What is Interstitial Cystitis or Painful Bladder Syndrome and How Does Oxalate Play a Root Cause Role?

September is Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome Awareness Month. 

Below is some information about the condition from the Interstitial Cystitis Network.

“

You are not alone! 

An estimated 3 to 8 million women and 1 to 4 million men in the USA have symptoms of IC, including frequency, urgency, pressure and/or pain. One of the most common pelvic pain conditions in the world, it may be called interstitial cystitis, bladder pain syndrome or hypersensitive bladder syndrome. Some call IC a chronic abdominal and pelvic pain syndrome (CAPPS) or a urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS).

IC can begin after an injury or trauma (Oxalate poisoning may be a root cause for many)

Many IC patients have damage to their bladder lining which allows urine to penetrate deep into the bladder wall where it irritates nerves and causes mast cells to release histamine. This drives symptoms of frequency, urgency and/or pain as the bladder fills. 

Pelvic floor muscles often contribute to bladder symptoms & pelvic pain. 

Many IC patients have tight pelvic floor muscles and painful trigger points. Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) can make it difficult to empty your bladder, have a bowel movement and enjoy sexual intimacy. A pelvic floor assessment is now part of the diagnostic process and most IC clinics now provide referrals for physical therapy to help restore proper muscle tone and function. 

Interstitial cystitis (IC/BPS) patients often struggle with other health conditions. 

Irritable bowel syndrome, vulvodynia, prostatodynia, endometriosis, anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia and TMJ are common related conditions to IC. Researchers suspect that neurosensitization is part of the problem. Many treatments and self-help strategies are designed to calm the nerves in the bladder, pelvis and throughout the body. ”

A little over a year ago, I was at a low point physically.  I was struggling with severe and sharp pains in my left mid and lower back, which extended into my pelvis and glutes and hadn’t improved since it began during my second trimester of pregnancy (which was almost two years ago at this point).

I began to struggle with new symptoms, as well. I had constant low-level nausea and felt as though I had a urinary tract infection all the time. I had to make frequent trips to the bathroom only to have a tiny amount of urine pass with significant burning. When a urine culture for a UTI came back negative, I had a blood test to check my kidney function and was sent on my way after benign told there was nothing they could do. Desperate for answers, I made a costly appointment with a Naturopathic Doctor hoping to find some answers. 

My Naturopath began leading toward a diagnosis of interstitial cystitis, doctor-speak for your bladder hurts, and we have no idea why. Here are some painkillers for the rest of your life. Obviously, that was not the path I wanted to take. I had read about oxalate concerning kidney stones, and I remember mentioning to my Naturopath out of nowhere, “I think oxalates might be the problem.” Which, of course, she ignored. She suggested that I pursue food sensitivity testing because the pain might be in my gut, even though I knew what I was feeling. 

At the time, my favorite foods included dark chocolate, almonds, cashews, beets, chia seeds, superfood smoothies, juices, and rich bone broths. These are all marketing as health foods with incredible nutritional benefits by the mainstream wellness industry. They are all also too high in oxalic acid, a sharp glass-like crystal structure that is part of the natural pest defense mechanism of plants, or in the case of bone broth high in collagen, which the body can turn into oxalate when there is a vitamin B6 deficiency. Oxalate build-up in the body can lead to kidney stone formation, kidney pain, bladder pain, urinary problems, joint pain, fatigue, stimulate autoimmune kidney damage, and is just bad news. 

Oxalate problems may not be the root cause of every IC diagnosis, but they were the cause for mine. I lowered my oxalate intake, threw in a ten-day raw milk fast, and finally started to feel better. I am so thankful to share that today, my life is free from urinary tract pain! 

If you are currently struggling with urinary tract pain and haven’t been able to find a solution, nutritional therapy may help. Click here to schedule a free 20 minute consultation with me. I know what you’re going through, and am ready to listen! 

Written By - Alexandra Radway, FNTP

References:

https://www.ic-network.com/downloads/icfactsheetandtreatmentprotocol0817.pdf