Is Interstitial Cystitis Resulting in Pelvic or Bladder Pain? Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help!
If you have been experiencing pain during urination or while menstruating, a constant need to go to the bathroom, or a burning sensation when you pee, you could have a condition known as interstitial cystitis. Interstitial cystitis can occur for a few reasons, affecting the bladder.
You might be hesitant to discuss your conditions with trained professionals because of their nature; however, you can recover and lead a more healthy and active life with proper understanding and treatment.
Many people suffer from this condition and never seek help because they are scared or embarrassed. New You Health and Wellness in Wauwatosa, WI employs the most skilled and knowledgeable pelvic floor therapists and knows the best ways to help pinpoint the source of your pain and ease your discomfort.
What is interstitial cystitis?
Your pelvic floor muscles should be able to contract and relax without issue. This allows for proper bowel and bladder function. Your pelvic floor’s job is to support your bowel, bladder and in females the reproductive organs, however they also support your back and prevent issues such as incontinence .
Mayo Clinic defines interstitial cystitis as “a chronic condition causing bladder pressure, bladder pain and sometimes pelvic pain. The pain ranges from mild discomfort to severe pain. The condition is a part of a spectrum of diseases known as painful bladder syndrome.”
This chronic bladder condition causes pain, pressure, and urinary urge frequency. The symptoms are similar to those of other urinary tract infections or bladder infections.
Risk factors for developing interstital cystitis
Some individuals are more at risk than others for developing this condition. The following factors are linked to an increased risk of interstitial cystitis:
- Gender. Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with interstitial cystitis. Men’s symptoms may resemble interstitial cystitis, but they’re more typically linked to prostate gland inflammation (prostatitis).
- Age. Interstitial cystitis is most commonly diagnosed in persons in their 30s or older.
- Existing chronic pain disorders. Irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia are two chronic pain disorders that may be linked to interstitial cystitis.
Symptoms of interstitial cystitis
Some common signs and symptoms affect people with this condition, including:
- urinary urgency (the feeling of needing to urinate urgently)
- urinary frequency (having to urinate more often)
- pain with sexual intercourse
Because of these symptoms, individuals with this condition are often told that they have a urinary tract infection (UTI); however, a urine culture will return as negative.
Often, individuals with this condition will develop complications, such as depression, which lead to overall lower quality of life.
Individuals with interstitial cystitis might experience other conditions including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and fibromyalgia, further worsening their quality of life.
The good news is that if you believe you’re living with interstitial cystitis, New You Health and Wellness in Wauwatosa, WI may be able to help you feel better once and for all.
How can a pelvic floor specialist treat interstitial cystitis?
Sadly, this condition does not have a cure, but the good news is that pelvic floor physical therapy can help!
Pelvic floor physical therapists and functional medicine practitioners are able to treat several conditions, including interstitial cystitis. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support the bladder, uterus, and rectum. Physical therapy and functional medicine in Wauwatosa, WI can help to reduce pain and other symptoms.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help to relieve trigger points in the pelvic muscles that cause pain to spread throughout the pelvic area. To restore normal blood flow and function, inflammation in the pelvis and around the bladder is cleared out. The muscles are able to return to their natural length and function appropriately after the stress is relieved.
Functional Medicine can address the symptoms of interstitial cystitis by determining the root cause, any irritants in the environment or your eating plan that may be impacting bladder health, and any hormonal issues that may be contributing to symptoms.
Pelvic floor physical therapy includes manual therapy and corrective exercises that are performed with the goal in mind of strengthening the muscles that are located in and around the bladder and relieving tension potentially causing pain.
Functional medicine for interstitial cystitis includes assessment of eating plan, hormone levels, and other activities that may be contributing to the onset of symptoms.
With extra muscle strength and removing triggers can lead to pain reduction and overall improved quality of life. For this reason, it is critical to work with a trained physical therapist!
Request an appointment in Wauwatosa, WI today
Are you dealing with urinary urgency or frequency? Is sexual intercourse painful and uncomfortable for you? The best way to determine the true problem is to visit a pelvic floor specialist at New You Health and Wellness.
Our overall goal is to help return you to a healthy and active lifestyle that doesn’t involve running for the bathroom every hour or living with chronic pain and discomfort. To learn more about pelvic floor physical therapy benefits, call our Wauwatosa, WI clinic today and request an appointment!
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
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Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!