The goal of anal fissure treatment is to lower the pressure on the anal canal by making stools soft, and to ease discomfort and bleeding. Conservative treatments are tried first and include one or more of the following:. These practices heal most fissures 80 to 90 percent within several weeks to several months.
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I had pain and some bleeding during bowel movements. My doctor says it's an anal fissure. What is that, and what's the best way to treat it? An anal fissure is a tear in the tissue that lines the anal canal, usually resulting from trauma, such as the passage of hard stool. It causes sharp, tearing pain while passing a bowel movement, often accompanied by a small amount of blood on the toilet tissue or surface of the stool.
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The anal canal is a short tube surrounded by muscle at the end of your rectum. The rectum is the bottom section of your colon large intestine. An anal fissure also called fissure-in-ano is a small rip or tear in the lining of the anal canal. Fissures are common, but are often confused with other anal conditions, such as hemorrhoids. Fissures are usually caused by trauma to the inner lining of the anus from a bowel movement or other stretching of the anal canal. This can be due to a hard, dry bowel movement or loose, frequent bowel movements.
An anal fissure is a small cut or tear in the lining of the anus. The crack in the skin causes severe pain and some bright red bleeding during and after bowel movements. At times, the fissure can be deep enough to expose the muscle tissue underneath. In most cases, the tear heals on its own within four to six weeks. Certain treatments can promote healing and help relieve discomfort, including stool softeners and topical pain relievers. Or your doctor may need to look for other underlying disorders that can cause anal fissures. An anal fissure most often occurs when passing large or hard stools. Chronic constipation or frequent diarrhea can also tear the skin around your anus. Other common causes include:.
