Interstitial Cystitis
What is Interstitial Cystitis?
Interstitial Cystitis (IC) also known as Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome is a chronic, painful bladder condition that causes urinary urgency and frequency as well as pain, pressure and discomfort that are perceived to be coming from the bladder.
Symptoms
- IC symptoms feel like those of a bladder infection (although no infection is present) and range from mild to severe and can go into remission or flare up
- Frequency: The need to urinate 8 or more times a day and more than once at night
- Urgency: Feeling the need to urinate (even right after a trip to the bathroom) accompanied by pain, burning or bladder spasms
- Pelvic Pain: Pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen, genital area, during sex, or pain that gets better or worse as the bladder empties.
Diagnosis
- Most people live with symptoms of IC for several years before their condition is diagnosed and they begin treatment.
- Part of the challenge in diagnosing IC is that there is no definitive test to confirm its presence.
- Instead, IC is considered a “diagnosis of exclusion,” meaning that your doctor must rule out other possible conditions that may be causing your symptoms.
Treatment
- Lifestyle Modifications: With careful attention, most people can identify and avoid triggers that make their IC symptoms worse. Common triggers include acidic or tart foods, caffeine, carbonated beverages, and alcohol.
- Oral Medications: ELMIRON (pentosan polysulfate) is the only FDA-approved medication designed specifically to treat IC symptoms. Other oral medications, which are not specific to IC, can relieve pain and discomfort.
- Bladder Instillation: A combination of liquid medicines are inserted into your bladder through a catheter to reduce swelling and prevent muscle spasms.
- Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: Physical therapy that targets the pelvic floor muscles can help you learn to relax a tense pelvic floor that may be contributing to bladder pain and urinary symptoms.
- Neuromodulation: A small device is implanted in your lower back that sends mild electrical currents to the sacral nerves that helps control your bladder, ease pain and reduce how often you need to urinate.
Symptoms
- IC symptoms feel like those of a bladder infection (although no infection is present) and range from mild to severe and can go into remission or flare up
- Frequency: The need to urinate 8 or more times a day and more than once at night
- Urgency: Feeling the need to urinate (even right after a trip to the bathroom) accompanied by pain, burning or bladder spasms
- Pelvic Pain: Pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen, genital area, during sex, or pain that gets better or worse as the bladder empties.
Diagnosis
- Most people live with symptoms of IC for several years before their condition is diagnosed and they begin treatment.
- Part of the challenge in diagnosing IC is that there is no definitive test to confirm its presence.
- Instead, IC is considered a “diagnosis of exclusion,” meaning that your doctor must rule out other possible conditions that may be causing your symptoms.
