Interstitial cystitis is a chronic urinary condition that can leave sufferers very uncomfortable, in pain, and extremely frustrated. Most of all, it can leave you making many trips to the restroom. Some sufferers report the need to urinate up to 60 times a day! If you think you have interstitial cystitis or you have been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis and your current treatment isn’t cutting it, call Dr. Johnson at Innovations Stem Cell to learn how stem cell therapy can bring you relief.
How Do I Know If I Have Interstitial Cystitis?
Individuals with interstitial cystitis frequently experience pain and pressure in the bladder, and the most notable symptom of the condition is the feeling the need to urinate frequently. This feeling can be urgent and painful for many. Interstitial cystitis can also mean moderate to severe pelvic pain, pain in the perineum, and pain during sexual intercourse. Although these symptoms are very similar to those of a urinary tract infection or bladder infection, in many cases, infection is not present.
Women develop interstitial cystitis at a higher rate than men. In fact, it is estimated that 90 percent of people diagnosed with the condition are women. Interstitial cystitis typically develops after the age of 40, and redheads and others with fair skin often develop interstitial cystitis more than other complexions.
Is Interstitial Cystitis an Autoimmune Disease?
The cause of interstitial cystitis is unknown, but it does have autoimmune characteristics. Patients with the condition often have inflammation of the bladder tissue, which over time leads to destruction of cells. Patients with interstitial cystitis typically have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease like systemic lupus erythematosus, fibromyalgia, or Sjogren’s syndrome. It is also especially prevalent in patients with ulcerative colitis, which is also an autoimmune disease.
Other potential causes include genetics, cell abnormalities, the defective lining of the bladder, or the inflammation of the nerves of the bladder wall.
What are the Current Treatments for Interstitial Cystitis?
There is no cure for the condition, but there is a wide range of treatments for interstitial cystitis. Common treatments include oral medications, like NSAIDs, to reduce inflammation and pain, antihistamines to reduce the urge to go, and other medications designed to help relax the bladder. There are medications that can be inserted into the bladder via a catheter that numb the bladder for periods of time, typically for a few weeks up to a year, so the urge to urinate is less frequent. Other patients benefit from nerve stimulation, which is delivered to through a TENS unit. More invasive treatments include bladder distension or surgery. Patients frequently combine therapies to find a fix.
In many cases, these effects of these treatments are only temporary. This leaves patients back in pain and back in the bathroom.
Patients with interstitial cystitis are finding relief at Innovations Stem Cell. Stem cell therapy using the patient’s own adipose fat stem cells can reduce inflammation and pain. Patients report the urge to urinate becomes less frequent, and that their quality of life is greatly improved.
If you’re looking for relief for interstitial cystitis or other painful urinary conditions, schedule a consultation with Dr. Johnson today. Call Innovations Stem Cell at (214) 643-8665.