Home » Health & Wellness » Interstitial Cystitis » Other Methods of Pain Control

Other Methods of Pain Control

© Lisa Griggs

What causes Interstitial Cystitis? Will there ever be a cure? Researchers continue to try and find the answers to these questions. IC is indeed a mysterious disease. The symptoms can vary widely, making a diagnosis difficult. Once the diagnosis is made, the patient is faced with a myriad of treatment options--none of which are foolproof and many of which will only work for a short time. The entire treatment process can be painful, expensive, and exhausting for the patient.

Treatment usually starts with the distention of the bladder under general anesthesia. In this way, the urologist can see the inflammation, any ulcers that may be present, and the tiny hemorrhages in the bladder lining that are the trademark of the disease. This minor surgery is the best way that a doctor can be 100% sure of the IC diagnosis.

Instilled medications (such as DMSO) are often started a few weeks after the initial surgery. These medications act as an anti-inflammatory, and can be quite successful in reducing the pain related to IC. A physician may also prescribe oral medications. Elmiron is currently the only oral medication to be approved specifically for the treatment of Interstitial Cystitis. In some cases, antihistamines or antidepressants are prescribed.

When the more common treatments don't work, a patient may resort to other methods of pain control:

TENS, an external device used to alleviate pain through nerve stimulation;

Nerve Stimulation Implant, a surgically implanted device used to alleviate the frequency, urgency, and incontinence sometimes related to IC;

Laser Surgery, used to treat the form of IC in which ulcers are present in the bladder;

Surgery, enlarging the bladder, removal of the bladder.

Surgery is the last resort for both doctor and patient. It is only used when the patient finds no relief with any other form of therapy, and the pain is severe. Surgery is irreversible, and the patient may not benefit from the procedure at all. In some cases, surgery worsens the condition. Patients often report a continuance of the symptoms, even after the bladder has been removed or reconstructed. The possible complications from the anesthesia and the surgery itself must also be considered before a final decision is made.

Alternative therapies may also be considered and should be discussed with your doctor. Some patients have found relief through acupuncture, acupressure, hypnosis, and various other unconventional treatments.

Treatment of your condition should be carefully considered, and any treatment that you decide to undergo should be supervised by your physician.

The copyright of the article Other Methods of Pain Control in Interstitial Cystitis is owned by . Permission to republish Other Methods of Pain Control in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.