Take control of your interstitial cystitis treatment with this comprehensive guide.

Interstitial cystitis (IC), also called painful bladder syndrome, is a complex bladder pain condition that can be confusing, frustrating, and debilitating. Successful treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach that often features a combination of medication, physical therapy, dietary and lifestyle changes, alternative medicine, and more.

The Interstitial Cystitis Solution has all the information you need, all in one place. It provides scientific reviews and evaluations of potential treatments, along with a helpful treatment plan tailored to your specific symptoms and lifestyle. Written by leading IC expert Nicole Cozean, DPT, PT, WCS, the information is presented in an accessible way, with real-life examples from the author, who has treated hundreds of patients who have found relief from their symptoms with the holistic treatment plan outlined in this book. This comprehensive guide allows you to take control of your healing and will restore sanity to the insane world of conflicting diagnoses, treatments, and advice. Within:

• Learn about alternatives to medication and surgery
• Understand the role of the pelvic floor in IC
• Practice mind-body therapies to manage pain
• Discover exercises, stretches, and self-care techniques to alleviate symptoms and prevent flares

Also included are helpful:

• Personalized flare-busting plan
• Symptom log
• Bladder diary
• Weekly treatment plan checklist
• And more!

Thousands of patients with IC live healthy, pain-free lives—and so can you!

The Interstitial Cystitis Solution is a comprehensive guide of the condition, helping patients take their treatment into their own hands.

Contents
 
Introduction
Section 1: Interstitial Cystitis (IC) Overview
Chapter 1: The Big Picture: An Overview of IC
Chapter 2: IC and You: Symptoms of IC
Chapter 3: The Cause Conundrum: What Do We Know?
Chapter 4: The Struggle for Answers: The Road to Diagnosis
Chapter 5: The Pelvic Floor Connection: It’s Not Just Your Bladder
Section 2: Treatments and Therapies
Chapter 6: Treatment of IC: An Overview
Chapter 7: A Bitter Pill: Why Medication Isn’t the Answer
Chapter 8: Within the Bladder: How Your Doctor Can Help
Chapter 9: Beyond the Bladder: Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Chapter 10: Put Yourself First: Self-Care for IC
Chapter 11: Food as Medicine: The Role of Diet in IC
Chapter 12: Thinking Outside the Box: Nontraditional Therapies
Section 3: The Three Stages of IC Recovery: Your Action Plan
Chapter 13: Stage I: Manage the Symptoms
Chapter 14: Stage II: Address Underlying Issues
Chapter 15: Stage III: Live Successfully with IC
Appendix: Practical IC Solutions
References
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Index
 

Nicole Cozean, D.PT., P.T., W.C.S., C.S.C.S.,is the founder of the PelvicSanity clinic, a specialty physical therapy clinic that focuses solely on pelvic pain conditions such as interstitial cystitis. One of fewer than 300 board-certified physical therapists in pelvic health, she has helped hundreds of patients navigate their healing journey with IC. Nicole is the first physical therapist to be elected to the board of directors of the Interstitial Cystitis Association, started the PelvicSanity.com blog, and teaches online educational courses to help both patients and practitioners learn about pelvic conditions such as IC.

Jesse Cozean, M.B.A.,is a medical researcher and author. He has designed and overseen clinical trials of both over-the-counter and prescription drugs, authored multiple peer-reviewed papers, and holds several patents on medical devices and pharmaceutical products. He is also the author of My Grandfather's War: A Young Man's Lessons from the Greatest Generation, and fortunate enough to be married to Nicole.