Bladder pain

[Mummy76]

Prior to being diagnosed with MS I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis due to bladder pain and frequency.  It's been at least a year since I suffered from that but it's now back.  If it is a symptom of the MS would steroids help?

[grandmalaurie59]

My Daughter was dx with Interstitial Cystitis when she was 26. (she is now 35) She doesn't have MS. Still not much is known about this disease. She was lucky enough to see the DR who discovered IC. Urologists usually don't treat IC (believe it or not) It is 'believed' it is an autoimmune disease. My poor daughter is in constant pain, burning, frequency....She takes a drug called Elmeron (spelling) but is VERY expensive.

[Mummy76]

Thanks Twopack.  I did test for an infection and it came back clear.  I was diagnosed with IC based on my symptoms.  My cystoscope showed only minor inflammation.

I tried to research whether IC is common with MS, it seems like it isn't but I'm not sure if that's because any bladder issues would be blamed on the MS rather than checking for other culprits.  

I think I will get through the weekend and if the pain is still there on Monday, I'll call the MS clinic.  

[twopack]

That's a call that is best made by the neuro and or urologist.  No doubt one or the other would want a urine culture done first to make sure this isn't a case of a 'simple' urinary tract infection.  Of course antibiotics would be the better treatment if that's the case.

Since interstitial cystitis is a chronic state of inflammation I guess steroids might help - at least while you continued to take them.  But wouldn't the inflammation return quickly when the steroid course was complete?  Just thinking out loud here.....

Doesn't IC sometimes disappear spontaneously?  Maybe the IC is gone and this is a new neurogenic bladder problem from MS?  More thinking out loud....

Was there no testing to confirm IC in the past?  Maybe the diagnosis will need to be revisited in light of the MS diagnosis?  Then again, I believe there is some thought that IC might be a disordered autoimmune response set in motion by infection or inflammation.  Too much thinking out loud...

And I'm right back where I started.  It's a good (and bad) thing that tomorrow is Friday.  You have time to get a doc to respond before the weekend if you call first thing in the morning:)  And then the whole weekend to wait before you'll get any report of a urinalysis:(

[SarahL2491]

nah, you need to see your urologist for anti biotic and something like ditropan