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Rectal Pain: part 2

More causes of rectal pain and home remedies


Updated March 26, 2014

Helpful home treatments.Eat a high fiber diet. It softens the bowel movement so is less painful and reduces the strain put on the anus.Have a soak in the hot tub 3 times a days for 20 minutes. It reduces the pain and helps heal the fissure. A hydrocortisone cream will reduce swelling and promote healing.

HemorrhoidsHemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus that affect over 25% of adult Americans.They are caused by straining during bowel movements. They are common in pregnant women or following heavy lifting. They are also a common cause of fresh blood in bowel movements. Hemorrhoids are very painful if bowel movements are hard, but it is usually a general discomfort. If the hemorrhoids burst the pain may be awesome! It is intense, begins suddenly, and lasts for days. Medical intervention is required as a matter of urgency.

Helpful home treatmentsSimilar to above. Have a soak in a hot tub for 20 minutes 3 times a day.Eat a high fiber diet to soften bowel movements so using the bathroom will be less painful. Apply a hemorrhoid cream to decrease pain.

Levator ani syndromeAlthough more prevalent in women this condition is characterized by apparent spasms in the group of muscles that surround and support the anus. It is not known why it occurs but it can be very painful and can last up to 20 minutes. The pain is often worse when sitting and is felt high up inside the rectum.

Helpful home treatmentsA soak in a hot tub. Massaging the levator ani muscles to help stop the spasm. Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen can also help.

Proctalgia fugaxThe cause of this pain is unknown but are often experienced in clusters. It can then go away and return weeks or months later. A sudden, brief and intense pain at the anal opening that usually only lasts for a minute or so, but can wake you up.

Other less common causes

There are medical conditions that have associated rectal pain, cancer, foreign bodies in the rectum, rectal prolapse, infections and inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and thrombosed hemorrhoids. All of these diseases are accompanied by different symptoms and a doctor will have to provide diagnosis and treatment.

Seek urgent medical intervention if....

  • Your pain becomes more severe and regular
  • If you have a fever
  • If you have an infectious rectal discharge
  • The pain spreads to other areas of your body
  • If you have a large bleed or increasing amount of blood loss
  • You have suffered a recent physical trauma

Related Video
Overview of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Bowel Blockages

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