Interstitial Cystitis in Scottsdale, AZ
The Scottsdale Stem Cell Treatment Center offers treatment for interstitial cystitis to the residents of Scottsdale, Phoenix, and the surrounding Arizona communities.
What Is Interstitial Cystitis?
Also known as painful bladder syndrome, interstitial cystitis is a chronic condition that is characterized by pressure and pain in the bladder and pelvis. Symptoms range from minor to severe.
The bladder is a hollow, muscle-lined organ that holds urine. As the bladder fills, it expands until your brain sends the signal that it needs to be emptied, which is relayed through the pelvic nerves. In normal people, this causes the urge to urinate. For people with interstitial cystitis, the nerve signals malfunction, triggering the urge to urinate frequently, even when the bladder is barely full.
Interstitial cystitis is most commonly seen in women and can have a significant negative impact on quality of life.
Causes of Interstitial Cystitis
While a specific cause of interstitial cystitis is unknown, researchers believe that a variety of factors could be involved. For example, in some individuals with interstitial cystitis, the epithelium (lining) of the bladder might be defective. If the lining leaks, toxic waste products from urine can cause irritation to the wall of the bladder. Auto-immune diseases, genetics, allergies, and infections are also thought to contribute to the disorder, but none of these has been proven as causes yet.
Symptoms Of Interstitial Cystitis
As with many disorders, the symptoms of interstitial cystitis may be different for each person. The symptoms may change over time, and flare-ups may be triggered by certain events or activities such as stress, menstruation, sexual intercourse, physical activity, and sitting for extended periods.
Interstitial cystitis signs and symptoms include the following:
- Chronic pain in the pelvic region.
- Pain in the area between the anus and vagina in women or anus and testicles in men, also called the perineum.
- Feeling a persistent and intense urge to use the bathroom.
- Feeling the urge to urinate frequently, even if it’s only a few drops, all day and all night. In the most severe cases, interstitial cystitis patients might urinate upwards of 60 times each day.
- Experiencing discomfort or pain as the bladder becomes fuller and relief once it’s emptied.
- Pain during sexual activity.
The symptoms of interstitial cystitis can vary widely in severity, and some individuals with the disorder may go for extended periods with no symptoms at all.
While the symptoms of interstitial cystitis often mimic those of chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs), testing for bacteria in the urine typically shows no infection. However, the symptoms can become much worse when interstitial cystitis patients develop a UTI.
Interstitial Cystitis Treatment via Stem Cell Therapy
At Scottsdale Stem Cell Treatment Center, we use large doses of stem cells taken from autologous adipose tissue to provide investigational therapy for numerous degenerative diseases. The method guarantees patients are only receiving stem cells taken from their own bodies. The technique used to isolate the cells involves state-of-the-art technology from Korea. All of our studies are funded by patients and have not gained FDA approval. We are conducting a pilot study to look into the efficacy of using high-dose adipose-derived stem cells to treat interstitial cystitis.
We use only adipose-derived stem cells from adults as those of embryonic origin not only pose ethical problems but may also cause rare tumors to develop. Scottsdale Stem Cell Treatment Center obtains stem cells through a method similar to liposuction that is done under local anesthesia. The cells are isolated from the patient’s fat and deployed within 90 minutes, all in the same facility. Naturally, healing and regeneration take time, and it’s unlikely symptoms will improve right away. We follow our patients closely through a research registry, and we also collect data that could help prove the effectiveness of stem cell therapy for interstitial cystitis.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of interstitial cystitis, please contact us at Scottsdale Stem Cell to find out whether STV or another form of stem cell treatment is right for you and your unique condition.