The pain and discomfort of an anal fissure usually gets worse when a person has a bowel movement. The pain tends to linger a long time afterward. There may be bleeding from the tear as well. Constipation may also occur as the condition gets worse.
See your health care provider if you have pain during bowel movements or notice blood on stools or toilet paper after a bowel movement.
Most cases occur in people who have constipation, when a particularly hard or large poo tears the lining of the anal canal. Other possible causes of anal fissures include: persistent diarrhoea. inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Do not use over-the-counter ointments or creams without talking to your doctor. Some of these preparations may not help. Use baby wipes or medicated pads, such as Preparation H or Tucks, instead of toilet paper to clean after a bowel movement. These products do not irritate the anus.
The exposed internal sphincter muscle beneath the tear goes into spasm. This causes severe pain. The spasm also pulls the edges of the fissure apart, making it difficult for your wound to heal.
If you have prolonged burning pain after having a poo, the GP may recommend taking common painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, which you can buy from a pharmacy or supermarket. If you decide to take these medicines, make sure you follow the dosage instructions on the patient information leaflet or packet.
Walking promotes overall good health. It lowers the chances of formation of hard stools and stimulates and promotes blood flow which is helpful if you have a fissure.
Most anal fissures heal with home treatment after a few days or weeks. These are called short-term (acute) anal fissures. If you have an anal fissure that hasn't healed after 8 to 12 weeks, it is considered a long-term (chronic) fissure. A chronic fissure may need medical treatment.
Some fissures can be minimally symptomatic, but most patients present with severe pain, bleeding, or itching. The pain can be localized to the anus but can radiate to the buttocks, upper posterior thighs, or lower back. Often the pain is triggered by a bowel movement, can last for hours, and can be severe.
Medicated creams can treat inflammation and pain. Take a sitz bath two or three times a day for at least 10-15 minutes. This is a shallow, warm water bath that you sit in to soak your anus. It can relieve your symptoms and help relax your muscles.
Some people get fissures once in awhile and others can become chronic, lasting for years. The pain of a fissure may cause people to avoid having a bowel movement leading to chronic constipation.
A sharp, stinging, or burning pain during bowel movements. Pain from a fissure may be quite severe. It can be brief or last for several hours after a bowel movement.
The pain may make it hard for you to have a bowel movement, causing constipation (having fewer bowel movements than usual). They can also cause bleeding from your anus. Anal fissures don't cause colon cancer or increase your risk of getting colon cancer.
Piles are mostly painless and unnoticeable. Fissures cause a lot of pain.
In addition, stress and psychological disturbances may have a role in the development of chronic anal fissures through causing sympathetic dysfunction manifesting as a tonic pressure rise in the pressure of the anal canal [8]. Stress may be implicated in the formation and development of chronic anal fissures.
Many times, the scratching of the anal area makes the problem worse. It often occurs at night. If we could just eliminate the nighttime scratching, things often improve.
Correct sleeping position for fissure
HOD also advises you to sleep on your stomach to reduce anal fissure pain and place a pillow under your hips. Taking a fully body warm bath before bed is recommended for reducing the pain levels and helping you fall asleep better.
Sitting can be painful for people with anal fissures, and also they should not strain during bowel movements.
How do you know if a fissure is healing? You'll start to notice your symptoms improving as your fissure is healing. Your pain should lessen and if you had any bleeding, this should stop too. You should have a follow-up appointment with your doctor after six to eight weeks.
Numbing cream can also make bowel movements less painful. Petroleum jelly, zinc oxide, 1% hydrocortisone cream, and products like Preparation H can help soothe the area. Instead of toilet paper, use alcohol-free baby wipes that are gentler on the area. Sitz baths can help heal fissures and make you feel better.
Anal fissures are typically painful, with sufferers often describing the pain as 'sharp' and the passing of a bowel movement like 'passing glass'. Sometimes the pain is experienced mainly after the bowel movement has passed (often described as 'throbbing') and can last for hours.