The Interstitial Cystitis Solution: A Holistic Plan for Healing Painful Symptoms, Resolving Bladder and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, and Taking Back Your Life

Written by Nicole and Jesse Cozean, the Interstitial Cystitis Solution is the best book written about interstitial cystitis in twenty years. If you are newly diagnosed with IC/BPS, it will give you a road map on how to approach your treatment and self care. If you’re a grizzled IC veteran, it provides the latest information about why IC symptoms often persist and how you can find relief. It may also challenge everything that you believe about IC.Twenty years ago, IC treatment focused on repairing a damaged bladder wall. In 2017, we now understand that many of the urinary symptoms that IC and chronic prostatitis patients experience may originate from and/or be exacerbated by dysfunctional pelvic floor muscles and/or nerves. The authors wrote “The bladder doesn’t live in isolation. It’s intricately connected with all the muscles, ligaments and tissue that surround it, collectively known as the pelvic floor.”While the initial cause and/or injury may be different in patients, the Cozean's explain that many patients end up caught in a vicious cycle of bladder dysfunction, muscle tension, inflammation, pain and nerve up-regulation that leads to the chronic bladder symptoms we know as IC. They said “muscle tightness amplifies and contributes to pain and urinary symptoms.” They offer a three stage recovery plan that focuses on restoring muscle function and blood flow, as well as calming the nerves, reducing inflammation and treating pain.The best parts of this book are the two chapters which discuss the anatomy of the pelvic floor and how physical therapy should be conducted. Did you know, for example, that if urethral sphincter muscles are tight they can cause an urgent need to urinate, burning pain in the urethra or the stinging that might occur during urination? That three specific muscles can directly cause bladder and urethral symptoms while other muscles cause the pain that you might experience while driving, sitting or during intimacy. It’s an eye opening journey into the anatomy and complexity of the pelvic floor. They are way more important and influential to bladder function than you (and your physicians) may realize.Their discussion of pelvic floor physical therapy is outstanding. In 2001, the first study of PT and IC showed that 70% of patients responded to therapy with a greater than 50% improvement of their symptoms. A few years later, another study found that 90% of participants experienced an improvement in their symptoms. Men with chronic prostatitis also responded very favorably to physical therapy. It took large NIH studies in 2009 and 2012 to convince the urology community as a whole that physical therapy not only works but works better than many traditional therapies.The Cozean's explain that many physicians and physical therapists haven’t had any training in pelvic floor anatomy and therapy. Patients too may not believe that their symptoms are coming from somewhere other than their bladder or may find the concept of physical therapy “down there” off putting. They wrote “If your physical therapist can recreate any of your urinary or pain symptoms by touching a muscle in your pelvic floor, then that is something that can be treated.”Lead author Nicole Cozen PT, DPT and WCS has an impressive array of credentials. She’s has a doctorate in physical therapy and is one of 275 certified women’s care specialists in the USA. This very rare specialty required extensive training in the pelvic floor anatomy and function. At her Southern California clinic, Pelvic Sanity, she specializes in the treatment of pelvic pain in men and women. She’s got the chops to explain IC within the context of pelvic floor dysfunction and she does it well.The only weaknesses in the book relate to some of the bladder specific discussions that she may not have been aware of as a physical therapist. The discussion of DMSO did not include research which found the FDA approved dosage potentially damaging to the bladder muscle. DMSO fell out out of favor due, in great part, to the concern about the above study as well as the growing popularity of the heparin-lidocaine instillations. The section on sacral neuromodulation was far too enthusiastic given the hundreds of serious and/or life threatening adverse events filed with the FDA. The diet discussion has an excellent discussion of pH and correctly says that diet is different for everyone but somewhat dismisses the data that we’ve gathered on bladder & food sensitivities over the years. These are all minor points that should not discourage anyone from reading this truly exceptional book.The Interstitial Cystitis Solution is an outstanding educational tool and should be required reading for patients and their medical care providers. It WILL completely change the way you look at IC and, I hope, will give you several new ideas to explore especially if you are in pain and/or struggling to find a treatment that works.

This book is the new bible for IC, a condition that has only recently made its way into my vocabulary. Most general practitioners know very little about this illness, so the advice and information in this book can be a huge helpful tool. I like that it's in softbound workbook form, making it easy to jot down notes.Most patients with unexplained bladder pain will only receive a short list of foods to avoid. The author's suggestion for additional meds including an anti-depressant, anti inflammatory, and antihistamine were helpful. The explanations of the pelvic floor being the root of the culprit were stunning. The book outlines specific stretches and PT exercises which are also helpful tools on the road to recovery. The author suggests finding a trained pelvic floor PT to help with these exercises. Great book!

