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.
Would you like an appointment?
To request an appointment, please call our office at 646-962-9600. Our phone staff are available to help you Monday-Friday, from 9AM-5PM (EST).
You can find the office contact information for each physician specializing in Painful Bladder Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis by visiting their profile listed on the bottom of this webpage.
If you'd like to learn more about our providers that specialize in Painful Bladder Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis, please review the Physicians & Faculty profiles listed at the bottom of this page.
Treatment Locations
