Ongoing bladder pain and pressure, often mistaken for a recurring UTI that never quite clears, can be interstitial cystitis. We help manage the pain and pelvic tension it causes, working alongside your urologist.
Override specializes in chronic pain. Our virtual care team looks at the physical, neurological, and emotional factors that can influence ongoing bladder pain, then builds a personalized care plan around your needs, goals, and life.
of appointments are fully virtual. In-network with most insurance plans in select states.
of patients report improvement*
satisfaction with Override providers*
*Source: Internal Override Health patient-reported outcomes data
Interstitial cystitis (IC), also called painful bladder syndrome, is a chronic condition causing bladder pain, pressure, and urinary urgency or frequency, without a bacterial infection. It’s often mistaken initially for recurring UTIs, but standard urine tests come back clear, a key clue pointing toward IC instead.
Common symptoms:
Bladder pain or pressure, often worse as the bladder fills
Urinary urgency and frequency, sometimes needing to urinate many times a day
Pain that may ease temporarily after urinating
Pelvic pain that can extend beyond just the bladder
Symptoms that can flare with certain foods, stress, or hormonal changes
The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but it’s thought to involve changes in the bladder lining and nervous system sensitivity. Many patients also have notable pelvic floor muscle tension that compounds the pain, which is where physical treatment can help.
Chronic pain from interstitial cystitis is also a nervous system story. Living with unexplained, recurring pain, especially after being told repeatedly that tests are normal, can lead to a more sensitized nervous system over time, which is part of why a whole-person approach matters.
Interstitial cystitis can shape far more than bathroom habits.
Pain can change how far you travel from a bathroom, how you sleep with frequent urges, how frustrated you feel after being treated for “recurring UTIs” that were never actually infections, and how isolating it can feel to manage.
That’s why Override doesn’t treat interstitial cystitis as only a bladder symptom.
We look at the whole pain experience and build a personalized plan around your symptoms, history, goals, and the factors that may be contributing to your pain.
You may have already seen a urologist, been treated for UTIs that weren’t actually infections, or tried dietary changes. Maybe something helped for a while. Maybe nothing did.
Override isn’t about asking one more treatment to solve every part of a complex pain experience.
It’s about bringing the right care together.
Depending on your needs, your personalized care plan may include:
Pain specialists trained in pain neuroscience and non-opioid chronic pain management who coordinate with your urologist on diagnosis and any medical treatment.
Movement specialists trained in chronic pain, including pelvic floor therapy, since pelvic floor muscle tension is a very common but often under-addressed contributor to IC pain.
Pain-focused therapists who help address the frustration of a condition that’s often misdiagnosed for years before proper identification.
Certified pain coaches help you track potential trigger foods and build sustainable habits, and stay supported between visits.
Your care is personalized to you. You may not need every service. The difference is that your providers can work together as one team, with one shared understanding of your pain and your goals, and your urologist stays central to diagnosis and medical treatment.
Jim S.
Override patient
Diagnosis and certain treatments, like bladder instillations or specific medications, stay with your urologist.
Physical treatment, particularly pelvic floor therapy, addresses a significant contributor to pain for many IC patients and complements medical care.
We’ve also built a dedicated page on pelvic floor dysfunction, which frequently overlaps with and contributes to IC symptoms.
You’ve been diagnosed with IC, or have recurring “UTI” symptoms with clear tests
Your pain is affecting your work, sleep, mood, or the things you want to do
You’re looking for pelvic floor-focused support alongside your urologist’s care
You feel like you’ve been managing symptoms without a coordinated plan
Override doesn’t diagnose interstitial cystitis or manage medical treatments like bladder instillations. Please continue working with your urologist for that part of your care.
No. A bladder infection involves bacteria and typically clears with antibiotics. IC causes similar pain and urgency without a detectable infection, which is why standard UTI treatment doesn’t resolve it.
Yes, though it’s diagnosed more often in women. The condition and its pelvic floor component can affect men too, sometimes discussed under related terms like chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
For many patients, yes. Pelvic floor muscle tension is a very common contributor to IC pain regardless of severity, and addressing it directly can provide meaningful relief alongside medical treatment.
If you haven’t been diagnosed, yes. Rule out infection and confirm the diagnosis with a urologist first, then we can work together on the pelvic floor and pain management side.
Schedule your free consultation today to learn more.
