Anal fissure: What helps it heal?

Posted by lisval @lisval, Aug 2, 2022

Hey-wondering if anyone has developed an anal fissure during chemotherapy? What helped it heal? Any advice as it is very painful!

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Lidocaine ointment helps temporarily. I ended up 2 times with surgery. My surgeon promised me I would never have a fissure again - that was 10 years ago.🙏🏻

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@lisval

Yes, I got it from diarrhea from chemo this past spring. It is finally healed after using the ointment for a few months and getting botox injections. I am very worried about it coming back so being very careful with what I eat and do. However, I feel great and am so thankful to have it behind me, for now at least!

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what ointment did you use?

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@kell4042

I too have been dealing with this nightmare for the last 3 months. I've had 2 refills on the prescription compound ointment, which by the way has stained just about every lower half article of clothing I own. I was scheduled for botox procedure but decided to cancel it 2 days before procedure. Let me tell you why.
My biggest problem is slow to no heal, then once I think I'm getting somewhere, I think I retear them. I was told slow heal was mostly due to pelvic floor muscles being so tight that blood flow was restricted, not able to heal.
Try and follow me, I've had pelvic floor issues to the point that I'm unable to have intercourse at all(getting ready to start pf therapy), which also effects my anal region. I had full hysterectomy in 2018, when it all started but was not taking hormone replacement. I've since started, which to get to my point, is helping my pelvic floor and tissue health tremendously, hence, allowing more pelvic floor relaxation, to heal anal fissures finally on their own. No surgery needed. Hope that helps a little.

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50% will heal on their own, the others need surgery. Sitz baths help. Also, an anti-seizure medicine was the only thing that worked for me. But, this is a monster!

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@kell4042

I too have been dealing with this nightmare for the last 3 months. I've had 2 refills on the prescription compound ointment, which by the way has stained just about every lower half article of clothing I own. I was scheduled for botox procedure but decided to cancel it 2 days before procedure. Let me tell you why.
My biggest problem is slow to no heal, then once I think I'm getting somewhere, I think I retear them. I was told slow heal was mostly due to pelvic floor muscles being so tight that blood flow was restricted, not able to heal.
Try and follow me, I've had pelvic floor issues to the point that I'm unable to have intercourse at all(getting ready to start pf therapy), which also effects my anal region. I had full hysterectomy in 2018, when it all started but was not taking hormone replacement. I've since started, which to get to my point, is helping my pelvic floor and tissue health tremendously, hence, allowing more pelvic floor relaxation, to heal anal fissures finally on their own. No surgery needed. Hope that helps a little.

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Has anyone had external hemorrhoids surgically removed? Was it successful?

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I cannot tell you how sorry I am to hear that you have fissures and yes yes they are horribly painful and they are hard to heal. In March of 1992 I got two one inch fissures and Dear Lord my life has never been the same. When there is a tear in the rectum there is a muscle called the sphincter muscle that goes into a spasm and it makes the pain triple there. I use CYCLOBENZAPR 10 MG. That relieves that muscle pain. Then I have anucort suppositories 25 mg. And I use neosporin on those to insert. Over the years..as mine started from constipation I make sure to keep my stool soft. Ask me any questions you have. God bless you. Diane

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@jpere

how did your surgery go? I have an anal fissure that started 3 months ago. I have tried two different creams prescribed by my colorectal surgeon, and tried botox for the first time last week but so far it's still bothering me. it's still stinging and burning. don't know if I should try botox once again, or surgery.

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I mentioned before, anti-seizure med Topamax worked for me after 14-1/2 years of sitting on a donut.

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I too have been dealing with this nightmare for the last 3 months. I've had 2 refills on the prescription compound ointment, which by the way has stained just about every lower half article of clothing I own. I was scheduled for botox procedure but decided to cancel it 2 days before procedure. Let me tell you why.
My biggest problem is slow to no heal, then once I think I'm getting somewhere, I think I retear them. I was told slow heal was mostly due to pelvic floor muscles being so tight that blood flow was restricted, not able to heal.
Try and follow me, I've had pelvic floor issues to the point that I'm unable to have intercourse at all(getting ready to start pf therapy), which also effects my anal region. I had full hysterectomy in 2018, when it all started but was not taking hormone replacement. I've since started, which to get to my point, is helping my pelvic floor and tissue health tremendously, hence, allowing more pelvic floor relaxation, to heal anal fissures finally on their own. No surgery needed. Hope that helps a little.

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@jpere

My doctor prescribed Nitroglycerin-lidocain 0.2-5 % ointment compound but it didn't work for me. I just had my first botox injection last week and still in pain. I hope the botox works. if it doesn't I will need surgery.

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....I have fecal incontinence and often, too often, so sore in that area and no longer take sitz baths re bladder infection, my husbnd has had anal cancer and used preparation h in Canada but i refused until one last week and I must say it did help but i dont want to become dependent on them type thing,.. where i live not enough doctors and if not very serious (on their scale) we wait some months if not a year...I wish you the best J

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@lacy2

....no luck searching internet, each site says something different; one says use vaseline, preparation h, zinc ointment (like for babies diaper rash); then another site says do not use ointments at all; then another, see your doctor etc. etc. why in the year 2023 is this such a hard fix? they are making such amazing strides in complicated medical areas but a sore rectum seems such a difficult thing to diagnose and treat... ?? J.

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My doctor prescribed Nitroglycerin-lidocain 0.2-5 % ointment compound but it didn't work for me. I just had my first botox injection last week and still in pain. I hope the botox works. if it doesn't I will need surgery.

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....no luck searching internet, each site says something different; one says use vaseline, preparation h, zinc ointment (like for babies diaper rash); then another site says do not use ointments at all; then another, see your doctor etc. etc. why in the year 2023 is this such a hard fix? they are making such amazing strides in complicated medical areas but a sore rectum seems such a difficult thing to diagnose and treat... ?? J.

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