Is Interstitial Cystitis progressive?
There is no straightforward answer to this question, as for some, IC is progressive while for others with IC, it (their symptoms) stay the same as it was when they first developed the condition. For others still IC begins progressively then plateaus, remaining at a certain level indefinitely, with the exception of bladder flare-ups, known as Flares. IC often occurs very rapidly, with little or no prior warnings or signs; another reason why it may be accidentally confused with or wrongly diagnosed as a bladder infection (UTI). For some IC is tolerable or hardly noticeable, especially if appropriate and helpful treatments are found, or the condition is caught early on in its history. Yet, sadly for others with IC, it is literally debilitating, leaving patients bedridden. In extreme cases surgery may be considered as a “last option” for attempting to treat or halt the progression of IC.
