Bladder Lining Disease

Interstitial cystitis is a disease characterized by chronic pain affecting the lining of the bladder that is both difficult to diagnose and treat. Because the initial symptoms are similar to those of a standard urinary tract infection, those suffering from the condition are often treated ineffectively for years before they are determined to have it.

Initial Symptoms

• Interstitial cystitis usually begins with pelvic pain, a feeling of pressure in the pelvis and lower abdomen, burning with urination, an increasing frequency of urination and a feeling of urgency. Some women also report pain with sexual intercourse. When a patient presents with these symptoms, they are typically treated for a standard urinary tract infection, even when preliminary laboratory testing does not indicate the presence of bacteria in the urine.

Incidence

• While middle-age women are three times more likely to develop interstitial cystitis, men can also develop the condition. It is even more difficult to diagnose men because it is frequently confused with chronic prostatitis. The Interstitial Cystitis Association reports that approximately 3 to 8 million women and 1 to 2 million men are afflicted.

Types of Interstitial Cystitis

• There are two main types of interstitial cystitis: ulcerative and non-ulcerative. Non-ulcerative is the the most common form. Ulcerative interstitial cystitis is characterized by the presence of small ulcerations in the lining of the bladder, known as Hunner's ulcers. This distinction can only be made by a surgical procedure known as cystoscopy, where a camera is inserted into the bladder to view the inner lining of the bladder.

Causes

• The causes of interstitial cystitis are not currently known. There are many theories including autoimmune disorder, bacterial infection, trauma to the bladder and dysfunction of the nerves and pelvic muscles. Interstitial cystitis is mostly commonly believed to be a disease process as there is evidence supporting continued damage to the bladder lining.

Treatment

• There is no cure for interstitial cystitis. There are many treatments available that have a varying measure of success. Bladder distention therapy often helps patient's increase their bladder capacity, while instillation of mild anesthetics into the bladder via catheterization may also reduce pain. However, neither of these treatments last for long. The drug Elmiron has found to bring relief to many sufferers, as has bladder retraining.

Adjunctive Therapies

• Many sufferers report that dietary changes such as the total elimination of processed foods, artificial sweeteners and dyes, foods treated with agricultural pesticides and foods with very high acid content relieve symptoms. Additionally, stress reduction, herbal remedies, acupuncture and meditation techniques are often beneficial to coping with the chronic pain of this disease.