Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is a chronic, inflammatory condition affecting the wall of the bladder. It is distinguished from cystitis, which often acute in presentation and bacterial in etiology.

What are the Symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis?

Symptoms may include an urgent need to urinate (urinary urgency), a frequent need to urinate (urinary frequency), or a combination of these symptoms. There is often pelvic pain. The pain may vary in intensity as the bladder fills with urine or as it empties. Women's symptoms often worsen during menstruation. They may sometimes experience pain with vaginal intercourse.

Who Is Likely To Get Interstitial Cystitis?

About 90% of IC patients are women. The average age of disease onset is 40. Over half of IC patients report a history of urinary tract infections.

What Does Treatment for Interstitial Cystitis Involve?

There are several types of treatments available for IC sufferers.

Bladder Instillation – Instillation of various solutions into the urinary bladder may provide temporary symptomatic relief. The most commonly-used (and only FDA-approved) solution is DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide). DMSO is thought to reduce inflammation and prevent muscle contractions.

Oral Medications – There are several oral medications that have proven helpful in the treatment of IC:

• Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) is the first oral medication specifically approved by the FDA for treatment of IC. Its exact mechanism of action is unknown, but it is thought to work by providing a protective coating to the wall of the bladder.
• Tricyclic Antidepressants (amitryptiline, imipramine) have been effective in other diseases of chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia; the mechanism of action is thought to involve interference with nerve activity.
• Antihistamines (hydroxyzine/Atarax). Antihistamines such as hydroxyzine can help by attenuating the inflammatory response in the bladder, which is thought to be at least partially mediated by histamine.
• Antispasmodics (Ditropan, Levsin). This class of drugs can help because IC is thought to be caused by spasms of the bladder wall muscles. Antispasmodics inhibit this activity, and therefore have been effective at reducing urinary urgency and frequency.
• Urinary Anesthetics (phenazopyridine HCl). Phenazopyridine is a chemical known as an azo dye. It acts as an anesthetic, and can be used on a temporary basis to relieve pain. Being a dye, it also colors the urine a distinctive orange.

Surgery

For patients who have tried the above approaches without success, there are a few surgical options which have proven helpful in IC:

• Sacral nerve root stimulation – this is a technique wherein an electronic device is implanted and delivers mild electric stimulation to the sacral nerve. It has been proven effective for treatment of urinary urgency and frequency.
• Bladder Augmentation – diseased and damaged sections of the bladder are removed, and a piece of the colon is attached to the remaining bladder tissue; in so doing, a larger bladder is created, and the absence of inflamed tissue causes a decrease in symptoms

What Are The Advantages Of Surgical Treatment?

• At least some of the underlying problem is physically corrected.
• Thus, there is a greater chance of permanent symptom relief.

How Long Does It Take?

This depends upon the individual procedure chosen.

How Many Treatments Are Required?

This depends upon the specific treatment chosen.

When Will I See Results?

With surgery, you should start seeing results after a reasonable healing period, but it is not often immediate. Nerves and muscles need time to readjust.

What Are My Alternatives to Treat Interstitial Cystitis?

· TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)

· Cystectomy

Will I Have Pain?

With most surgical procedures, there is some post-operative pain; this may be alleviated with prescription pain relievers.

When Can I Go Back To Work Or School?

This is dependent upon the individual procedure chosen. Check with you8r physician for details.

Who Will Perform My Treatment?

One of our board-certified urologists will perform the procedure.

How Much Does It Cost?

Please call TopSurgeons at 800-506-8084 for more information.

Will My Insurance Cover Interstitial Cystitis Treatment?

Insurance should cover this condition and any approved treatments.