Is It A Chronic UTI or Is It Pelvic Floor Syndrome?

Do you have chronic UTI's?

Do you feel burning when you pee and have to pee often?

But you've been to the doctor and been tested for UTI and the test comes back saying there is no infection.

But you still having burning when you pee.

And you still always feel like you need to pee.

Now what?

If It Isn't A UTI, Then What?

Maybe, it isn't a UTI, but maybe it is tight pelvic floor muscles instead.

Your doctor probably never offered this as an option.

Tight pelvic floor muscles can press against the bladder and urethra and mimic UTI symptoms.

How Pelvic Floor Muscles Affect the Bladder

In this picture the bladder is the red part in front on top of the bone and the uterus is the white sitting on top of that. The red that you see between the bones and at the bottom are the pelvic floor muscles. I hope this helps you visualize how tight pelvic floor muscles could be squeezing around the bladder and causing burning when you pee and the feeling of constantly needing to go to the bathroom.

Normally when we pee the pelvic floor muscles relax so we can fully empty the bladder, but if the muscles are tight around the bladder they may not fully relax and the bladder may not fully empty. That tension can also cause the burning feeling while you pee.

The tight muscles are constantly pressing on the bladder giving us the signal that it is time to pee again, but because we are peeing so often it might not be a lot of urine that comes out.

This is a short explanation of why tight pelvic floor muscles can mimic UTI symptoms.

Get tested from your doctor if you think you have a UTI, but if the test comes back negative and you don't have a bladder infection, then you should see a pelvic floor PT and see if the pelvic floor muscles are tight.

How Pelvic Floor Therapy Helps Bladder Symptoms

In pelvic floor PT we can teach you how to relax the pelvic floor muscles, some stretches and breathing exercises that might help and we can work directly on releasing the tight muscles if that is appropriate.

Like any physical therapy treatment, results are not immediate like a medication, but the results can be long lasting and give you strategies to prevent this constant UTI feeling so you can get back to living your life and not always worrying about where the toilet is when you are out and about.

If this sounds like you and you are ready to get seen by a pelvic floor PT you can schedule an appointment with me here.

If you don't live locally, see this previous blog on how to find a PT near you.