While there is no cure for PBS/IC, there are several surgical and non-surgical treatment options available. A combination of these options is usually required for symptom control. Finding the combination of options that will provide relief often requires diligence and patience.
Non-surgical Treatments:
Bladder diet:
Following a bladder diet means avoiding food and beverages that irritate the bladder and intensify urinary symptoms of PBS/IC. A "bladder elimination diet" is a method to determine which particular foods and beverages make your symptoms worse.
Pelvic floor therapy:
Pelvic floor therapy consists of visits to a physical therapist with specialized training in pelvic floor disorders. These specialized physical therapists utilize a combination of various techniques, listed below, depending on the type of urogynecological condition they are treating.
Bladder training:
Bladder training consists of learning to use the pelvic floor muscles to suppress overactive bladder symptoms, including urinary urgency, frequency, nocturia, and urge urinary incontinence.
Functional electrical stimulation:
Functional electrical stimulation utilizes a device that can be used intravaginally or externally, delivering a gentle electrical current to activate or relax the nerves and muscles in the pelvis.
Joint and tissue mobilization:
This therapy involves gentle manipulation to help calm the muscles and nerves of the pelvis.
Bladder instillations:
Bladder instillations are repeated instillations of lidocaine, heparin and other substances into the bladder to decrease bladder pain. The mixture is instilled through a small catheter inserted into the urethra two times per week until the desired results are achieved.
Sacral nerve modulation:
Sacral nerve modulation is an FDA-approved treatment for urinary urgency, frequency, urge incontinence, and retention. Sacral nerve modulation uses a small device that is implanted under the skin of one of the upper buttocks. It works by gently stimulating the sacral nerves to help the bladder function more normally.
