Rectal Pain (cont.)

Medical Author:

Frederick B Gaupp, MD

Medical Editor:

Bhupinder Anand, MD

Proctalgia fugax: Because the pain lasts briefly, there is no treatment that will stop an attack of proctalgia fugax.

Levator ani syndrome: The patient can help stop an attack of levator ani syndrome with the following techniques.
- Sit in a tub of hot water.
- Massage the levator ani muscles to relieve the muscle spasm.
- Take over-the-counter, anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen.

Hemorrhoids: The following treatments can help lessen the discomfort of a painful hemorrhoid.
- Sit in a tub of hot water for 20 minutes several times a day.
- Apply over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams, especially those containing hydrocortisone. If the person has diabetes, check with your health care practitioner as some hemorrhoid creams interact with some diabetes medications.
- Take stool softeners and extra fiber to lessen pain with bowel movements.

Anal fissures: These home treatments will promote healing of anal fissures.
- Sit in a tub of hot water for 20 minutes, three times a day, to reduce pain and help healing.
- Eat a high-fiber diet and use stool softeners to make bowel movements less painful.
- Apply hydrocortisone cream to decrease pain.