An Anal fissure is a small crack or tear or ulcer (open sore) in your skin in ano-rectal region. Fissures are characterized by extreme Pain, Burning sensation & needle pricking sensation during defecation & in extreme cases throughout the day also. Sometimes fissure causes bleeding also. About one in 10 people get an anal fissure at some point in their life. Anal fissures usually develop at the part of your anus towards your back – in line with the cleft of your buttock or in front of your anus, or even both together. An anal fissure will usually heal within five to six weeks, and it’s called an acute anal fissure. If it lasts for longer than this it’s known as a chronic anal fissure. Anal fissure can come at any age, but it’s most common in people aged 20 to 50.
In Anal fissure, you can have the following symptoms
These symptoms may be caused by something other than an anal fissure. One condition they’re often confused with is piles (haemorrhoids), for example. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your Doctor.
Initially General Physician will check the symptoms & will examine the anal area to check the fissures. He will prescribe you with some basic treatments of fissure. However if the symptoms of fissure will not go in 5-7 weeks, GP may refer you to see a colorectal surgeon. He will suggest some other tests to find out other bowel problems, such as a proctoscope test. This involves using a narrow tube to look at the inside of your rectum and large bowel. Or an ultrasound scans. After examining you carefully again he further will suggest for next treatment plan or Fissure surgery.
After diagnosed with Anal Fissure there are some basic changes related to diet & lifestyle. It’s important to keep your faeces soft & smooth bowels. This will help to stop you stretching your anus, and with the pain caused by the fissure. There are following precautions.
There are lots of reasons for having anal fissure however most commonly it is caused by a hard or painful bowel movement, which damages the surrounding skin. Some other reasons for Anal Fissure are
Severe rectal pain (needle pricking sensation) during or after bowels. Bleeding in stools and lump near anus are some of the common symptoms of fissures.
Exercise is strongly advisable for patients suffering with Anal Fissures. Exercise helps to increase blood flow, which may help your anal fissure heal.
Both anal fissures and piles have similar symptoms like pain & bleeding But you don’t usually get the same level of pain with piles as you do with an anal fissure. However the conditions are quite different. An anal fissure is a small tear or ulcer in your skin around the opening of your anus. Whereas piles or hemorrhoids, are swollen veins and muscle around your anus or in your anal canal.
Sitz bath help to promote good anal hygiene. It decreases anal spasm in sphincter and improves blood flow to your anus. Sitz bath twice a day for 5-10 minutes may help to relieve the pain from an anal fissure.