Acute and chronic anal fissures are different in a sense that the acute anal fissures usually lasts for a short while and can be cured through home remedies found in the Internet (they are actually effective). The person would know that the anal fissure is chronic when it reaches 6 to 12 weeks or longer.
Either way, patients who experience any type of anal fissure may experience pain and discomfort during bowel movement, and for some, seeing blood mixed with their released stools or observed on their tissues when they wipe can cause tremendous anxiety. With that, the person must visit his or her doctor immediately in order to provide treatment before it gets worse.
But in reality, a doctor’s appointment may not come for at least 3-4 days. Most people do not have a tolerance as high as to ignore the pain associated with anal fissures; thus, doing some home remedies can ease the pain while the doctor is still far away.
The fastest way to relieve discomfort and pain during anal fissures is taking a Sitz or hip bath. This is done by filling a tub with warm water (does not matter what exact temperature it is for as long as it will keep the bum from getting burned) and sit on it, butt naked, letting the rectal area touch the water and feel its warm air inside the anal sphincter, for about 10 to 15 minutes, two to three times every day. This method can help in cleansing the anus, boosting blood circulation in the problem area, and calm the anal passageway.
Next is the diet. The main purpose of the diet is to soften the stools so that it can pass easily through the anus, therefore easing the pain of defecation when anal fissures are present. This can be done by upping the water intake as much as he or she can while avoiding caffeine-rich drinks that could counter the effects and lead to dehydration instead. Dehydration = hard, dry stools = painful bowel movement = worse anal fissure.
Aside from staying hydrated, the patient must increase his or her fiber intake by 20-35 grams or more. This can be done by eating whole grain foods like whole wheat, bran, and oatmeal, and fruits and vegetables, especially the citrus fruit and green leafy ones, respectively.
Exercise may aid in improving bowel movement as well since it helps boost the activity of the digestive system. Exercising hastens the travel time of the food from the stomach to the large intestine, which leads to a decreased amount of water sucked from the stool into the body. Also, exercise, especially the ones that fall under cardio, boosts the contracting ability of the intestinal muscles, which makes it efficient in absorbing and delivering stools more quickly and smoothly.
Some would opt to use laxatives, a drug used to induce bowel movement by stressing the colon into spewing out feces. While laxatives can help boost smooth defecation by watering up the stool, the patient must consult his or her physician first because these drugs can cause more abdominal discomfort, increased flatulence, and excessive dehydration. The patient must try to change his diet or lifestyle before choosing laxatives as the last resort.
Some patients, however, would opt to pop a pill or put a cream to ease the pain. For them, it is quicker, and it brings more relief mentally because it is something tangible and it is something they can control (unlike the diet and lifestyle changes that can take days or weeks to have an effect).
In this case, doctors recommend calcium channel blockers that can be taken orally, like Norvasc (generic name: amlopidine), to relieve pain since it lowers blood pressure, therefore causing less contraction and in turn less pain on the rectal area. The only side effect reported when using this drug is headache, which can be very severe according to some patients. Ointments of this kind are also available.
Another ointment recommended in relieving anal fissures is the nitrate ointment. It helps in healing the anal fissures by stimulating blood circulation on the anal area, therefore increasing the chances of fast healing. However, like the calcium channel blockers, nitrate ointments can cause severe headache, nausea, and low blood pressure.
In any case, relieving and managing pain and discomfort brought by anal fissures must first be dealt with the natural way since it offers less discomfort and better benefits than the medications. However, if all else fails, the patient can use drugs aside from the lifestyle changes given, but only upon the advice of his or her health professional.
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