Many people with interstitial cystitis (IC) and their physicians are turning to physical therapy to help ease IC symptoms and pain. Interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome, is a chronic condition that causes bladder pain, bladder pressure and sometimes pelvic pain. The pain can range from mild discomfort to severe.
The muscular, hollow organ that stores urine is your bladder. The urgency to pee happens when the bladder is full and expands signaling the brain through the pelvic nerves that it is time to pee. However, with interstitial cystitis the signals get mixed and you feel the need to urinate more often with smaller qualities of urine than most people.
Interstitial cystitis symptoms vary over time and varies from person to person. It may periodically flare up during menstruation, sitting for long periods of time, stress exercise and sexual activity. The symptoms and signs may include the following:
- Pain in your pelvis
- Chronic pelvic pain
- A persistent, urgent need to pee
- Frequent urination with small amounts of urine (could be up to 60 times a day)
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Pain or discomfort while the bladder fills and relief after urinating.
Interstitial cystitis can create a number of complications such as:
- Reduced bladder capacity
- Stiffening of the bladder wall allowing your bladder to hold less uring
- Emotional troubles
- Uninterrupted sleep and chronic pain that is associate with interstitial cystitis may cause emotional stress leading to depression
- Relational problems including sexual intimacy
- Frequent urination and the pain associated may strain your personal relations, this includes sexual intimacy
- Reduction in Quality of Life
- Frequent urination and pain can hinder your social activities, work and other daily life activities
Patients who suffer from urinary urgency, frequency, and burning but do not have an infection may benefit from physical therapy. During your visit at Oklahoma Physical Therapy our trained women’s physical therapist will discuss your symptoms as well as conduct a pelvic floor physical therapy evaluation. This will help us determine if pelvic floor dysfunction is a contributing factor to the interstitial cystitis symptoms. Our custom treatment plan may include manual techniques, education that reduces anxiety associated with this illness as well as home exercises.
Contact us today at 405-749-6281 or visit us at www.oklahomaphysicaltherapy.com/make-appointment/ to make an appointment with our specialized women’s physical therapist who will partner with you to create a custom treatment plan!