This book is a must read if you have Interstitial Cystitis, or if you have pelvic floor dysfunction (pain). This is the most comprehensive book that I have found, presented in an easy to follow manner. Nicole nails it with her right on analysis and researched information to help you get on the path to healing. Don’t just rely on your care providers, learn about the options available to you in this book. I wish it had been available when I really needed it. But I recommend it to anyone with any type of pelvic issues going on. You can heal and improve!! I have read many books on related topics, but this is the one that I recommend to everyone. I am also a physical therapist, but you don’t need to be highly educated to gain insight from this book. It is written for anyone to inform them of things you may not be hearing if you are only working with traditional medical providers.

This book is not full of drama - all the stories about other's terrible journeys with this illness are not helpful. What we need are facts and a plan. This book will help you make a plan to get well and be pain free. I read it before I went to a hot shot specialist in IC and there was nothing he told me that I had not already read about in this book. So if you don't have anyone that specializes in IC in your town, save your self the (painful) trip and show this book to your OB/Gyn or family doc and see if they will prescribe as this book suggests. And find a PT that can do pelvic. Even if you have to travel and have just one or two sessions with a pelvic PT, you can carry on at home and make good progress. This book has saved me from deep despair after being told I would be in pain for the rest of my life. Not True! It has taken a few months but I am having many more good days and the bad days are not as bad. I was able to take an international trip and just kept doing my PT (even on the plane) and I had a wonderful time.I would like to mention that nothing was mentioned about the posibility of vein issues being a cause of IC. Vericose veins, or Pelvic Congestion Syndrome, can be a cause and would be worth mentioning.

Good helpful book for newly diagnosed IC patient. A lot of the information in the book is heavy on pelvic floor disfunction ( I later found out the author specialist in PFT). I wish there was more on holistic approaches in treating IC. I did like the pelvic floor stretching exercises included in the book, but most information can be found online or on YouTube. It was a good book but could have been better.

This book is FULL of the information that we all who have or have been recently diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis absolutely need to know. I am sure that your doctor like mine most likely put you on medication and told you that you need to change your diet. It was a sad day for me, and I wanted to know a lot more about this condition. After searching I found this wonderful book which is so well written, very informative, and very easy to follow that I immediately ordered it. Knowledge is Power and Power means Freedom and freedom means peace of mind.. This is how you will feel after reading this book. It will answer all of your questions and concerns. It is also great to have around just to have as an easy referral tool.You will not have to wonder as to just where did I get the information, as the book will be there and believe me you will be very happy that you purchased it when you did!

I've read as many resources on IC (interstitial cystitis) as I can get my hands on, and this is most definitely the best, most up-to-date, and most thorough. It actually shows the ratings and efficacy of various treatments and medications, and it emphasizes pelvic physical therapy, which has one of the best success rates in improving symptoms and relieving the pain of IC. I also found this book hopeful, rather than depressing in its outlook. It explores a range of therapies, including acupuncture. (I personally have found most success with pelvic PT (physical therapy), acupuncture, and over-the-counter remedies such as Cysto Renew, Marshmallow capsules, etc. in addition to following strictly the IC diet. I've also found great relief in regular movement and pelvic release exercises from videos on You Tube.) Honestly, I wish I'd discovered this book before spending $ on other ones, which weren't as helpful and seemed rather gloom-and-doom in their approach. For many people, IC isn't a disease for which you can simply take a pill and be cured. The authors understand this, and know that the successful treatment involves a process and being proactive about your health -- including making lifestyle changes. This is a real service to the IC community.

Such a helpful and easy to read book. If you struggle with symptoms of IC, read this book ASAP.

Covers a lot of ground (not all of it relevant to me personally) but gave me some useful pointers in my quest to resolve my pelvic dysfunction which has been caused by endometriosis and a subsequent overactive pelvic floor with frequent pelvic floor spasms.

This book offers NO solution whatsoever. Its actually only trying to make the reader buy more from the author, like online courses, or book into her private clinic. Making money from desperate patients. Shameful.

Very informative book that also provides exercises. It's a must have if you struggle with IC.

Very informative. Just give it a try without hesitation.

one of the most helpful reads for IC!