Interstitial Cystitis Archives

IC and pelvic floor muscle excersises

I have recently been told of the many benefits of doing pelvic floor muscle excersises and was wondering... Do pelvic floor muscle excersises (with "geisha" balls for instance) put pressure on the levator ani muscle, and make IC worse? Or could they somehow possibly be of help for IC and its symptoms? (besides skilled ralaxiation obviously.

Follow Ups:

• Re: IC and pelvic floor muscle excersises (Archive.) Walt Stoll [9.8] 06:28:40 7/29/04 (0)
• Re: IC and pelvic floor muscle excersises Ron [1013.81] 08:44:58 7/28/04 (0)

In Reply to: IC and pelvic floor muscle excersises posted by Sandy [2365.4] on July 28, 2004 at 05:05:25:

Hi Sandy,

You are asking a question that my not have the same results
for all sufferers.

If your "IC" is due to an untreated infection, how could
pressing on anything give more than temporary relief?
If you also have vulovaginitis or urethritis, that is not going to be touched by massage with a ball.
If you have a dropped bladder or have had a hysterectomy,
pressure on the stomach can only make things worse, since it is the suspensory muscles of the bladder that need to be
raised. Kegel exercises without any applinaces to assist
might give better results.

Bladder retraining along with a careful diet to reduce irritation to the urethra should help a lot.
The more you go, the more you will feel like you need to go.
Breaking this habit can reduce frequency.

Have you tried an alkaline drink such as Cornsilk Tea?
Iti s incredibly cheap and easy to make. (ask on IC-hope)
Some of the other drinks such as GSE Extract are actually diuretics. Simple glass of water with a 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder has helped some..
A sitz bath in a pan of baking soda and water is also
soothing.

Have you looked into a possible infection of the paraurethral glands? (skenes glands) Self massage of the hard spots alongside the urethra can expell bacteria and
debris that is blocking them...
Kris on ic-hope was lucky enough that her husband did the
massage for her, but it can be self administerd.

Also, the best time to have a urethral swab taken (to not miss such an infection) is shortly after such kneading massage. It is like massaging the prostate to help excrete the infection.
http://www.drmirkin.com/men/m156.html

If you doctor wants to look at these secretions under his office microscope, there will probably be a high number of white blood cells present and then you will be more able to get a prescription for a suitable antibiotic..
http://www.drmirkin.com/archive/6659.html

Good luck...
Ron

In Reply to: IC and pelvic floor muscle excersises posted by Sandy [2365.4] on July 28, 2004 at 05:05:25:

Hi, Sandy.

The exercises will help ESPECIALLY if they are combined with the SR.

Let us know how you do.

Walt