Interstitial Cystitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

When your bladder hurts for no clear reason, even when you’re not sick, it could be interstitial cystitis, a chronic condition causing bladder pressure, pain, and frequent urges to urinate. Also known as bladder pain syndrome, it doesn’t respond to antibiotics and often gets worse with stress, certain foods, or even sitting too long. Unlike a urinary tract infection, there’s no bacteria to kill—just inflammation deep in the bladder wall that flares up for reasons doctors still don’t fully understand.

This isn’t just about frequent bathroom trips. People with interstitial cystitis, a chronic condition causing bladder pressure, pain, and frequent urges to urinate. Also known as bladder pain syndrome, it doesn’t respond to antibiotics and often gets worse with stress, certain foods, or even sitting too long. often describe it as a constant ache, sharp stabs, or a feeling that their bladder is full even after peeing. It can mess with sleep, sex, work, and even walking. Many go years without a diagnosis because doctors mistake it for a UTI or overactive bladder. But it’s its own thing—and it’s real. pelvic floor dysfunction, tight or spasming muscles around the bladder that worsen pain and urgency is a common partner to IC, and IC diet, avoiding acidic, spicy, or caffeinated foods that trigger bladder irritation is often the first step toward relief.

There’s no cure, but there are ways to take back control. Some find relief with simple changes—cutting out soda, quitting smoking, or doing pelvic stretches. Others need meds, nerve stimulation, or bladder instillations. The key is finding what works for your body. The posts below cover real strategies: how certain foods spark flares, what drugs actually help (and which ones don’t), how physical therapy can ease pain, and what alternative approaches people swear by. You’ll see comparisons of treatments, tips from others living with it, and clear advice you can use today—no jargon, no fluff.