Our experienced pelvic floor physiotherapists can help you regain control of your bladder and return to your daily life with confidence! We have been successful treating this problem both in-clinic and online. |
WHAT IS IT?
WHAT CAUSES IT?
HOW CAN PHYSIO HELP?
WHAT IS IT?
Interstitial cystitis (IC), or painful bladder syndrome, is associated with pain and pressure of the bladder and potentially in the areas around the pelvis such as the lower back or may experience vulvodynia (in women), or pain around the testicles (in men). Symptom intensity is variable from person to person, ranging from mild to severe and can be either intermittent or constant. Patients will often complain of symptoms of overactive bladder and urinary urgency, they may even have a constant urine urge that does not go away. Typically, most patients suffering from IC note that there are certain dietary or lifestyle triggers to their symptoms. IC can come along with other fibromyalgia, IBS, dyspareunia.
WHAT CAUSES IT?
There is no definitive consensus on a cause for IC, however there are some theories:
- An autoimmune disorder, where the body attacks itself, negatively affecting the quality of the inner lining of the bladder.
- Irritating factors within the urine itself damage the inner lining of the bladder
- A specific inflammatory cell releases chemicals which then leads to IC
- Certain changes to the nervous system occur, which cause the local nerves to perceive normal situations, such as the bladder filling, as a painful experience.
HOW CAN PHYSIO HELP?
Your pelvic floor physiotherapist is there to help guide you to identify possible triggers for your symptoms and to help you manage your symptoms. Through careful bladder retraining, they can teach you how to manage your urine urges and decrease the frequency of bathroom visits. They can also help you by managing any pelvic floor muscle dysfunction that may be contributing to your discomfort. IC is associated with tense pelvic floor muscles, and so specific exercises and manual techniques to manage this tension can be effective in alleviating symptoms.
Treatment Options |
Take control of your health and start feeling better TODAY!
If you have any questions regarding how pelvic floor physiotherapy can help, please do not hesitate to contact us by filling out this form.