Association of Neuropathic Pain With Bladder, Bowel and Catastrophizing Symptoms in Women With Bladder Pain Syndrome

Purpose: In this study we determined if there is an association of neuropathic pain with urinary, bowel and catastrophizing symptoms in women with bladder pain syndrome. Materials and Methods: Female patients with a diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome completed validated questionnaires to assess neuropathic pain, urinary and bowel symptoms, quality of life and pain catastrophizing. Women were dichotomized into neuropathic pain and nonneuropathic pain groups. Urinary and bowel symptoms, pain catastrophizing and quality of life scores were compared between the 2 groups using parametric and nonparametric tests. Results: Of 150 women with bladder pain syndrome 40 (27%) had features of neuropathic pain while 110 (73%) did not. Women with features of neuropathic pain had significantly worse urinary urgency (mean +/- SD 3.1 +/- 3.1 vs 2.1 +/- 1.7, p <0.001), bladder pain (3.0 +/- 1.1 vs 2.0 +/- 1.3, p <0.001), bowel pain (8.8 +/- 4.0 vs 5.3 +/- 3.6, p <0.001), diarrhea (7.8 +/- 6.1 vs 4.1 +/- 4.3, p <0.001), quality of life (12.2 +/- 5.5 vs 9.8 +/- 3.8, p <0.001) and higher pain catastrophizing (32.2 +/- 12.4 vs 23.1 +/- 14.3, p <0.001) scores than those without neuropathic pain. Conclusions: In women with bladder pain syndrome the presence of neuropathic pain is significantly associated with the severity of bladder and bowel pain, urinary urgency and diarrhea. Women with features of neuropathic pain also have worse pain catastrophizing and quality of life than those without features of neuropathic pain.