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Rectal Pain (cont.)

Rectal Pain Treatment

Self-Care at Home

  • 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.



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Proctitis »

Proctitis is inflammation of the lining of the rectum, called the rectal mucosa.

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