Interstitial Cystitis

Few things can cause greater discomfort, inconvenience or embarrassment, to say nothing of pain, than the bladder condition known as interstitial cystitis.

But whereas mainstream practitioners are generally unable to do anything for IC beyond prescribing risky medications with limited effect, the Magaziner Center works to pinpoint the root causes in individual cases and treat them with impressive results in many cases.

What is interstitial cystitis?

Interstitial cystitis, IC, also known as painful bladder syndrome, is a chronic condition generally considered to be of unknown origin that causes pain and pressure in the bladder.

What are the symptoms of IC?

Symptoms of IC can vary greatly over time and from person to person. Often sufferers notice the flaring of symptoms associated with certain triggers, such as stress, exercise, sexual activity, menstruation or sitting for long periods of time. They can include:

• Chronic pain in the pelvic area or between the vagina or scrotum and the perineum
• Frequent need to urinate, in small amounts, throughout the day and night, sometimes up to 60 times daily
• Pain during sex
• Discomfort while the bladder fills

What causes IC?

While it is unknown exactly what causes IC, researchers believe that damage to the lining of the bladder may contribute to the condition, possibly caused by such factors as trauma to the bladder or spinal cord, a dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscle, an autoimmune disorder or a bacterial infection. When the inside wall of the bladder is damaged, it may allow particles in the urine to leak into the bladder lining, resulting in symptoms of IC.

How they treat it

Conventional medicine currently has no cure for IC. It is commonly treated using pain and immunosuppressant medications. These not only do nothing to cure the condition, but their side effects and suppression of the immune system can cause a host of additional problems.

How we treat it

At the Magaziner Center for Wellness we treat IC naturally and functionally, looking at all possible triggers and contributing factors via a thorough series of lab tests that include screenings of blood and urine, as well as for allergies, candida overgrowth and pathogens. We also examine all facets of the patient’s lifestyle and nutritional status, which enables us to provide much more effective treatment than simply blocking symptoms. We often find, for example, that the actual cause is orthopedic, allowing the condition to be treated using safe and natural methods such as prolotherapy, platelet rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell therapy. If indicated, we also can instill homeopathic and natural agents directly into the bladder, allowing the inside wall to heal naturally and without side effects. In other cases, we take steps to stop the immune system from attacking the bladder when it appears that is what’s causing the condition.