What are the primary symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis?
The symptoms of IC are varied from patient to patient, however many are shared between almost all IC cases. Pain is an overriding factor in IC. For many, sensations of pain radiate from the bladder, for others the pelvic region (including but not exclusively, perineal and abdominal pain). For others still, the urethral area (internally or externally) is the source of pain, and for some all three of these areas experience pain or discomfort. This pain may be intermittent or continual (chronic). The level of pain can range from moderate to debilitating, though the degree of pain (discomfort) is not necessarily a means of determining the severity of IC. Pain can be described in many ways, though words such as burning, stabbing, dull, aching, and sharp are often used in regards to IC. Urinary frequency (having to void, also know as urinating or peeing) is a hallmark IC symptom, as the bladder is internally wounded, and “normal” or healthy bladder function is not possible. For some the freq
