ANAL PAIN (PROCTALGIA)

Types

Anal pain or proctalgia doesn’t have a definite symptom, but several conditions might occur which leads to discomfort and pain in your anus. The following conditions are considered to be likely the cause of such discomfort.

1. Sitting for a long time

The longer time spent sitting on a hard surface causes temporary anal pain. A shorter time spent sitting down doesn’t exempt you from feeling such pain. Sitting on a hard surface puts pressure on the anal nerves and muscles, which causes pain that could last for hours.

2. Diarrhea

Diarrhea is often the result of having loose, watery stools or a frequent need to have a bowel movement. Diarrhea causes the need to have a bowel movement frequently; this results in the soreness of the anus. Wiping and cleaning the area makes the anal tissue raw and might probably result in bleeding.

Diarrhea does not usually last for a long time. Medical attention may be required if you experience the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Syncope or temporary loss of consciousness
• Blood in your stool
• Black or discolored stool
• Diarrhea for more than two days

3. Injury

Injury obtained from falling in your butt could bruise or damage the skin, nerves or muscles around the anus. You may also fracture the bone around the anus. The pain you may feel depends on how severe the injury is, and it usually radiates from the anus to the lower back. You might feel a constant ache or throb with this kind of injury.

4. Fissures

Anal fissure happens when there is a tear or split in the lining of the anus. It usually happens when you pass large or hard stools. Constant constipation and diarrhea might also tear the tissue around the anus. You may experience sudden and sharp pain in the anus. The pain might last for a couple of hours or days until the fissure heals.

Immediate medical attention is not always required when you experience fissures. However, if the pain gets significantly worse, you need to consider asking for medical help.

5. Hemorrhoids

Swollen blood vessels in the lower part of your anus and rectum are known as hemorrhoids. Due to increased pressure on the anal area, it enlarges the blood vessels, resulting in hemorrhoids.

Constipation commonly causes hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids can be healed over time, but a severe case of hemorrhoids needs medical attention. See your doctor immediately, if you experience the following:

• Blood in your stool
• Sharp or severe pain every time you sit
• Trouble passing stool

6. Menstruation

Women in general experience menstruation every month. During the menstrual cycle, the rectum and anus are more sensitive. As a result, the anus may feel tender, sore or uncomfortable. Common period symptoms, such as bloating and diarrhea, can also worsen anal pain.

There is no need to seek medical treatment for these symptoms. They usually go away once the period is over.

7. Anal spasms (proctalgia fugax)

Anal spasms occur when you encounter an unexpectedly sharp, anal pain. They are more likely to occur if you have irritable bowel syndrome or anxiety. Anal spasms are commonly experienced by most people.

SYMPTOMS

It is usually hard to determine the symptoms of anal pain. However, anal pain is commonly the result of non-cancer conditions, like hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or anal warts. Infrequent causes of anal pain, on the other hand, include cancer, prostate problems, or foreign bodies.

Anal pain only lasts for a couple of hours. However, if the following symptoms persist, you must immediately seek the help of a medical professional.

• Increasing severity of pain
• A foreign object is stuck in the rectum
• Bleeding from the rectum

TYPES

Other common types of leg ulcer include:

• Arterial leg ulcers
• Diabetic leg ulcers
• Malignant leg ulcers
• Traumatic leg ulcers
• Vasculitic leg ulcers

Ulcers in the foot are usually caused by diabetes.

SYMPTOMS

Itching, pain, and swelling in the affected leg are characteristic symptoms of a venous leg ulcer.

Discoloration, hardening of the skin around the ulcer, and presence of a foul-smelling discharge may also be present when you have a venous leg ulcer.

If you have a venous leg ulcer, you may exhibit the following conditions:

• discoloration and darkening of the skin around the ulcer
• swollen ankles
• red, flaky, scaly and itchy skin on your legs
• swollen and enlarged veins on your legs
• hardened skin around the ulcer, which may make your leg feel hard
• a heavy feeling in your legs
• an unpleasant and foul-smelling discharge from the ulcer
• aching or swelling in your legs

Signs of an infection

Opportunistic pathogens could cause secondary bacterial infections due to the ulcer. 

Symptoms of an infected leg ulcer may include:

• a green or unpleasant discharge coming from the ulcer
• fever
• redness and swelling of the skin around the ulcer
• worsening pain
• an unpleasant smell coming from the ulcer

Diagnosis

The doctor generally asks for the patient’s history and performs a physical examination, which includes a rectal exam. In some cases, doctors might require X-rays and other studies to determine other causes.

TREATMENT

Once you are diagnosed with anal pain, the following home remedies may help you reduce the feelings of discomfort:

1. Implementing a high fiber diet.
2. Spending 20 minutes sitting in a tub of warm water.
3. Applying over-the-counter creams and anti-inflammatory medicines.

Treatments are not available for fleeting anal spasms because they only last for a shorter period.

However, for other types of rectal pain the following treatments may help:

• Asthma medication
• Muscle relaxers
• Botulinum toxin
• Anti-hypertensive medications