Interstitial Cystitis… Big Words for a Big Problem

 Many women come into my office with the symptoms of a bladder infection, including but not limited to, bladder pain or pressure, frequency, and urgency. Usually this is an easy fix with a urine culture showing proof of an infection by the growth of a specific organism and a test for “sensitivity”, indicating which antibiotics will kill the offending germs.
Occasionally, a culture will show no growth of germs, even with the previously mentioned symptoms present, which leads me to start thinking about Interstitial Cystitis (IC) in this particular patient. IC has no known cause or cure. With symptoms that vary widely from patient to patient, and with both environmental and physical triggers, IC is a highly personal condition.
Most IC patients develop disruption of the bladder wall, which allows urine metabolites to penetrate the barrier wall, leading to irritation and pain. This constant irritation triggers an inflammatory reaction, which contributes to local tissue damage. Pain from IC may be episodic, meaning it comes and goes; but if left undiagnosed and untreated the symptoms may progress and lead to chronic pain with the bladder decreasing in size and capacity.
The treatment plan for an IC patient should be multi-faceted. There are medications which may help with discomfort, the frequent urge to urinate, and cramps or spasms of the urinary tract. Another medication, Elmiron, has been approved by the FDA to repair the bladder wall but response may take one month to a year.
The potential benefits of physical therapy cannot be underestimated in IC symptom relief. Because patients with IC often have tight muscles and connective tissue that can exacerbate their symptoms, physical therapy focuses on massage to release trigger points in the inner pelvis, abdomen and elsewhere.
The treatment plan should include behavior modification measures, including dietary changes which eliminate specific foods and drinks known to trigger pain flares in some patients. Some nutritional supplements, especially those with anti-inflammatory effects, have shown a decrease in pain episodes if taken regularly. Bladder training, meditation, acupuncture, and a restorative Yoga program are also possible modalities that may help a patient dealing with a chronic pain situation.
Finding a diagnosis early in the disease process may help to alleviate a life long struggle with pain and get a patient on the road to good bladder health. It is important to realize that many forms of complementary medicine are potentially helpful when tried alongside conventional treatments for IC.
To schedule an appointment at Pat News Health Care call 661-799-7000.