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Anal pain or discomfort is a difficult symptom to live with. Aside from the discomfort, many people suffer from embarrassment and delay treatment because of it. However, most causes of anal pain are relatively minor and many can be resolved with home treatment.
Anal pain can be due to a variety of causes. One of the most common and most painful is an anal fissure. A fissure is a crack or slice in the skin surrounding the anal opening. Anal fissures are often caused by straining during a bout of constipation. Because of the location, an anal fissure is likely to be reopened during bowel movements. Sufferers describe the pain as knife-like or like passing glass in the bowel movement. Anal fissures usually resolve on their own, but holding bowel movements to avoid the pain can result in further constipation and aggravation of the condition. You can use a topical anesthetic approved for perianal use to reduce the pain with bowel movements. Easting a diet rich in fruits and fiber and drinking plenty of water will help keep bowel movements soft.
Hemorrhoids are another common cause of anal pain. Like anal fissures, hemorrhoids are often caused by straining, or childbirth. The two conditions may occur together. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anal area, and it is possible to develop blood clots in them which will increase the pain associated with hemorrhoids. Treat hemorrhoids with warm baths, a stool-softening diet with plenty of fiber and water, and over the counter medications with hydrocortisone.
Herpes infections of the anal area can cause pain similar to anal fissures. If you think herpes is a possibility (a majority of people carry some strain of herpes) you may wish to have a swab taken to check for it. If your anal pain is due to herpes and is recurring, there are medications which can reduce symptom frequency.
An abscess, or pocket of infection, in the rectal or anal area will cause throbbing pain that gets worse over several days. Abscesses usually need to be drained by a doctor.Disorders of the muscles and nerves in the rectal and anal issue can cause dull aches and cramp-like pains. Proctalgia fugax causes a strong cramping sensation that lasts up to a half hour or more and may be accompanied by headaches or bowel urgency. Proctalgia fugax has no known cause, and due to the brevity of the attacks most medications won't become effective until the attack ends on its own. If you have frequent attacks of proctalgia fugax you can talk to your doctor about medications to reduce frequency. Levator ani syndrome causes similar pain, but higher in the rectal passages and often lasts longer than proctalgia fugax. Warm baths, sitting on a heating pad or ice pack, or over the counter pain relievers can provide relief for proctalgia fugax and levitor ani syndrome. Pinched nerves in the lower spine may also cause anal pain.
Most anal pain will resolve itself with home treatment and is not serious, but always consult a doctor if you are in severe pain or if symptoms do not improve with home treatment. Anal pain with rectal bleeding should be evaluated by a doctor.
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