Painful Bladder Syndrome/
Interstitial Cystitis

Painful Bladder Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis (PBS/IC) is a chronic medical condition. The most common symptoms are urinary urgency, frequency and/or bladder pain. These symptoms often occur with episodes of increased intensity called “flares."

The exact cause of PBS/IC is unknown. It is thought that defects in the bladder lining lead to nerve dysfunction. People often see multiple health care providers before it is diagnosed. There is no cure for PBS/IC but multiple treatment options are available to improve the symptoms. It will take patience and determination to find out which combination of treatment options will work the best for you.  

Long-term treatment options:

• Bladder elimination diet – a way of finding out which foods and beverages worsen your symptoms so that you can eliminate them from your diet.
• Prelief™ – a dietary supplement that decreases the acidity of urine (available at certain drug stores and on the internet).
• Pelvic floor physical therapy – a variety of techniques used to calm the nerves and muscles in the pelvis. This usually requires 6 to 12 weekly visits to a pelvic floor physical therapist.
• Elmiron™ (pentosan polysulfate) – repairs defects in the bladder lining after 3 to 6 months.
• Antihistamines – for people who experience an increase in PBS/IC symptoms along with their seasonal allergies.
• Antidepressants that have pain-relieving properties.
• Anticonvulsants that have pain-relieving properties.
• InterStim™  Therapy  – a “pacemaker” for the bladder is surgically implanted beneath the skin to help nerves in the pelvis to function more normally.
• Nerve blocks – long-acting pain medications are injected into nerves by a pain management specialist.
• Psychotherapy – Psychotherapists can offer expertise in coping with the impact of chronic pelvic pain on your quality of life and intimate relationships, if needed.

Short-term Treatment Options (for flares):

• Application of a heating pad or ice pack to the area of pain.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - such as Motrin, Advil or Aleve. Not recommended for long-term use.
• Urinary analgesics - such as Urelle, Pyridium or Azo-Standard. Not recommended for long-term use.  
• Bladder instillations – instillation of local anesthetic into bladder.

*PLEASE NOTE: At Aguirre Specialty Care, we do not prescribe narcotic medications for PBS/IC. They do not effectively improve visceral pain.

Click here to download a printable version of the PBS/IC handout.