Interstitial Cystitis Archives

IC Testimonial!

Dr. Stoll, Thank you for your explanation of IC. I am beginning to be convinced that you are right and that IC really is caused by chronic body bracing and tension in the levator ani. I have found that when I practice skilled relaxation,and/or do biofeedback, both pain and frequency are less. I have read Pelletier's book, also. Things are starting to fit together. Believe me, I have consulted with a number of urologists, including two nationally known IC experts and have been to the Mayo Clinic, and it has been very discouraging, since none of the standard treatments have been very helpful. I have spent many hours researching IC and see that medicine is very unclear about causes. (Elmiron, the newest medicine, is expensive and mildly helpful at best) The biofeedback specialist also supports your theory and she herself was able to recover from something like IC. Having been very healthy all of my life (but perhaps unaware of accumulating tension) it was a real drag when I developed this debilitating condition, but fortunately I haven't given up. I am now beginning to feel hopeful. With a disease like IC, even partial relief is a blessing!I wanted to post this so that anyone with IC can see that there are benefits to skilled relaxation. Right now mainstream medicine is starting to focus on "pelvic floor dysfunction" as a factor in IC and vulvodynia and I think they may be on the right track but they are using electrical stimulation devices and pretty aggressive internal massage and my guess is that learning to do relaxation on one's own is a better way. Less potential for harm and no need for dependency on specialists. A tip: when I worked with the biofeedback lady she recommended not focusing in on the bladder, pelvic floor muscles but rather on total body relaxation, as you suggest. Trying too hard to relax just one part of the body doesn't seem to be the way to go. Thank you again, and I hope you continue to regain your health. I'll post again if I keep making progress.

Follow Ups:

• Re: IC Testimonial! Archive. Walt Stoll 10:15:42 6/11/00 (0)

In Reply to: IC Testimonial! posted by Bonny on June 10, 2000 at 01:53:04:

Thanks, Bonny.

Your testimonial will help others at least give this a try. The problem never has been that this doesn't work but that so many people are unwilling to try it.

Namaste`

Walt