Is fissure a serious problem?

It usually isn’t a serious condition, and most people can treat it at home. However, recurring anal fissures or ones that don’t readily heal can be cause for concern.

The spasms can cause pain and slow down the healing. Bowel movements can also keep the fissures from getting better. An anal fissure is considered acute if it recently happened or if you’ve had it less than 6 weeks. It’s considered chronic if it’s been more than 6 weeks or it comes back often.

Complications of anal fissure can include: Failure to heal. An anal fissure that fails to heal within eight weeks is considered chronic and may need further treatment.

This delay in diagnosis may lead to an acute fissure becoming a chronic one and, thus, becomes more difficult to treat. Misdiagnosis of an anal fissure may also allow other conditions to go undetected and untreated, such as Serious infections or even cancer.

You’ll usually have to use GTN ointment for at least 6 weeks, or until your fissure has completely healed. The majority of acute fissures (present for less than 6 weeks) will heal with GTN treatment. Around 7 in every 10 chronic fissures heal with GTN therapy if used correctly.

Anal fissures are most commonly caused by Damage to the lining of the anus or anal canal, the last part of the large intestine. Most cases occur in people who have constipation, when a particularly hard or large poo tears the lining of the anal canal. Other possible causes of anal fissures include: persistent diarrhoea.

Bleeding does not tell about healing. Also the bleeding sometimes is due to piles in nearby region. Healing can only be confirmed by direct EXAMINATION by a general or colorectal surgeon. But If there is no pain at all then it would indicate healing to some extent.

Having a fissure come back again (recur) after a sphincterotomy is rare, and most patients are satisfied with the results of the procedure.

Fissures often come back. A fully healed fissure can come back After a hard bowel movement or trauma. Medical problems such as inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease), infections, or anal tumors can cause symptoms similar to anal fissures.

Fissure surgery or sphincterotomy is Less painful than the fissure itself. This surgery causes mild pain and reduces pain and pressure resulting from fissures. Some of the complications of sphincterotomy involve: Temporary inability to control gas.

Anal fissures often heal within a few weeks if you take steps to keep your stool soft, such as Increasing your intake of fiber and fluids. Soaking in warm water for 10 to 20 minutes several times a day, especially after bowel movements, can help relax the sphincter and promote healing.

Walking promotes overall good health. It lowers the chances of formation of hard stools and stimulates and promotes blood flow which is helpful if you have a fissure.

This study confirms that Most chronic anal fissures can be successfully treated nonsurgically without risk of permanent damage to the internal sphincter.

Getting more fiber (through your diet or supplements), drinking more water, and using a stool softener can ease bowel movements. This can ease the pain of having a bowel movement when you have a fissure and may even prevent future fissures. Taking a sitz bath can ease symptoms.

You can treat an anal fissure at home by:

1. Using over-the-counter stool softeners.
2. Drinking more fluids to stay hydrated and improve digestion.
3. Taking fiber supplements and eating more fibrous foods.
4. Taking a sitz bath to relax the anal muscles, relieve irritation, and increase blood flow to the anorectal area.

Sitting can be quite painful with an anal fissure. You may see a few drops of blood in the toilet bowel or when wiping.

It hurts less than the fissure itself. The surgery might be followed by a temporary inability to control gas, mild fecal leakage, or infection. But in most cases, complete healing of fissures takes place within 8 weeks after surgery.

The success rate for fissure healing following surgery was 92 %, being significantly more likely in patients with textbook symptoms (p = 0.016) and those with chronic disease (p = 0.006). The overall complication rate was 13.2 %.

Regular exercise increases blood flow throughout your body, which may aid in healing the fissure. Exercise also promotes regular bowel movements. Finally, try not to strain when you have a bowel movement. Doing so creates additional pressure that can reopen a fissure that’s begun to heal or can create a new tear.

What is the best medication for an anal fissure?

It is often described as feeling like passing broken glass. Typical anal fissure symptoms are a sensation of tearing, ripping or burning and usually a small amount of bright red bleeding during and after a bowel movement. While the condition can be very painful, it is not usually serious.

One of the main differences between anal fissures and hemorrhoids is that Anal fissures tend to only show symptoms during bowel movements, while hemorrhoids tend to be painful throughout the day. Without an examination, this difference in symptoms is usually very telling of what condition the patient is suffering from.

Anal fissures often heal within a few weeks if you take steps to keep your stool soft, such as increasing your intake of fiber and fluids. Soaking in warm water for 10 to 20 minutes several times a day, especially after bowel movements, can help relax the sphincter and promote healing.