Are you experiencing painful bowel movements? Have you ruled out piles already? You might be suffering from anal fissure. Let us tell you all about this condition.
What is an anal fissure?
An anal fissure is a small tear or cut in the lining of the anal opening or in the moist, thin tissue that lines the anus. It may lead to pain, itching, irritation, and even bleeding while making bowel movements.
An anal fissure might occur when you are trying to pass hard stools. This condition is quite common among young infants as they tend to pass hard stools. However, people of any age might be affected by an anal fissure.
Generally, it might get healed naturally within four to six weeks. In case it does not recover, you are requested to visit Laser 360 Clinic in Delhi, NCR, and meet our doctors or you can consult your healthcare provider. You will either be prescribed medication or laser surgery for fissure. Be warned that medication might only provide temporary relief while surgery is going to treat the root of the problem.
What are the causes of anal fissures?
- Chronic constipation
- Overstretching the opening of the anus during childbirth
- Obesity
- Lifting heavy weights
- Straining too much during bowel movements and facing difficulty passing hard stools
- Chronic diarrhea
- Anal intercourse
In rare cases, anal fissures might be caused due to syphilis, HIV AIDS, anal cancer, or/and inflammatory bowel movement.
What are the common symptoms of anal fissure?
You don’t need to experience all the symptoms. Also, some of the symptoms are similar to piles. But, if you notice any of the following symptoms, make sure to consult a doctor or you can call us for an appointment.
- Itching and irritation in the anal region
- Pain and swelling in the anal region
- Experiencing pain when making bowel movements
- While passing stool, you notice bright red blood
- Experience discomfort when you are sitting
In most cases, the tear is visible and that’s why it is easy to diagnose whether you have an anal fissure. If it is not visible, the doctor will most likely run some tests like endoscopy, colonoscopy, or flexible sigmoidoscopy.
As aforementioned, anal fissure typically recovers within 6 weeks. But, there are times when home remedies and medications fail to deliver positive results. In such cases, you have the following types of treatment options available:
- Traditional open surgery
- Laser anal fissure surgery
As you can understand from the name, open surgery means multiple wounds and cuts. It may lead to heavy blood loss and it is a painful procedure. As you would be cut open, there’s also the chance of infection. After the surgery, you may need 2 to 4 days to recover and you also need to take bed rest.
Laser surgery for anal fissure, on the other hand, does not include stitches, cuts, and wounds. This is a non-invasive surgery, which is completely painless and there’s no blood loss. There is also no chance of infection. You may be needed to stay in the hospital for one day or a few hours and you will be back on your feet in no time.
At Laser 360 Clinic, we specialize in offering laser treatment for anal fissures. Talk to us to gather in-depth insight into the procedure.
