Hello - I am new to this group and would like to ask if any of you have tried red light therapy (infrared) to assist with healing? If so, did you feel that it was helpful as part of an overall conservative protocol for healing a chronic fissure?
I also have a question about using Botox on a 1x basis to settle down the spasms and give the fissure a better chance of healing. I did see in previous posts that Botox has been tried by some, but if anyone has recent experience, it would helpful to collect your thoughts. Additionally, will you please comment as how the Botox was administered? I have read about varying approaches (e.g., superficial around the outside of the sphincter muscle with a local anesthetic vs. injections higher/deeper into the muscle under general sedation).
I have been fully checked out by both a GI specialist and colorectal surgeon. I do not have any underlying conditions...just the fissure and associated spasms. Just trying to assess my options should I need to go beyond conservative measures to clear this up. Thanks so much!
50%r of people can heal them on their own without surgery. Hot sitz baths really helps. Yes, very painful and I feel for you. Keep your feet elevated when you can.
Hi Mikaylar - thank you for your response. I am on a conservative treatment path that includes sitz baths, a compounded ointment, pelvic floor therapy, and so on. Hoping very much to heal it without a surgical intervention. I'm scheduled for a recheck in October. In my case, I was initially misdiagnosed and I think the time lapse is what slowed down my healing. I will add more time w/feet elevated based on your suggestion! Thank you again.
Hi Mikaylar - thank you for your response. I am on a conservative treatment path that includes sitz baths, a compounded ointment, pelvic floor therapy, and so on. Hoping very much to heal it without a surgical intervention. I'm scheduled for a recheck in October. In my case, I was initially misdiagnosed and I think the time lapse is what slowed down my healing. I will add more time w/feet elevated based on your suggestion! Thank you again.
What finally helped me after 2 surgeries and 14 years sitting on a donut was an anti-seizure medication for an unrelated matter. 2 weeks on Topamax and I was better. My pelvic therapist mentioned that she had heard of that. Well, why not mention it to me???
What finally helped me after 2 surgeries and 14 years sitting on a donut was an anti-seizure medication for an unrelated matter. 2 weeks on Topamax and I was better. My pelvic therapist mentioned that she had heard of that. Well, why not mention it to me???
I understand the pain of an anal fissure. Mine occurred during a routine colonoscopy. (When it occurred, the pain brought me out of my state of sedation with a yelp, and I heard the physician tell the assistant to give me more sedation. ) Afterwards she didn’t tell me what happened so I assumed that the resulting pain and bleeding that flared up periodically was caused by hemorrhoids. It wasn’t until I went to see a colon/rectal surgeon that I found out it was a fissure and not hemorrhoids and I was scheduled for surgery.
A few days after surgery, a bout of constipation caused the fissure to begin reopening. The surgeon gave me a prescription for a compounded nifedipine ointment that worked wonders and the fissure site finally healed completely. Since then, I’ve learned that in many cases that particular compounded ointment can heal fissures without surgery. It may be worth a try.
@cahabagirl yes, Nifedipine compounded ointment is what healed my fissure - cost me around $70 because my government health plan didn’t cover it, but it was worth the out of pocket cost! It took six weeks of application three times a day.
I too developed constipation after my colonoscopy and had to remedy that first. That was why it took so long for the fissure to heal.
@cahabagirl yes, Nifedipine compounded ointment is what healed my fissure - cost me around $70 because my government health plan didn’t cover it, but it was worth the out of pocket cost! It took six weeks of application three times a day.
I too developed constipation after my colonoscopy and had to remedy that first. That was why it took so long for the fissure to heal.
Hi Rashida - may I ask if your compounded ointment was Nifedipine only? Right now I am using a blended compounded ointment (hydrocortisone, lidocaine, nifedipine) 2x per day for six weeks. Then a recheck with my physician. Also, may I ask if you applied the Nifedipine externally only or also internally? I was told to only apply my ointment externally, but I've read elsewhere that others are told to apply internally as well. I'm still having spasms and am concerned those will impact healing (in a negative way). Any information you can share is most appreciated. Thank you!
....my anal pain and it's severe is from ibs diarrhea and every other day; now i have it after a course of antibiotic; when on antibiotics you are not allowed to take anti diarrhea meds; anway, after c.diff 2018also hae fecal incontinence. ....so today passed about ten times fecal matter and anal area is so painful and this has been going on for years. difficult to discuss with friends and neighbours! as soon as i clean up or have a half shower, get dried and they suggested hair dryer on low; use some zinc ointment, or vaseline etc., and get redressed about half hour later have to go again and nothing stops it or it leaks out.... honestly, compared to other life threatening issues and my other medical issues this should be easily handled but it is not; and constant change of clothing and cloths... but really its the pain... like pouring lemon juice on cuts. not a nice subject to discuss but no cure as soon as use ointment, it is wiped off shortly after..... any ideas welcome.....
I’m so sorry you are suffering like that. I’m on this forum because I had a colon re-section. I’ve recovered really well. (I’m now on the breast cancer forum as I have been diagnosed with breast cancer recently.)
