Fissures, also known as anal fissures, are characterized as minor tears in your anus lining. The tears are sometimes on the outside of the anus but can be slightly inside as well. Usually the fissures stretch to the internal anal sphincter which is basically a muscular ring. Fissures can cause quite a bit of pain during bowel movements and can also cause discomfor throughout the day. Fissure treatment is not necessary but it can help relieve the pain.
Some fissures are more severe than others. There are acute and chronic fissures. Acute fissures are those that last no more than six weeks. Chronic fissures are those that last longer than six weeks. If the fissure reaches the condition where it is considered a chronic fissure then it can e much more serious and may require special treatment.
How Do I know If I Got A Fissure?
There is no perfect way to diagnosis yourself for this condition but it should not be too difficult to make a fairly accurate guess. There are certain common symptoms to anal fissures that you may notic and they include itching and feeling of irritation around the outside of the anus, ripping, tearing, or burning feeling during and after a bowel movement, and constant rectal pain that lasts for up to an hour not during bowel movements.
If you determine you have a fissure then you will definitely want to treat it. If you do not treat it then it will likely last more than six weeks and it will become a chronic fissure. If this happens then some more extreme symptoms could occur and it could include bleeding during bowel movements. In some cases an acute fissure could draw a small amount of blood but it is a lot less common than with chronic fissures.
How To Treat A Fissure
The main goal of treating an anal fissure is to get rid of the pain and spasms that occur randomly and during bowel movements. Since the fissures can be so painful that they make bowel movements almost impossible to handle you want to treat them right away. There are a variety of ways to go about treating a fissure but we will go through a few of the more common methods.
Fiber Therapy – this fissure treatment method works by adding fiber to your daily diet. By doing this you will be improving your bowel movements dramatically. The stool will be softer and bulker at the same time. Shoot for 25-35 grams of fibers each day to accomplish this and ideally get most of them from fruits and vegetables.
Sitz Baths – this is a less common fissure treatment than fiber therapy simply because it is less convenient but it does offer great results if done right. Basically you will want to bathe your rectal area with warm water to make the blood flow better. This will also allow your internal rectal sphincter to settle down and be less stressed. You can find Sitz baths (even with the portable option) at a local pharmacy.
There are still many other types of fissure treatment methods but those are just a few to give you an idea of what works. There are various medications that you could use as well but you will want to speak with your doctor to know what is recommended. Your doctor is qualified to tell you what fissure treatment will work best for you. Everyone is unique and the treatment that your body will respond best to may be different than it is for someone else. So, talk to your doctor for assistance in determining your best option for treating anal fissures.
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