Ever had a cut or tear in a place on your body that often comes into contact with other parts of the body or surfaces? It can be excruciatingly painful and this article will tackle anal fissures which are examples of such tears. You will also find out how to get rid of anal fissures for good and resume living a pain-free and comfortable life.
What are Anal Fissures?
When there’s a small tear or cut on the anus’ lining, it’s known as an anal fissure. It occurs due to trauma on the anus or anal canal. The condition affects 250,000 people every year, most of whom are young children. This can be caused by passing very hard stool, having tight sphincter muscles, chronic diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, anal intercourse, sitting for too long, rectal surgery, colon malignancy, anal infection, obesity, and pregnancy
Symptoms of Anal Fissures
The symptoms that indicate the presence of an anal fissure include:
- Extreme pain especially when passing stool
- A visible tear or crack on the skin surrounding the anus
- Streaks of bright red blood on the stool or in the toilet after moving your bowels
- A lump of skin or skin tag near the fissure
- An itching or burning sensation in the anal area
- In some cases, a foul-smelling discharge may come out of the anus
- Spasms in the sphincter muscle which make the pain worse and delays healing
How to Get Rid of Anal Fissures
When a doctor diagnoses you with anal fissures, they may prescribe some medicines and if those don’t work, a surgical procedure may be the next effective step.
Medicines
Laxatives
Laxatives soften stool so that it’s less painful to pass stool and further injury is not inflicted on the anal lining. Laxatives soften stool by stimulating the increased production of water in the bowels. However, you should be careful on their use because prolonged abuse can cause chronic constipation and damages on the muscles and nerves of the colon.
Pain Killers
Since anal fissures cause a lot of pain, you can take painkillers after bowel movements to find relief. Painkillers may be recommended by your doctor or you can them over-the-counter to numb the pain.
Glyceryl Trinitrate
Glyceryl trinitrate is an ointment you can apply to the anal fissure to increase blood flow in the anal canal. This is meant to promote faster healing of the fissure and it takes 6 weeks of daily application for it to heal completely.
Botulinum Toxin
This is actually a potent poison that can be administered in safe small doses to paralyze the sphincter muscle. It stops the muscle from spasming to reduce pain as well as allow it to heal properly.
Calcium Channel Blockers
These are high blood pressure medications that when applied to the anus fissures, will improve blood flow. This boosts the healing process and relaxes the sphincter muscle.
Surgical Procedures
Lateral Sphincterotomy
In this procedure, a little cut is made on the sphincter muscle to reduce tension and the spasming that makes anal fissure more painful and difficult to heal.
Advancement Anal Flaps
This surgical process involves the taking of healthy tissue from another part of the using it to repair the anal fissure. It speeds up healing because blood flow improves.
Self-Help for Anal Fissures
Remedies that you can try on your own at home include:
Stool Softeners
You can buy stool softeners over-the-counter to help with softening your stool so you don’t develop fissures while passing it.
Sitz Bath
Sitting in a shallow bowl of warm water after bowel movement will soothe the pain and itching of anal fissures. It will also improve blood circulation so the fissure heals faster.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a famed natural remedy that relieves pain, inflammation, and itchiness so applying it to anal fissures will be helpful. It also has antimicrobial properties so it will reduce infection and boost healing.
Soothing Wipes
Using a regular toilet paper after bowel movements may be irritating to the anal fissure. Use soothing wipes instead made of hydrocortisone or witch hazel. They will help with the pain and itching.
H-Fissured Formula Oil
H-Fissures Formula Oil contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial constituents. When used as directed, it will help reduce swelling associated with anal fissures. In addition, the analgesic component in the formula helps to alleviate the extreme pain that often accompanies anal fissures so that you can once again have a bowel movement without any discomfort or fear of pain.
What Happens If the Fissure Doesn’t Heal on its Own?
With the help of home remedies, anal fissures typically take 4 to 6 weeks to heal. If they persist beyond 8 weeks, you’ll need to seek the advice of a doctor. This may end up requiring that you undergo surgery.
Preventing Anal Fissures
To avoid ever dealing with anal fissures or their recurrence, you will need to take some measures. They include:
Drink Enough Water
Your body needs enough water to soften stool so that you don’t have hard stool and cause your anus trauma while passing it. Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily, water-laden fruits, and other non-alcoholic beverages.
Take Fiber
Fiber adds bulk to your stool and also softens it. You, therefore, won’t have a hard time passing stool. Fiber-rich foods are vegetables, fruits, wholemeal flour, whole grains, and nuts.
Exercise Regularly
Working out doesn’t just help you maintain your weight and keep you healthy. It also helps with preventing constipation by keeping stool moving down the digestive tract quickly before it dries up. You can find special exercises for strengthen your pelvic floor here: Kegel exercises.
Don’t Waste Time Going to the Toilet
When you take too long to pass your stool, it hardens so passing it becomes difficult. Obey the urge to go to the toilet immediately to avoid such a situation.
Anal fissures can be absolutely unbearable but you can rest knowing that there are solutions that will take you out of your misery. Follow the above recommendations and no longer will you dread responding to the call of nature.
