Content
IntroductionIntroduction
Anal pain can be exhausting, although it often comes from non-worrying causes that can be treated. Its scientific name is proctalgia.
Most frequent causes of anal painMost frequent causes of anal pain
Among the most frequent causes of anal pain are ulcerations, hemorrhoids, fistulas and abscesses.
Anal ulcerations
They are small, cut-like wounds that occur around the anus or in the anal canal due to the passage of heavy or hard stools. The disorders (symptoms) they cause are:
- sharp, stinging pain during defecation
- persistent burning that lasts for several hours after defecation
- bleeding from the anus, visible from the traces of blood on the toilet paper
These wounds can be very painful, although they typically heal spontaneously within a few weeks. Eating a high-fiber diet, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking over-the-counter laxatives or pain relievers may help.If the pain persists, a special ointment that relaxes the anus muscle can be applied. Otherwise, surgery can heal the wound.
Hemorrhoids
They are vascular structures made up of dilated blood vessels that form inside or outside the anus. It is commonly believed that they are due to effort during defecation, following a long period of constipation (constipation). some cases do not have disorders (symptoms) but if they are present, they include:
- bleeding following defecation
- itch to the anus
- feeling of having a lump close to the anus
- soreness and redness around the anus
- acheto the anus due to a blood clot causing the blood supply to the hemorrhoid to stop or stop
Generally, the complaints disappear after a few days. If the blood flow in the hemorrhoid is blocked due to a clot, it can be removed after applying an anesthetic locally.
Anal fistulas and abscesses
The anal fistula looks like a small tunnel between the terminal part of the intestine and the skin surrounding the anus. Usually, it is caused by an "infection characterized by the presence of pus (abscess). Disorders that may appear include:
- constant, throbbing pain which can be made worse by sitting down
- skin irritation around the anus
- discharge of pus or blood with feces
- swelling and redness around the anus
- fever
In these cases, if the abscess is detected early, the family doctor may prescribe the use of antibiotics. If, despite the treatment, the abscess does not regress, hospitalization and general anesthesia may be necessary to make it reabsorb. If the fistula enlarges, surgery is needed, as it rarely heals spontaneously.
Less frequent causes of anal painLess frequent causes of anal pain
There are several causes that less frequently can cause anal pain. They include:
- fleeting proctalgia (proctalgia fugax), a disease that causes sudden and very strong anorectal pain that however lasts a few minutes; you can intervene with a dressing that relaxes the pelvic muscles
- levator anus syndrome (Levator ani), constant sensation of itching and perineal pressure that can last for hours and days and is cured by relaxing the muscles of the pelvic area
- chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive system, such as Crohn's disease causes abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and weight loss
- infections, such as those caused by pathogenic fungi or a "sexually transmitted infection that affects the" last part of the intestine (rectum)
- osteopathy, such as pain in the coccyx area (coccydynia) or pain radiating from the lower back, pelvic area or hips due to "arthritis or bone cancer
- urinary tract problem, such as inflammation or infection of the prostate gland (prostatitis)
- cancer of the anus or lower rectum, in the latter case the disorders (symptoms) are similar, although rarer, to those of hemorrhoids and anal fistulas
In cases in which anal pain does not subside, remains intense, does not subside in a few days and there is blood loss from the rectal canal, it is necessary to contact the family doctor. You shouldn't feel embarrassed, as anal pain is a frequent problem and your doctor can suggest the most appropriate treatment. It may be necessary to perform a manual rectal examination to check for any abnormalities to report to a specialist and to carry out any investigations.
BibliographyBibliography
NHS. Anal pain (proctalgia) (English)