visits I just didn't get a good feeling. The biggest factor is looking for a doctor to do an in house cystoscopy so I'm not paying 3k. Since then I feel like my frequency and urgency have gone up and I've definitely seen more bedwetting.

 

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I would encourage you to go to a urologist sooner rather than later. You don’t want to deal with pain any longer than you have to without trying to find out what is causing it.

 

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I don't believe I have any issues with flow. It's been a long time since I've been and I wasn't quite thrilled with the last visit. I had a urodynamic study and between the visits I just didn't get a good feeling. The biggest factor is looking for a doctor to do an in house cystoscopy so I'm not paying 3k. Since then I feel like my frequency and urgency have gone up and I've definitely seen more bedwetting.

I would pursue your goal then but if any surgery is mentioned, research it like crazy. Hopefully it is only a temporary thing for you and you get answers soon.

 

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Being a female, get the tests done asap, if the doctor gives you a hard time, call your medical provider and document with a letter both to the doctor and to the provider your issues. Otherwise it is your word against theirs. I document in writing almost everything now. It goes in your record, they screw up-believe me. Your health is our wealth, get your tests as soon as you can.

 

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your wealth I meant, the y was left off somehow. Maybe I didn't pressed the key hard enough.

 

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I think seeing a urologist - any urologist - ASAP - should be your top priority. You can die from a UTI; my grandmother almost did three times. The lab test for a UTI is very simple; they just look at the bacteria in your urine sample to decide which antibiotic to prescribe. You don’t need a cystoscopy to find out if you have a UTI.

As a female, having a UTI feels like the bladder and everything touching it is intensely irritated and inflamed. Trying to pee feels like pushing shards of glass through your body, and not enough pee comes out when you do try. It’s a very different pain from any other pain I’ve ever had because you feel parts of your innards that you’ve never felt before. It’s a very acute, intense pain. It’s far more intense than a bladder spasm, and it doesn’t pass like a spasm does: UTI pain is constant pain. It’s often accompanied by a fever.

 

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If it is a UTI, which if I had to guess in this case it isn't, they do sell at home tests too.

If it is Interstital Cystitis, which is possible as well, that may cause the pain. I know for some people diet can help. You should see a urologist but if you want to try the Interstitial Cystitis diet that may help.


@lorumipsum do you attribute anything to this pain ? diet change ? intimacy?surgery? I am not a doctor but I've read up on Interstial Cystitis a lot.

 

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@snow, thank the Lord my bladder infections have never been that bad, mainly burning and not peeing right, It doesn't come down in a stream like it should, it comes a little at a time and interment and it burns, I hate that burning session inside.

 

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@BarbaraDrabek Yeah, that burning is a very uniquely painful kind of pain, ugh, I’d love to never get a UTI again in life! I’ve only had a handful… so far!

 

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They are the worst, undoubtedly. I know with IC its almost indistinguishable and if that isn't bad enough you can get false negatives from what I've read. We use very old testing.

 

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@Koigal Yikes!

 

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Hi @lorumipsum, (I hope I got that right!!) the only urinary tract pain I've had came from bladder infections. Simply put, it hurts to pee!!! It is a burning sensation and the flow is interrupted and you just feel kind of a burning ache in the bladder area. It's nice when you are done, but don't be surprised if you still get that "gotta go" sensation. I was told by a nurse at one point if you feel pain going up along your flanks then the kidneys may become involved and thus become infected. A kidney infection would be more difficult than a bladder infection and you want to avoid that at all cost!!!
But bottom line is: get to a doctor! ASAP!!! A urologist would be most appropriate but a regular family doc or a walk-in urgent care clinic can also diagnose a bladder infection. They give you a medication that makes you pee orange and you'll need to push fluids!!
If you can't get into see a urologist then a walk-in clinic would be fine. But please see someone with a Dr. in front of their name!!

 

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@Koigal No, there isn't really any chance per se, it's been going on regularly but there's no pattern to it. I have considered the fact that I could have IC, but I know it's rare in men. To be honest, I'm overdue for the urologist. The biggest consideration is that I'm really hesitant to go and rack up the bills. I had a UTI earlier in the year from intermittent cathing, so I'm pretty sure it's not that. I was just really curious if anyone could relate.. possibly just getting myself really worked up before I make that Uro appointment.

Thanks all!

 

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Hi @lorumipsum, IF you're having those symptoms please don't let it go on if you have to wait to see the urologist. After all you have only two kidneys and they are really precious to you so it's better to be super-cautious in that regard! As for racking up bills, sure I can understand that, but maybe it won't be quite so bad if you get checked out at a walk-in urgent care place.

 

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I don't believe I have any issues with flow. It's been a long time since I've been and I wasn't quite thrilled with the last visit. I had a urodynamic study and between the visits I just didn't get a good feeling. The biggest factor is looking for a doctor to do an in house cystoscopy so I'm not paying 3k. Since then I feel like my frequency and urgency have gone up and I've definitely seen more bedwetting.

 

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There are several possibilities like Koigal pointed out. Also age has a role whether we like to talk about that one or not. I don’t mean age will cause pain but there are different things that happen as we age. Also have you had your psa checked. A psa test can identify possible issues.

 

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@Koigal No, there isn't really any chance per se, it's been going on regularly but there's no pattern to it. I have considered the fact that I could have IC, but I know it's rare in men. To be honest, I'm overdue for the urologist. The biggest consideration is that I'm really hesitant to go and rack up the bills. I had a UTI earlier in the year from intermittent cathing, so I'm pretty sure it's not that. I was just really curious if anyone could relate.. possibly just getting myself really worked up before I make that Uro appointment.

Thanks all!

@lorumipsum No worries, I can relate to you in that way, and it is more common in men then you would think. There is also a forum dedicated to IC on other webpages. I would visit a urologist when you can but also understand the financial worry and burden. Honestly I have days where I have say a soda or eat chili, and my bladder will have the UTI feeling but it isn't related to any UTI *unless testing sucks,which it does*

For me this comes and goes, I can have mornings that I forget I have IC, then other mornings where I am almost literally crying when I go due to the pain/burning/glass feeling. I take a suppliment called prelief that helps lower the acidity in drinks and foods. I also do take some OTC UTI meds when needed, as per my old doctor. The pain for me originates in the bladder but can be urethral too, and this is something I want to get looked at later.

I would, just to be safe, visit a urologist, but also I understand because I have walked out of offices with people treating me like an idiot because it wasn't a UTI supposedly, and then I remembered I have Interstitial Cystitis.

Most people benefit from diet changes such as avoiding spicy foods, highly acidic drinks,being careful about intimacy, etc. If you want to go the cheaper route, I would do an at home UTI test, and if it isn't positive you are probably ok.

If you have further questions, feel free to reach out. Alh63 has some good suggestions as well. Good luck and hope your pain goes away.

 

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@Alh63 lol, in my case, age has certainly led to pain.