Interstitial cystitis (IC), sometimes referred to as "painful bladder syndrome" is a condition that manifests as pelvic pain or pressure, that feels like it’s coming from the bladder, and includes urinary urgency and frequency. Often times the bladder is an innocent bystander and the problem is coming from somewhere else in your pelvic floor or nervous system. IC effects both men and women. Currently it's estimated that 1 in 20 people in the US have IC.
Interstitial Cystitis (IC) can be a confusing diagnosis, it’s hard to find a doctor who specializes in it. This leaves patients feeling hopeless and frustrated not knowing where to turn. There are 2 hallmark symptoms, however other symptoms can manifest differently from person to person.
The 2 hallmark symptoms of IC:
Pelvic pain (may be perceived as bladder pain)
Urinary urgency and/or frequency
Other associated symptoms:
Burning sensation while urinating
Difficulty initiating a stream
Painful sex
Low back, hip, or groin pain
Bloating
Treatment:
Pelvic floor physical therapy is the first line of defense and the most proven treatment in alleviating and reducing interstitial cystitis (IC), according to the American Urological Association.
If you report bladder pain, or pain in that area to your urologist and they don’t refer you to pelvic floor PT (after ruling out infections and other pathology), they are not following their own associations guidelines and recommendations for best practice. If you are ever prescribed drugs to treat IC (especially Elmiron) before trying PT, run the other way 🏃🏽♀️🏃🏻 🏃🏽♂️ 💨💨
My hope is that the information in this blog helps you, or someone you know, get to the right provider who can help you with your symptoms instead of being put on medications that don’t work and definitely do not address the underlying causes of why your problem occurred in the first place.
I want you to know that a well a trained pelvic PT knows the signs and symptoms of IC and is able to help you wherever you are on your journey. Pelvic PT can help and it works! Thousands of people with IC are currently living pain free lives and so can you!
If you have more questions, leave a comment or email us directly at info@rootedwellnesspt.com
Comentarios