Interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome (PBS), is a chronic condition that makes a person use the restroom more often, and void smaller amounts of urine.

This is because of a dysfunction in the signals that are sent to the brain from the bladder, which usually are sent once the bladder is completely full. People with IC feel the need to urinate more frequently.

Additionally, the bladder lining is typically inflamed or irritated for those with this condition, which can cause discomfort or pain with both holding and voiding urine.

The symptoms of interstitial cystitis can vary from person to person, and can also change with time. They may be constant, or only happen intermittently. Some common symptoms for this condition include:

• Pelvic pain
• Bladder pain or discomfort
• Urgency
• Pain with urination
• Pain with intercourse
• Pain with a full bladder
• More severe symptoms during menstruation
• Pain in the lower back, rectum, or genitals
• Other referred pain
• Constipation
• Pelvic muscle spasms

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Interstitial cystitis does not have an exact cause, although it is thought to involve problems with the bladder lining. This condition is also thought to be related to other conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, allergies, and infections.

It is also more common in people who are assigned female at birth, over the age of 30, or have other chronic conditions such as IBS or fibromyalgia.

Although there is no cure for this condition, physical therapy is available for people with interstitial cystitis to help better manage their symptoms.

This condition often involves discomfort and pain as its primary symptoms, and seeking help from a pelvic floor physical therapist can help make these symptoms more tolerable or less severe.

Pelvic floor therapists can provide support for patients with interstitial cystitis by using the following techniques:

• Neuromuscular re-education / Biofeedback: Helps patients better understand contraction and relaxation of their pelvic floor, voiding techniques, and pelvic floor awareness.
• Manual therapy: Internal or external pelvic floor massage.
• Exercise prescription: Teaching down-regulation techniques with yoga, deep breathing, stretching, and dilation.
• Behavioral modifications: Suggestions and education for bathroom habits or dietary irritants that may make symptoms worse.
• Joint Mobilization or Spinal Manipulation: To improve mobility and provide pain relief.
• Electrical Stimulation: (Internal or external) Provides additional pain relief as needed.

In addition to these techniques, it can be helpful to see a physical therapist to maintain your pelvic floor health. Pelvic floor dysfunction may exacerbate interstitial cystitis symptoms, and IC can affect pelvic floor health.

Therefore, to help relieve this cycle and reduce the severity of painful symptoms, working with a pelvic floor physical therapist can be a great help to managing your symptoms and maintaining the best possible health for your pelvic floor and bladder.

Although working with a pelvic floor physical therapist for interstitial cystitis can involve internal exams or treatment, you do have the right to consent to or not consent to these.

At Hive Therapy and Wellness, our physical therapists will always request consent before performing any exams or treatments. They can still work with you in other ways if you choose not to proceed with internal procedures.