Last Updated: Feb 27, 2024
Anal fissure can be described as a cut or tear on the skin, in or around the anal area. It can cause extreme pain accompanied by red blood spots during stool.
Fissures are known to affect people of all ages, however, it predominantly remains common among infants or middle-aged people.
Fissures can often be taken off at home and do not necessarily pose any health hazard.
Stool softeners or some pain relief medications can help in mild cases. If nothing works, then your doctor might ask for anal fissure surgery.
When a patient suffers from anal fissures, he or she may show one or more of the following symptoms:
The symptoms of anal fissure in males and anal fissure symptoms in females are very similar. These symptoms are not the same for all and can differ. To understand your condition better, you should see a doctor once you experience any early symptoms of anal fissure.
If the patient suffers from chronic constipation or frequently experiences diarrhea, he/she is more likely to suffer from anal fissure. Passing a hard stool or putting too much strain may also cause the skin around the anus to tear.
However, these causes of fissures are caused by either constipation or a low-fiber diet which causes hard stool. Not all patients have fissures for these reasons. If your fissure is recurring, does not heal within 6-8 weeks, or is located in a region other than the mid-posterior area of the anus, it could mean that you have an underlying disease, the side-effect of which is fissures.
Anal fissures, as discussed previously, can arise due to multiple factors. They cannot always be prevented, however, certain preventive measures can be taken to lower the risk of acute/chronic anal fissures:
If you notice the symptoms of anal fissure, you will need to consult a doctor.
Before performing any diagnosis, your healthcare provider will ask you about any medical history. A physical exam may be performed, which includes a general and thorough inspection of the anal region. An anal fissure has a single or multiple cuts in the region that is noticeably visible, so this physical examination is all that the doctor requires to confirm before proceeding with diagnostic tests.
If your doctor thinks that you have underlying diseases like Crohn’s after seeing the nature of your fissure, he may ask you to undergo the following testing methods:
Several complications associated with anal fissures left untreated have been seen over the years. Some of them are as follows:
In some cases, anal fissures are capable of recovering on their own. However, with the following fissure treatment at home remedies symptoms of anal fissures can subside effectively:
Here are some food items to be incorporated into your diet if you are suffering from anal fissures:
Some food items should be strictly avoided when suffering from anal fissure symptoms. They are as follows:
Schedule a visit with your doctor if the symptoms are not showing any signs of lessening after home remedies are done meticulously. You should seek medical help immediately if:
If you're older than 40, consult with your doctor in case of rectal bleeding. With an early diagnosis, serious diseases like colon cancer can be ruled out.
Two types of surgical procedures can be followed
In a sphincterotomy, the sphincter muscles in your bottom are cut to release the tension, which lets the fissure heal. This procedure can be done in two ways. In an open sphincterotomy, the surgeon makes a small cut in your skin so that the sphincter muscle can be seen and the cut is left open to be healed. In a closed sphincterotomy, your surgeon passes a blade under your skin to reach and cut the muscle. This is an extremely effective type of surgery for anal fissures.
This procedure involves the surgeon taking a healthy piece of skin and replacing it on the damaged skin of the fissure area. If the patient is likely to suffer from incontinence post-op, the surgeon may advise this course of surgery.
Lybrate has a highly experienced, skilled and well-trained doctors for anal fissure surgery. The team follows a USFDA-approved procedure and takes minimal time to complete the surgery. High-quality types of equipment are used in the surgical procedure to prevent any chances of recurrence in future.
If painkillers and laxatives do not help, your doctor may prescribe you the following medications for anal fissure treatment:
Just like the home remedies, medicines too can only subside the symptoms of fissure in most of the cases. Surgery, on the other hand, is the perfect solution to get rid of fissures instantly.
Typically, an anal fissure operation is carried out if the fissure persists for more than 8 weeks. When an anal fissure has not been healing for more than 8 weeks or has recurred time and again, the doctor will advise you to get surgery done. With small incisions and minimal risk, anal fissure surgeries can be conducted. Doctors recommended surgery to avoid any complications in the future.
In a sphincterotomy, the sphincter muscles in your bottom are cut to release the tension, which lets the fissure heal. This procedure can be done in two ways. In an open sphincterotomy, the surgeon makes a small cut in your skin so that the sphincter muscle can be seen and the cut is left open to be healed. In a closed sphincterotomy, your surgeon passes a blade under your skin to reach and cut the muscle. This is an extremely effective type of surgery for anal fissures.
This procedure involves the surgeon taking a healthy piece of skin and replacing it on the damaged skin of the fissure area. If the patient is likely to suffer from incontinence post-op, the surgeon may advise this course of surgery.
Pristyn Care has a highly experienced, skilled and well-trained team for anal fissure surgery. The team follows a USFDA-approved procedure and takes minimal time to complete the surgery. High-quality types of equipment are used in the surgical procedure to prevent any chances of recurrence in future.
Fissure surgery (or sphincterotomy, the most common type of surgery) is less painful than having to deal with the constant pain of the fissure itself. The surgery involves having mild pain during and a few weeks after the operation, but it slowly reduces any kind of pain that has been associated with the pre-op fissure skin itself.
Anal fissures often heal within a few weeks if you take correct home remedies or medications to keep your stool soft, such as increasing your intake of fibre and fluids. However, on average, 2 to 4 weeks is adequate time for your fissure to fully heal under normal circumstances. If your fissure is chronic or has arisen due to underlying diseases such as Crohn’s, then the time to heal may be much longer.
In India, the average fees for a general fissure surgery like sphincterotomy range from Rs. 18,000 to Rs. 50,000 with a success rate of around 92%. If you are wondering how to find all this information, you can directly come to Pristyn Care and find out every single detail about fissure surgery cost and expenses. Pristyn Care also has some of the finest surgeons in the country to provide anal fissure surgeries at a very affordable price.
After the fissure has healed, it can recur easily. It is common for a fully healed fissure to recur after a strained and hard bowel movement or another injury. Even when the pain and bleeding associated with fissures have subsided, it is very important to continue to have a good lifestyle and a balanced diet.
After surgery, certain precautions need to be maintained for a speedy recovery:
While you wait to hear from your doctor about the necessary course of action to be taken, help yourself with bringing a change in your dietary habits and drinking plenty of water. You can also include certain cardio or some form of physical activity in your daily life.
Conclusively, fissures may not be life-threatening but are a cause of embarrassment and discomfort. With proper medication and lifestyle changes, anal fissures can be treatable at home. When medications are not showing any effect, your doctor may opt for surgical methods. The moment you sense the first sign of fissure, you should try some home remedies. Hence, getting the correct opinion of the doctor is of utmost importance and highly recommended.
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