May 06 2008
Living with IC Pain
Even though going to the bathroom up to 60 times a day is like a nightmare in itself, the pain of IC Disease is not like anything you would ever want to experience. For those with severe IC, the pain is unbearable.
When I was at my worst with IC, the pain was so severe that I literally laid for hours upon hours a day in the fetal position crying. It was worse than labor pains for me. I didn’t cry at all while in labor with my son. This pain was like nothing I ever had experienced before and I hope it never returns that severe. I always have pain of some sort from IC, but my symptoms have improved tremendously.
My urologist was great in many ways but not when it came to prescribing pain medication. The strongest thing he would prescribe for IC Disease pain was Ultram. Ultram did nothing at all for the pain I was experiencing so I was really suffering.
A couple of ways I learned how to deal with the pain was using ice packs, heat packs and taking warm showers. I would use the massager in the shower and let the water run lightly down over my abdomen and my lower back. For a short while I would have some relief. Ice packs were wonderful. I had an ice pack on me most of the time. I used heat packs to help fight spasms.
When I couldn’t stand the pain a second longer, I went to my family doctor. She prescribed me some muscle relaxers and prescription pain pills which did relieve some of the pain.
Never let yourself suffer. If one doctor doesn’t help you out and doesn’t realize you are in severe pain from IC, see another doctor who will give you prescriptions to get some relief. There is nothing wrong with taking pain killers as long as you are being responsible with them.
