The pain management doctors of
Atlas Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine, located on Park Avenue South at 31st Street
in Manhattan, New York and in Millburn, New Jersey can provide pain
management and treatment for your interstitial cystitis (IC) pain.
Interstitial cystitis (IC),
is a chronic pelvic pain disorder. Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a
condition resulting in recurring discomfort or pain in the bladder
and the surrounding pelvic region.
The symptoms of
interstitial cystitis vary from case to case. Some people with
interstitial cystitis may experience mild discomfort, pressure,
tenderness, or intense pain in the bladder and pelvic area. Symptoms
may include an urgent need to urinate (urgency), frequent need to
urinate (frequency), or a combination of these symptoms. Pain may
change in intensity as the bladder fills with urine or as it
empties.
Women's symptoms of
interstitial cystitis often get worse during menstruation.
There are various pain
treatments for interstitial cystitis - a proper diagnosis is
required to manage your pain. Some options include:
Oral medications: Aspirin and ibuprofen are easy to obtain
over the counter non-prescription drugs and may be a first line of
defense against mild discomfort. Usually, most pain doctors will
recommend other stronger prescription drugs to relieve your pain.
Some patients have experienced improvement in their urinary symptoms
by taking antidepressants or antihistamines.
*** All drugs—even those sold over the counter—have many side
effects. Patients should always consult a doctor before using any
drug for an extended time.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation: With
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), mild electric
pulses enter the body through tiny wires placed on the lower back or
just above the pubic area, between the navel and the pubic hair, or
through special devices inserted into the vagina in women or into
the rectum in men. This procedure will leave no scars. The
electrical pulses seem to increase blood flow to the bladder,
strengthen pelvic muscles that help control the bladder, or trigger
the release of substances that block pain. This procedure has been
tremendously successful.
TENS is relatively inexpensive and allows the patient to take an
active part in pain management and pain treatment. The patient
decides when, how long, and at what intensity TENS will be used. It
has been most helpful in relieving pain and decreasing frequency in
patients with Hunner's ulcers.
If you need your interstitial cystitis condition diagnosed the pain
management doctors of Atlas Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine of
Manhattan, New York or in Millburn, New Jersey would be happy to see you for a consultation and help you learn
about the treatment options available to you.
