More questions than answers

[mipdgal]

Hi, I'm new here. I have been having severe anal pain for about 4 months now. It started after a bout of constipation which caused hemorrhoids and an anal fissure. Over the months the pain worsened exponentially and my surgeon recommended a hemorroidectomy, which I had one month ago. Since surgery the pain has gotten even worse, lasting up to 6 hours following a bowel movement. It is unlike anything I have ever experienced and it is exhausting. My doctor diagnosed me as having internal sphincter hypertonia. He now wants to perform an internal sphincterotomy to relieve the pressure, however, after reading the possible complications I am trying alternative methods first. I am currently using a Nifedipine 0.2% cream and it seems to be working a little. It has been two weeks since I began the treatment and although I still have pain, it has lessened and only lasts about 1-3 hours now. Sometimes I remember what it was like to live without the pain but those memories are quickly fading and are now replaced by anxiety and worry, dreading each and every bowel movement. The thought of using the restroom terrifies me so I limit my food intake to once a day. As a result, I have lost 37 pounds in just over 3 months. I know this is not healthy and I miss food. lol.

I am beyond ready to resume the life I had before the pain and I am (not so patiently) waiting for that day.

[Pelviccrusader]

Have you used a wand to get a sense of how tight the sphincter is? And to manually release it? This sounds like a physical therapy and not MD issue. Have you been to s pelvic floor physical therapist? Have considered a botox injection? If you hit the inner sphincter you would likely be incontinent for 3 months but likely normal after that (MD for this) . I have had several Botox injections into the outer sphincter and can tell you that they work extremely well.

[Exhaustedpatient in reply to Pelviccrusader]

Why did you have several botox injections? I had one 8 days ago and my surgeon was confidant it would relief the pain. I am experiencing even more pain than before. She now wants to do a second one, but I don't see how another would be helpful when the first wasnt. What has been your experience?

[Exhaustedpatient]

Hi,

Following up a few months later. did you fissure heal? how are you doing?

[beeshon1]

Try Gabapentin for the nerve damage, it works for me.