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.
Anal fissures can make having a bowel movement (pooping) very painful. 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.
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.
Anal fissures usually heal within a few weeks without the need for treatment. But they can easily come back if they're caused by constipation that remains untreated. In some people, symptoms from anal fissures last 6 weeks or more (chronic anal fissures).
Common causes of an anal fissure include constipation and straining or passing hard or large stools during a bowel movement. Anal fissures typically cause pain and bleeding with bowel movements. You also may experience spasms in the ring of muscle at the end of your anus, called the anal sphincter.
Treatment. The fissure won't heal without good blood supply, not unlike any other wound on the body. Unfortunately, the spasm caused by the exposed muscle keeps blood away from the area, making it unlikely to heal.
Like other small cuts or tears to the skin, an anal fissure will often heal by itself within a few weeks. However, you should see a GP if you have an anal fissure as they can give you advice and medicines to help ease your symptoms and allow the fissure to heal more quickly.
Take steps to keep your stool soft, such as increasing your intake of fiber and fluids. Soak in warm water for 10 to 20 minutes several times a day, especially after bowel movements. This can help relax the sphincter and promote healing. If symptoms persist, you'll likely need further treatment.
Try taking stool softeners or laxatives to make bowel movements less painful. Ask your doctor how long you should take laxatives. Sit in a tub filled with 8 to 10 centimetres (3 to 4 inches) of warm water for 20 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day. This is called a sitz bath.
Alleviate the pain associated with the anal area by sitting on a soft or gel-filled pillow. “But avoid doughnut-shaped pillows,” cautions Gerken, “because they may restrict blood flow to the area.”
Living with anal fissures
Avoid constipation or large or hard bowel movements. Drink enough water to stay well hydrated. Maintain a routine bowel habit. Ask your healthcare provider about what this should be for you.
Generally, an anal fissure heals on its own within four to six weeks. If the fissure fails to heal during this period, it can become chronic and medical or surgical treatment will be needed to cure anal fissure.
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.
It usually isn't a serious condition, and most people can treat it at home. However, recurring anal fissures or ones that don't readily heal can be cause for concern.
If someone has a chronic fissure, it is thought that the reason it has not healed is that the ring muscle (sphincter) that goes around the anus (back passage) has become so tense that the flow of blood to the lining of the anus is reduced.
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.
Sitz baths, or hip baths, can promote healing of an anal fissure. By soaking the rectal area in a tub of warm water -- two or three times a day for 10 to 15 minutes -- you can clean the anus, improve blood flow, and relax the anal sphincter.
Post-treatment VAS for acute fissure was significantly lower at 6 weeks. Patients with acute fissure achieved significantly better healing than chronic fissure. Healing declined from 100% when symptoms were < one month to 33.3% when symptoms >6 months.
Once a fissure develops, the internal anal sphincter typically goes into spasm, causing further separation of the tear, constricting blood flow to the area, impairing healing, and causing pain.
Malnutrition. A study conducted in 2016 links fissures to a deficiency in vitamin B12. It found that a lack of B vitamins, zinc and iron can play a role in the development of grooves. People with improperly balanced diets also stand a higher chance of wrestling with this condition.
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.
The spasms can cause pain and slow down the healing. Bowel movements can also keep the fissures from getting better. An anal fissure is considered acute if it recently happened or if you've had it less than 6 weeks. It's considered chronic if it's been more than 6 weeks or it comes back often.
At chronic stage, the only permanent treatment solution for fissure is undergoing surgery. Laser surgery for fissure is exactly what you need!