I went to the main Bladder Pain conference of the year - my thoughts on ESSIC 2019

The European Society for the Study of Bladder Pain Syndrome (formerly known as Interstitial Cystitis) met in Amsterdam this last weekend. I've been looking forward to it for a long time - here are my thoughts.
You can find info here about IMI Paincare TriPP programme: www.imi-paincare.eu/
And for the The European Reference Network: webgate.ec.europa.eu/ern/
For more information check out my website: www.JillyBond.com

[@LSRTINC]

Thank you for sharing. Unfortunate allopathic medicine has boxed themselves with modalities that treat symptoms and not the root. I'm encouraged and inspired by your motivation. Seems like your screaming out in silence as the medical community passes by at this conference.I have benefited greatly by these videos. Looking forward to seeing more thank you.

[@jillybond1502]

Glad you've enjoyed it. We have a long way to go, but we're on the right track. And I've no doubt the consultants present all care as much as me. We'll get there!

[@carolynvandyken8354]

Jilly and I got to know each other at WCAPP in London in May and really became fast friends at the ESSIC conference this past weekend- we certainly share the same passion :) Thanks for providing a great summary of the conference Jilly- I would agree with everything that you reported! I may be one of the only physios in the world who has attended two ESSIC conferences in her career since this conference is so poorly attended by PT's! When I attended Rome in 2015 there were 3 physios present at ESSIC, and in Amsterdam this past weekend there may have been 10 physiotherapists present. That is a 300% increase but it is still a very poor representation. The Rome conference was based almost exclusively on central sensitization and the need for a biopsychosocial perspective which impressed me immensely back in 2015; but I honestly think that without physiotherapy involvement in the executive of this well-meaning and passionate organization, they have become stuck even though they know that things need to change. There are mostly urologists at the helm and they are perpetuating what they understand. What I have observed over these two conferences is that they are the most well-intentioned group of consultants who really want to help their patients. This is a call to all physiotherapists!! Bladder Pain Syndrome may be one of the poorest understood and managed pelvic pain syndromes internationally; ESSIC is the most progressive international organization that I have seen but they need us! They need to understand pain science, its application to a biopsychosocial perspective and they need us as physiotherapists to model this framework with their patients. There are too many physiotherapists who are still using painful techniques (skin rolling and "trigger point" release) in this highly sensitive patient population. We have to adopt a true biospychosocial perspective, model it in our practice and get involved to make a difference. I challenge you to attend next year's conference and get involved in your local advocacy groups. This patient population needs you :)

[@mikec5391]

Thank you jilly. I know they can find an answer

[@zoeclark6976]

Thank you for your videos, Jilly! I have BPS at 19 (I started having pain symptoms at 15, but I believe I have had it for as long as I remember) but I very much enjoy learning from your videos. Is there any doctors you would recommend in the US? Please don't ever stop making videos. I love to educate myself about my disorder and be my own advocate and you very much help me do that.