What are Hunner’s Ulcers?
Hunner ulcers are ulcers that are extremely painful and are visible in the urinary bladder. They affect between 10% to 15% of persons with interstitial cystitis. They manifest as red spots on the wall of the bladder, which can harden tissue and impair bladder capacity. Bladder ulcers are incredibly painful. Hunner ulcers develop on bladder walls.
Hunner’s ulcers, also called Hunner’s lesions, are often linked to interstitial cystitis, but they are not true ulcers. Hunner’s lesions are defined by characteristic inflammatory patches within the wall of the bladder and are accompanied by a specific collection of symptoms.
In reality, they are lesions or red patches on the wall of the bladder, and they possess the potential to cause the tissue to become more rigid, which in turn can decrease bladder capacity. Hunner’s ulcers are sores that can bleed, discharge pus, and range in size. Bladder ulcers are quite unpleasant and can cause a lot of pain.
These are called Hunner’s ulcers because a gynecologist at Johns Hopkins named Dr. Guy LeRoy Hunner was the first person to describe them in 1915.
Hunner’s Ulcers Symptoms
Hunner’s illness symptoms are quite similar to those of interstitial cystitis. The following are examples of some of the most frequent symptoms:
- Recurrent discomfort in the pelvis is one of the symptoms that is regarded to be among the most prevalent.
- A common symptom is an increased urgency, or a strong need to go.
- Urine testing also reveals the presence of occult blood.
A diagnostic procedure known as cystoscopy is carried out under either general or spinal anesthesia to establish whether or not a patient suffers from Hunner’s ulcers. Hunner’s lesions or ulcers manifest as red, distinct spots within the urinary bladder wall, which is often accompanied by light bleeding. As the bladder expands, a small quantity of blood leaks out of the lesion in the bladder.
It is challenging to diagnose Hunner’s ulcer based just on symptoms. Spinal or general anesthesia is used during cystoscopy to make an accurate diagnosis. The urologist utilizes a cystoscope to examine the interior of the bladder during this surgery.
Hunner’s Ulcers Causes
The exact etiology of Hunner’s ulcers is unclear, but they are thought to be triggered by an existing inflammatory condition. It is crucial to learn how to cure Hunner’s ulcers because they are severe bladder ailment that only impacts those with intestinal cystitis.
The other name for interstitial cystitis is painful bladder syndrome. One more essential fact regarding IC to keep in mind is that the condition affects women more frequently than it does men. There is no therapy for this chronic condition known as IC (interstitial cystitis). The pelvic region and urinary bladder experience recurrent pressure and pain attacks as a result. This is sometimes accompanied by a strong desire to urinate. Patients often need to use the restroom 40, 50, or even 60 times each day.
Hunner’s ulcers are often treated by electrical or laser burning (fulguration), steroid injections, or surgical excision of the ulcer and the inflammatory tissue surrounding it (resection). Elmiron and other drugs like it cover the bladder wall, making it more resistant to irritation from the acid in urine.
Hunner’s Ulcers Treatment
Treatments for Hunner’s ulcer include fulguration (the burning of tissue with an electrocautery tool or a laser), ulcer resection, and steroid injections into the submucosal portion of the ulcer. Even though these therapies are believed to be effective in the majority of cases, recurrence of Hunner’s lesion is possible.
Many individuals prefer to live with their ulcers and use natural therapies to relieve their symptoms. In patients with Hunner’s lesions, dietary and lifestyle adjustments are effective in alleviating symptoms. Pain medications are the first-line treatment for both Hunner’s ulcers and IC, and many patients choose to take them. Patients can also experience relief by changing their diet to exclude items like caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee, colas, and others.
Sodas, artificial sweeteners, and fruit juices, particularly Cranberry juice, can cause severe pain and suffering, hence they are normally avoided. To effectively treat Hunner’s ulcers, patient education regarding proper bladder function, self-care, and behavioral adjustments such as stress management is also essential. Water consumption is encouraged for the patient as it aids in the removal of germs and other dangerous organisms that attach to the bladder wall. People with interstitial cystitis are particularly susceptible to urinary tract infections caused by these pathogens.
Numerous medications in homeopathy are known to reduce interstitial cystitis symptoms. Berberis vulgaris and cantharis are effective in curing lesions and reducing discomfort.