Pretty much that is what it feels like during a flare up. When I get an actual UTI it is hell. Thankfully it only flares up a few times a year now that it's under control. I take a lot of supplements that have been shown to help although I'm not sure how much science there is to back it. They work for me a lot better than the prescription medication I was prescribed for it (Elmiron). That's was just my experience with it anyway. From what little I understand about it (because so much of it is unknown) it's considered to be a chronic condition but I have some other unrelated issues as well (psoriasis, rosacea, IBS, endometriosis, PCOS) and I was born with some problems to one of my legs that was fixed when I was an infant. I also have extra tubing that I was born with so I am extremely susceptible to getting UTIs (no baths for me!) so I have to wonder if there isn't some weird thing going on with me that is causing all of these problems. Sometimes I think I just have really bad luck or something... oh well.  I had a partial hysterectomy to deal with the endometriosis and everything else is manageable, doesn't ruin my life. I know YOU of all people know exactly what I talking about.. just have to manage and not let it ruin everything. Do what you can and try not to worry about the rest.