What is Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome?
Many patients are given the diagnosis of Interstitial Cystitis (IC)/ Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS). It can sound like a scary diagnosis, but let’s talk about what it is and what treatment options are available (spoiler alert: pelvic floor physical therapy is one of them).
IC/PBS is a chronic bladder condition resulting in recurring discomfort or pain in the bladder or surrounding pelvic region the absence of infection or other identifiable causes.
Patients with IC/PBS often report the following symptoms:
Suprapubic pain related to bladder filling
Pain throughout the pelvis—in the urethra, vulva, vagina, rectum
Pain in the lower back and/or abdomen
Urinary Urgency
Urinary Frequency
Patients often report the quality of pain as pressure or discomfort in the areas listed above. Many patients with IC/PBS also report a diagnosis of Vulvodynia, Endometriosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and/or Fibromyalgia.
Research shows that only ~10% of patients with IC/PBS have actual bladder ulcerations, known as Hunner’s lesions, whereas over 90% of patients with IC/PBS have pelvic floor dysfunction! This means that pelvic floor physical therapy is strongly recommended as a treatment for IC!
Other treatment options may include acupuncture, medications, meditation and stress management techniques (to name a few).
Bottomline: People with IC/PBS can get better with pelvic floor physical therapy and other conservative treatments. If you have the symptoms listed above or have been diagnosed with IC come see me or a local PFPT. Need help finding a provider contact us or check out the following site to find a specialist in your area.
