If you have noticed that you’re having to go to the bathroom constantly to empty your bladder and you are experiencing tenderness and pain in the area around your bladder, you’re likely suffering from interstitial cystitis. This is a very common condition, affecting around 700,000 Americans.
It is also known as Irritable Bladder Syndrome. The bad news is, if you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you are much more likely to develop this condition. However, you shouldn’t worry too much because a variety of treatment options are available- from natural to medical.
What Exactly Is Interstitial Cystitis?
Interstitial Cystitis is a condition that involved inflammation of the bladder. This inflammation is characterized by pain in the pelvic region, frequent urination, and urinary incontinence. Individuals who have this condition are likely to experience very small hemorrhages on their bladder wall or even develop sores.
This inflammation can cause scarring on the bladder, which results in making it rigid. If your bladder becomes stiff, it can’t expand as it is filled. Both men and women are likely to develop this condition- though women are more likely to than men.
What Causes Interstitial Cystitis?
There is no specific cause of this condition. However, there is a specific protein, known as antiproliferative factor, or APF, that has been pinpointed. This protein keeps new bladder cells from growing in individuals with this condition. Therefore, urine begins to inflame the walls of the bladder. Also, individuals suffering with interstitial cystitis find that they have mixed urinary signals, which results in them feeling like they need to empty their bladder more often even though their bladder never contains much urine.
Symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis
The signs and symptoms of this condition are very similar to those of a UTI, or urinary tract infection. However, the urine cultures in those suffering from interstitial cystitis don’t have any bacteria present that would indicate a UTI. Some of the other symptoms associated with interstitial cystitis include the following:
- A frequent and urgent feeling that you need to urinate
- Pain in the area between the anus and vagina for women or the anus and scrotum for men
- Pain in the pelvic region
- Pain during sex for women and painful ejaculation for men
Diagnosing Interstitial Cystitis
The condition of interstitial cystitis can be quite difficult to diagnose due to the fact that the signs and symptoms are very similar to some other disorders. It can take as many as four long years before a diagnosis can be reached.
In order to diagnose you with interstitial cystitis, your physician will need to document your past medical history and will ask that you keep a diary on your bladder habits, keeping track of how much you’re drinking and how much urine you’re passing. Additionally, he or she may wish to perform tests to rule out other conditions. You will be tested to rule out UTIs, STDs, vaginal infections, and for men, chronic prostatitis. He or she may also wish to perform a cystoscopy.
A cystoscopy is a special diagnostic procedure that will let your physician look in your bladder and find out how much it can hold. For this procedure, you’ll be put under a local or general anesthetic and a small tube with a camera will be inserted into your urethra. During this procedure, your physician may take out a small section of your bladder in order to test for cancer or other conditions.
Medical Treatment for Interstitial Cystitis
Once you have been given a diagnosis of interstitial cystitis, you will probably be prescribed Elmiron, which is an oral medication that decreases the frequency of urination. Additionally, your physician is likely to prescribe an OTC pain reliever in order to ease pelvic tenderness and pain. Antihistamines and antidepressants can also be used to block pain.
Since your sacral nerves- which run from your lower spine to your lower bowel, bladder, and pelvic floor- are the ones that are responsible for controlling bowel and bladder movements, you may have a procedure known as modulation of the sacral nerve root to relieve your symptoms of interstitial cystitis.
This is a form of nerve stimulation by using an electrical device. If this treatment is effective for you, you will have a small, device that is powered with batteries put into your upper buttocks. It will regularly send out electrical impulses, thereby adjusting the way your nerves function and helping you gain some control over your bladder contractions.
Another option for treating your interstitial cystitis is bladder instillation. During this particular treatment, dimenthyl sulfoxide, known as DMSO along with other medications will be inserted directly into your bladder through a tube in your urethra. After about fifteen minutes, your bladder will expel this solution. It is believed that this treatment decreases bladder irritation as well as helping control muscle contractions that contribute to pain and urgency of interstitial cystitis.
Finally, there is the option of surgery to correct your interstitial cystitis. You can have bladder augmentation, resection, and fulgaration. However, since these do not really relieve the pain of the condition and can cause more problems, these are not typically recommended.
Naturally Treating Interstitial Cystitis
There are lots of things you can do on your own to relieve the symptoms of interstitial cystitis.
First of all, it is recommended that you avoid smoking, alcohol, and caffeine as they are known to cause irritation to the bladder. You should avoid foods that are high in Vitamin C, including citrus fruits.
You might want to schedule your bathroom breaks- starting at every thirty minutes and then working to lengthen the time between. There are specific exercises, such as kegels, that can work to strengthen your pelvic and bladder muscles, which will provide you more control over your bladder.
Consider wearing loose clothing that doesn’t put pressure on your abdomen. Practice techniques for relaxation in order to reduce your stress levels. Finally, some individuals have reported finding relief with TENS machines and biofeedback.
Further reading:
Interstitial Cystitis: http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_interstitial_cystitis.html
The relationship between fibromyalgia and interstitial cystitis: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9201654
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