Rectal fissure symptoms

Rectal fissures are basically cuts which appear on the interior of the anus. These fissures usually appear on the middle side of the anal canal and they can be very painful. This happens because that particular part of the body contains a large amount of nerves which can detect and amplify pain. Rectal fissures are quite common in all demographics; age, gender and living habits are almost never relevant when tracking the cause of this condition.

A rectal fissure will usually appear after a bowel movement. In most cases, constipation is the clear cause, but diarrhea can also lead to such problems. If the anal canal is subjected to trauma, it will most likely tear and cause this problem. However, there are a few medical conditions which can cause rectal fissures, such as tuberculoses or herpes.

The body will usually take care of most cuts and bruises by healing itself but this is not the case with severe anal fissures. Each bowel movement will make the situation worse and the cut won’t have enough time to heal. Minor anal fissures will get cured without intervention from your part, but this might take a while. If you start using a home treatment as soon as you realize that you have this problem, you will forget about the pain in the first few days and your problem will be completely solved after just one or two months of treatment.

The first symptom of anal fissures is a burning sensation during and especially after passing a stool. If these symptoms persist for a few weeks or even months without aggravating, the fissures might heal themselves. If the situation aggravates, the chances of not making a visit to the doctor will be considerably lowered. The second symptom of having a rectal fissure is pain right after a bowel movement. This pain will usually go away after just a few seconds, but the situation will gradually get worse. In most cases, the period between two bowel movements will be completely pain free. This is exactly why most people who find themselves in this situation avoid having bowel movements. As a result, they get constipated and only make matters worse. If you don’t start searching for a solution as soon as you start feeling pain after a normal bowel movement, you will have to deal with this pain for a while.

Rectal fissures have a tendency to aggravate over time, so the next symptom is powerful pain when having a bowel movement and mild discomfort when urinating. Bleeding is also common if the condition is left untreated for a long time. Secondary symptoms include itching and various urination problems. Eventually, pus will start forming near the rectal fissure and its elimination will be noticed because of its distinctive smell.

Serious anal fissures can be detected just by looking at the anus. If cuts are not visible, the doctor will have to use some anesthetic and start an internal exam. Around 90% of the people who are diagnosed with rectal fissures can be cured without the need of surgery. This procedure is usually performed if the problem is severe and only if regular treatment fails.

At the end of the day, rectal fissures can become quite painful, but they can be treated rapidly, especially if you detect them at an early stage. The only way to do this is by keeping an eye out for the symptoms. This way, you will never be caught off guard and you will avoid many serious problems. The right treatment will make you feel better almost instantly, as long as you start taking action.

Last updated on Dec 1st, 2010 and filed under Digestive Health. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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