Urinary urgency and frequency along with other kinds of pelvic pain and discomfort can have many causes, but in the absence of infection and other related factors, these symptoms may be the result of dysfunction within the pelvic floor, which is treated through the PRM Protocol.
Urinary problems such as pain, urgency, and frequency are common, and these symptoms typically affect both men and women. It is often labeled as dysuria, which is the medical term for painful or difficult urination. Urinary pain or burning is often related to kidney problems or infections, which can potentially lead to pelvic floor issues. Our patients are more often experiencing a feeling of urgency, frequency, and inability to go or completely empty the bladder. These “control”, or lack of, symptoms are more closely related to the musculature of the pelvic floor versus localized pain or burning.
Urinary frequency and urgency is usually a sign of an underlying pelvic health condition. Speaking with a pelvic pain specialist will allow patients to receive the proper treatment sooner.
There are many causes of urinary symptoms. It is best to first see a urologist to rule out infection or structural causes of bladder symptoms. Once these have been ruled out or optimally treated, thinking of the pelvic floor muscles and nerves as a common culprit for persistent bladder symptoms is important.
Urinary tract infection
Kidney Stones
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Pelvic floor Hypertonia
Bladder Pain Syndrome/IC
Overactive bladder
Certain medications
Caffeine and alcohol
Diseases such as diabetes
Once an infection or a urological structural issue has been ruled out by a urologist, we offer a proprietary office-based procedure to treat urinary urgency and frequency. This treatment consists of a series of pelvic nerve and muscle treatments to directly target the spastic pelvic floor muscles that the bladder is sitting on, and treat the irritated and inflamed nerves that innervate the bladder. Depending on the symptoms or condition causing your symptoms, other modalities may be needed in addition to our treatment. Since the cause of urinary urgency and frequency can be multifactorial, the most effective treatment option is a multimodal approach that targets many different contributing factors.
Experiencing the symptoms of urinary urgency and frequency can be difficult, but our team of pelvic pain specialists will listen to you, validate your experiences and symptoms, and partner with you on your rehabilitation journey.
If you are experiencing urinary symptoms without pain and discomfort and you have been drinking alcohol and/or caffeine, these symptoms will go away on their own. However, if you are taking medications, have an infection, or have an underlying condition that is causing your symptoms, especially if you have pain and discomfort, then you will need to seek treatment.
If you are experiencing pain and discomfort alongside urinary urgency and frequency that does not subside quickly, you should seek treatment as it may be the result of infection or an underlying pelvic health condition.
If you are experiencing urinary symptoms not related to infection, medication, or other, your symptoms may be the result of an underlying pelvic health condition, seeing a pelvic pain specialist who understands your symptoms will allow you to receive the proper treatment for your condition sooner.
First, our providers will ask questions about your medical history and listen to your symptoms to get a full picture of what is going on with you.
Next, an external exam of your hips, abdomen, and posterior sacrum.
Next, your pelvic nerves are evaluated externally with a soft cotton tip.
Next, with your consent, gel is placed on a gloved finger and an internal exam is performed to allow us to evaluate the nerves and muscles within the pelvis.
There is no speculum required as we are evaluating the pelvic floor muscles and nerves, not the organs.
Sometimes patients will need Imaging to help us understand if there is an associated cause of the pelvic nerve and muscle pain and dysfunction found on the exam.
Oftentimes, treatment can be started the same day as there is no downtime. Our patients have been suffering with pelvic pain symptoms for 6+ months. We like to get them on the road to feeling better as soon as we can as the longer the symptoms are present the harder it is for us to resolve them.
Our pelvic pain specialists are experts in recognizing the symptoms of and diagnosing pelvic pain conditions. With The PRM Protocol, we go further than addressing the symptoms on the surface – we treat the underlying causes of pelvic pain.