What is Interstitial Cystitis (IC)?
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic disorder involving an inflamed or irritated bladder wall. It can cause the bladder to not be able to hold as much urine as it did in the past, due to scarring and stiffening of the bladder. Interstitial cystitis (IC) may also be known as:
- Painful bladder syndrome
- Frequency-urgency-dysuria syndrome
Looking for help for the Interstitial Cystitis in Houston, TX? Call us at (713) 572-3888 and book an appointment today!
Symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis
- Frequent urination
- Urgency with urination
- Feelings of pressure, pain, and tenderness around the bladder, pelvis, and the area between the anus and vagina or anus and scrotum (perineum)
- Pain during sex
Possible Causes of Interstitial Cystitis
- Immune dysfunction
- Recurrent infections
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Most people with IC find that certain foods make their symptoms worse.
Looking for help for the Interstitial Cystitis in Houston, TX? Call us at (713) 572-3888 and book an appointment today!
Can Acupuncture Help Interstitial Cystitis?
Controlled trials with acupuncture for treatment symptoms caused by interstitial cystitis is warranted. For patients with interstitial cystitis, acupuncture could be a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of bladder pain, urinary frequency and urgency.
How Can Acupuncture Help With Interstitial Cystitis?
Acupuncture helps relieve inflammation.
Acupuncture may help modulate immune function.
Acupuncture may strengthen the pelvic floor by improving the blood flow to it.
Patient Story
Joann was 63 years old when she visited our office in March 2022.
She complained of frequent urination, urgency with urination, pain and burning sensation in pelvis, and pain during sex. She developed these symptoms about 3 years ago, and was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis a year later.
Before being diagnosed, she suffered from acid reflux, poor memory, tightness and pain in neck, lower back, and sacral area for many years.
She had a pale, dark tongue with teeth marks. Her stomach area, lower abdomen, neck, sacral area, and medial side of her thighs and legs were all tender upon palpation, and her feet were cold to touch.
We diagnosed her from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine with a spleen and kidney yang deficiency with fluid retention and blood stagnation. Along with her diagnosis, we also ran a food intolerance and nutritional deficiency test on her.
We coached her diet, nutrition, exercise, detox and lifestyle based on her health condition and lab reports, and she was treated with cupping, acupuncture, and Chinese herbs. Her condition got better gradually, and after 10 visits her Interstitial Cystitis symptoms were almost non-existent.