I had terrible haemorrhoids before the surgery and the cream I was given, and worked quite well is, proctosedyl. It is a Rx and has 5% cortisone, which helps reduce the swelling. Maybe you could ask your doctor to prescribe it. I am in Canada, I know that can make a difference to availability. I hope you can try it, it sounds like you’re dealing with something terrible.
Hi Rashida - may I ask if your compounded ointment was Nifedipine only? Right now I am using a blended compounded ointment (hydrocortisone, lidocaine, nifedipine) 2x per day for six weeks. Then a recheck with my physician. Also, may I ask if you applied the Nifedipine externally only or also internally? I was told to only apply my ointment externally, but I've read elsewhere that others are told to apply internally as well. I'm still having spasms and am concerned those will impact healing (in a negative way). Any information you can share is most appreciated. Thank you!
@ruth2019 the label just says “Nifedipine 0.2% ointment compound” so I don’t know if a compound means it is a combination of other drugs. It was made up in a compounding pharmacy. I applied it internally, using a finger cot three times a day plus after a bowel movement. The ointment came in a pump dispenser which I found very convenient.
Thank you so much for this additional info! Sounds like you had nifedipine only and it was prepared by a compounding pharmacy (mixed to order) vs. pre-packaged and sold by a non-compounding pharmacy (Walgreens, CVS, etc.). Mine is also compounded with the two additional components (hydrocortisone 2.5%, lidocaine 5%). The concentration of nifedipine in mine is the same as yours (0.2%). It's so encouraging that you had success. I'll call my physician's office w/an update next week and perhaps that will result in some adjustments based on my symptoms. Take care and thank you again.
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Hello - I am new to this group and would like to ask if any of you have tried red light therapy (infrared) to assist with healing? If so, did you feel that it was helpful as part of an overall conservative protocol for healing a chronic fissure?
I also have a question about using Botox on a 1x basis to settle down the spasms and give the fissure a better chance of healing. I did see in previous posts that Botox has been tried by some, but if anyone has recent experience, it would helpful to collect your thoughts. Additionally, will you please comment as how the Botox was administered? I have read about varying approaches (e.g., superficial around the outside of the sphincter muscle with a local anesthetic vs. injections higher/deeper into the muscle under general sedation).
I have been fully checked out by both a GI specialist and colorectal surgeon. I do not have any underlying conditions...just the fissure and associated spasms. Just trying to assess my options should I need to go beyond conservative measures to clear this up. Thanks so much!
50%r of people can heal them on their own without surgery. Hot sitz baths really helps. Yes, very painful and I feel for you. Keep your feet elevated when you can.
Hi Mikaylar - thank you for your response. I am on a conservative treatment path that includes sitz baths, a compounded ointment, pelvic floor therapy, and so on. Hoping very much to heal it without a surgical intervention. I'm scheduled for a recheck in October. In my case, I was initially misdiagnosed and I think the time lapse is what slowed down my healing. I will add more time w/feet elevated based on your suggestion! Thank you again.
What finally helped me after 2 surgeries and 14 years sitting on a donut was an anti-seizure medication for an unrelated matter. 2 weeks on Topamax and I was better. My pelvic therapist mentioned that she had heard of that. Well, why not mention it to me???
Hi there - completely agree. Thanks again. 🙂
@cahabagirl yes, Nifedipine compounded ointment is what healed my fissure - cost me around $70 because my government health plan didn’t cover it, but it was worth the out of pocket cost! It took six weeks of application three times a day.
I too developed constipation after my colonoscopy and had to remedy that first. That was why it took so long for the fissure to heal.
Hi Rashida - may I ask if your compounded ointment was Nifedipine only? Right now I am using a blended compounded ointment (hydrocortisone, lidocaine, nifedipine) 2x per day for six weeks. Then a recheck with my physician. Also, may I ask if you applied the Nifedipine externally only or also internally? I was told to only apply my ointment externally, but I've read elsewhere that others are told to apply internally as well. I'm still having spasms and am concerned those will impact healing (in a negative way). Any information you can share is most appreciated. Thank you!
I’m so sorry you are suffering like that. I’m on this forum because I had a colon re-section. I’ve recovered really well. (I’m now on the breast cancer forum as I have been diagnosed with breast cancer recently.)
I had terrible haemorrhoids before the surgery and the cream I was given, and worked quite well is, proctosedyl. It is a Rx and has 5% cortisone, which helps reduce the swelling. Maybe you could ask your doctor to prescribe it. I am in Canada, I know that can make a difference to availability. I hope you can try it, it sounds like you’re dealing with something terrible.
@ruth2019 the label just says “Nifedipine 0.2% ointment compound” so I don’t know if a compound means it is a combination of other drugs. It was made up in a compounding pharmacy. I applied it internally, using a finger cot three times a day plus after a bowel movement. The ointment came in a pump dispenser which I found very convenient.
Thank you so much for this additional info! Sounds like you had nifedipine only and it was prepared by a compounding pharmacy (mixed to order) vs. pre-packaged and sold by a non-compounding pharmacy (Walgreens, CVS, etc.). Mine is also compounded with the two additional components (hydrocortisone 2.5%, lidocaine 5%). The concentration of nifedipine in mine is the same as yours (0.2%). It's so encouraging that you had success. I'll call my physician's office w/an update next week and perhaps that will result in some adjustments based on my symptoms. Take care and thank you again.
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