Uncovering the Root of your Interstitial Cystitis (IC)

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Interstitial Cystitis (IC), also known as bladder pain syndrome, causes symptoms that include: burning bladder pain, frequent bathroom trips, and nighttime urination. IC has no one-size-fits all cause, meaning effective treatment can be illusive when approached using conventional medicine. Thankfully, using a functional medicine approach, Dr. Rafatjah has had success in alleviating her patients of this condition.

Table of Contents

Dr. Rafatjah was recently interviewed as an expert on Interstitial Cystitis for an article featured on Bustle. Below is a brief summary of the article (the full article is available here):

What is Interstitial Cystitis (IC)?

Interstitial Cystitis (IC), also known as bladder pain syndrome, causes symptoms that include: burning bladder pain, frequent bathroom trips, and nighttime urination. IC has no one-size-fits all cause, meaning effective treatment can be illusive when approached using conventional medicine. Thankfully, using a functional medicine approach, Dr. Rafatjah has had success in alleviating her patients of this often debilitating disease.

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic condition that causes pain and discomfort in the bladder and pelvic area. Symptoms of IC can include a frequent and urgent need to urinate, pain or discomfort in the bladder and pelvic area, and pain during sex.

Cause of Interstitial Cystitis (IC)

The cause of IC is not fully understood, and there is no known cure. However, a number of treatment options are available to help manage symptoms. These can include medications, physical therapy, and dietary changes.

Some people with IC may find that certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods, can worsen their symptoms. It may be helpful for people with IC to keep a food diary to track which foods and drinks may be triggering their symptoms.

In addition to dietary changes, other lifestyle modifications, such as stress management and avoiding triggers such as perfumed products, may also be helpful in managing IC symptoms. It is important for individuals with IC to work with a healthcare provider to find the treatment approach that is most effective for them

The PrimeHealth Approach: 

“I have had patients who were suffering with IC and were able to resolve things after various interventions,” functional medicine doctor Soyona Rafatjah, MD, owner of the primary care and integrative medicine private practice, PrimeHealth, tells Bustle. “There is currently no consensus on its origin, and studies have shown that the treatments that work for individuals are highly variable. Therefore, it’s impossible to come up with one treatment that works for all IC patients. It’s most important to consider all possible inflammatory causes in an individual’s history to come up with the best treatment approach.”

How Functional Medicine Can Help:

Because the cause of IC varies so greatly from patient to patient, uncovering its cause requires a doctor knowledgeable in many treatment modalities, and that is able to dedicate great attention to each patient. The beauty of treating patients in this way is that when we resolve the cause of IC, we tend to see improvements in many other areas. We don’t simply mask symptoms with painkillers and other medications, we use a whole-body approach to find, address, and treat the cause of your IC. 

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic condition that causes pain and discomfort in the bladder and pelvic area. Symptoms of IC can include a frequent and urgent need to urinate, pain or discomfort in the bladder and pelvic area, and pain during sex.

The cause of IC is not fully understood, and there is no known cure. However, a number of treatment options are available to help manage symptoms. These can include medications, physical therapy, and dietary changes.

Some people with IC may find that certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods, can worsen their symptoms. It may be helpful for people with IC to keep a food diary to track which foods and drinks may be triggering their symptoms.

In addition to dietary changes, other lifestyle modifications, such as stress management and avoiding triggers such as perfumed products, may also be helpful in managing IC symptoms. It is important for individuals with IC to work with a healthcare provider to find the treatment approach that is most effective for the

Join PrimeHealth & Treat Your Interstitial Cystitis Today. 

If you or someone that you know is suffering from IC, please schedule a free phone consult with Dr. Rafatjah to discuss how we can help.

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