Although it may not be a topic you regularly discuss with your friends, many of us have to learn about anal tears (fissures) the hard way. They aren’t generally life-threatening, but they are excruciatingly uncomfortable! The anal fissure usually heals rapidly for most people, however, treatment is often required, and anal fissures may recur.

What is an anal fissure?

An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the anus or anal canal. An anal fissure might develop when you pass hard or large stools during a bowel movement. Anal fissures are characterized by pain and bleeding during bowel movements.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of an anal fissure are as follows:

• Passing large or hard stools
• Constipation and straining during bowel movements
• Chronic diarrhea
• Anal intercourse
• Childbirth
• Discharge with an unpleasant odour
• Pain that lasts long after passing stools.

Causes

Some of the common causes of anal fissures are:

• Constipation
• Blood on the stool’s exterior surface
• Blood on toilet tissue or wipes.
• The anus, or anal canal, has a noticeable fracture or rip.
• Itching and burning that could be painful.

Less common causes include:

• Anal cancer
• HIV
• Crohn’s disease or another inflammatory bowel disease.
• Tuberculosis.
• Syphilis.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will probably inquire about your medical history and do a checkup, which will include a gentle examination of the anal area. In many cases, the tear may be seen. To identify an anal fissure, this exam is usually sufficient.

If your doctor suspects you have an underlying problem, they may suggest more testing:

Anoscopy – An anoscope (a tube) is put into the anus which makes the rectum and anus visible to the doctor.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy – A thin, flexible tube with a small video camera will be inserted into the bottom region of your colon by your doctor. If you’re under 50 and don’t have any risk factors for intestinal illness or colon cancer, you may be eligible for this test.

Colonoscopy – To evaluate your whole colon, your doctor will put a flexible tube into your rectum. If you’re over 50, have risk factors for colon cancer, indications of other illnesses, or other symptoms including stomach discomfort or diarrhea, this test may be recommended.

Treatment Options

If you take precautions to keep your stools soft, like increasing fibre in your diet and taking plenty of oral fluids, anal fissures can heal in a few weeks. Soaking for 10 to 20 minutes in medicated warm water (sitz bath) many times per day, especially after bowel movements, may help soothe the sphincter and encourage healing.

If your symptoms don’t subside, you will require to visit a surgeon for further treatment.

Non-surgical options

Your doctor may recommend:

• Oral Antibiotics and Pain killers.
• Topical anesthetic creams.
• Externally applied nitro-glycerine.
• Laxatives.

Surgery

Your doctor may consider surgery if you have a chronic anal fissure that is unresponsive to other treatments or if your symptoms are severe. Doctors commonly conduct Dilatation of Anal canal  or a lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) surgery, which includes removing a tiny piece of the anal sphincter muscle to relieve spasms and improve recovery.

Final note

Drink lots of water, add fibre to your diet, and exercise regularly while you wait to visit your doctor. Also, when it comes to bowel movements, try to avoid straining. The additional pressure may cause the fissure to lengthen or form a new one. If you are looking for the best doctor for anal fissures treatment in ECIL, Hyderabad, look no further than Dr Gopi Tupkar. Make an appointment with him now at https://suvidhahospitals.com/