Anal pain (pain in the bottom, proctalgia) can be distressing but is often just the result of a minor, treatable condition.
Anal pain (pain in the bottom, proctalgia) can be distressing but is often just the result of a minor, treatable condition.
Common causes of anal pain
- Anal fissures:
An anal fissure is a small tear in the skin of the anus that can be caused by passing a large or hard poo.
Symptoms of an anal fissure can include:
- a severe, sharp pain when doing a poo
- a burning or gnawing pain that lasts several hours after doing a poo
- rectal bleeding – you may notice a small amount of blood on the toilet paper after you wipe
Anal fissures can be very painful, but many heal on their own in a few weeks.
Some remedies: Increasing the amount of fibre in your diet, drinking plenty of fluids and taking laxatives and over-the-counter painkillers can help. If the pain persists, you may need a special ointment that relaxes the ring of muscle around your anus. Occasionally, surgery may be needed to help the fissure heal.
- Haemorrhoids (piles):
Haemorrhoids (piles) are swellings containing enlarged blood vessels that are found inside or around the bottom. They’re often thought to be caused by straining on the toilet as a result of prolonged constipation. In many cases, haemorrhoids don’t cause symptoms.
Symptoms :
- bleeding after doing a poo
- an itchy bottom
- feeling like there’s a lump in or around your anus
- soreness and redness around your anus
- anal pain, if the blood supply to the haemorrhoid becomes blocked or interrupted
for example, by a blood clot
The symptoms often pass after a few days. Increasing the amount of fibre in your diet, drinking plenty of fluids and taking laxatives and over-the-counter painkillers can help. If the pain doesn’t settle down consult a doctor. Please get examined before you start believing that bleeding is due to piles.
- Anal fistulas and abscesses:
An anal fistula is a small tunnel that develops between the end of the bowel and the skin near the anus. It’s usually caused by an infection near the anus resulting in a collection of pus (an abscess).
Symptoms :
- a constant, throbbing pain that may be worse when you sit down
- skin irritation around the anus
- passing pus or blood when you poo
- swelling and redness around your anus
- a high temperature (fever)
Get examined:
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if an abscess is picked up early on. If it persists, it may need to be drained in the hospital.
If a fistula develops, surgery will usually be needed because they rarely heal by themselves. Fistulas can be due to Crohn’s disease. Please get investigated & avoid self-medication.
Less common causes of anal pain include:
Proctalgia fugax – a condition that causes episodes of sudden, severe anal pain that last for a few minutes at a time; medication that relaxes the muscles in the pelvis may help levator ani syndrome – an aching or pressure sensation in and around the anus that may be constant or last for hours or days at a time; treatment to relax the muscles in the pelvis may help Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease – other symptoms can include tummy cramps, bloody diarrhoea and weight loss; Please get investigated an infection – such as a fungal infection or rectal sexually transmitted infection (STI)
a bone-related problem – such as coccydynia (tailbone pain) or pain that spreads from your lower back, pelvis or hips, caused by arthritis or bone tumours a urinary tract problem – such as prostatitis (inflammation or infection of the prostate gland) cancer of the anus or lower rectum – this can have similar symptoms of haemorrhoids and anal fissures, but is much rarer
See your doctor if.
your pain is severe or your pain doesn’t improve after a few days you also experience rectal bleeding, never label it to piles, get investigated.
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