Interstitial Cystitis Specialist
Urologists located in Pasadena, CA
Interstitial cystitis is also called painful bladder syndrome, which tells you what to expect from this chronic, challenging condition. The team at Pasadena Urological Medical Group understands that interstitial cystitis can take a toll on your emotional, mental, and physical health. They create personalized treatment plans that help prevent painful flare ups and ease your bladder symptoms. To get holistic care for interstitial cystitis, call the office in Pasadena, California, or book an appointment online today.
Interstitial cystitis develops when the bladder walls become chronically irritated and inflamed. As a result, you have discomfort, pain, and urinary problems.
The exact cause of interstitial cystitis hasn’t been discovered. Theories about its causes suggest that the condition may begin for various reasons, including a defect in the bladder wall, an autoimmune disease, cells that activate inflammation, or something in the urine that irritates the bladder.
Pain is the hallmark symptom, but your pain may come and go and range from mild to excruciating. Many people find that their symptoms flare up in response to triggers like exercise, stress, and certain foods and drinks.
The symptoms of interstitial cystitis include:
The perineal area lies behind the vagina in women and the scrotum in men.
Pasadena Urological Medical Group takes a broad approach to treating interstitial cystitis. For most patients, it takes weeks or months of following a treatment plan before they begin to get some symptom relief.
Your treatment plan may include:
Lifestyle changes are usually the first line of treatment for interstitial cystitis. You may need to eliminate irritating foods and beverages, participate in physical therapy, or learn stress management.
If lifestyle changes don’t ease your symptoms, your provider may prescribe oral medications. They may also recommend bladder instillation, a technique using a catheter to put liquid medicine into your bladder.
Neuromodulation uses electrical impulses to regulate nerves triggering bladder muscle contractions. If you have a bladder ulcer, your provider may eliminate it using heat or laser energy (cauterization). Injecting Botox® into the bladder wall may ease your pain by relaxing the muscles.
Patients with interstitial cystitis seldom need surgery. Pasadena Urological Medical Group may talk with you about surgery if you have severe symptoms that don’t respond to other treatments. During surgery, your provider may enlarge or remove the bladder, or they may reroute the flow of urine.
If you have bladder or pelvic pain that doesn’t go away, call Pasadena Urological Medical Group or book an appointment online today.