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!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Profile picture for jpere @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.

Jump to this post

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

REPLY

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.

REPLY

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.

REPLY
Profile picture for mikayla68 @mikayla68

Okay so I've decided to have surgery after all. I believe this is the best decision for me. Botox + cauterization of the fissure. It's scheduled for next week so I'm looking forward to it/not looking forward to it (if you know what I mean!) Thanks everyone for such great info.

Jump to this post

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.

REPLY

My rectum hurts almost constantly and I’ve had constipation for years. Dr wants to do a Botox injection. Colonoscopies have never showed anything. I’m tired of taking Miralax or Metamucil and fiber. I’m trying probiotics. Has anyone ever used any brand that has provided relief? I’ve had pelvic floor therapy with short lived pain relief. I would love to hear from anyone who has this problem and found relief. I haven’t been able to sit comfortably for years!

REPLY

Same here! Once I start going it won’t stop! Mostly water, incontinence, wearing pads and depends, making messes beyond belief! Besides that Awful Pain! No one understands that burning pain! And yet, still, no one can help me!

REPLY

I developed squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) at the exit site of my colostomy 3 1/2 years ago. I have never experienced more pain than this, and I am 83. They finally did surgery nine days ago, despite the fact that it took me YEARS and dozens of hyperbaric treatments before I healed after the last surgery. I am doing daily sitz baths now and packing the wound with gauze soaked in liquid lidocaine for 5 minutes a day, followed by a gauze pack soaked in a saline solution. This seems to diminish the pain somewhat. I am also taking 2 tbsp. ProHeal (Amazon) daily to enhance the healing process.

REPLY

It was a pill given to me off-label for headaches by an MD at a headache center. It did not help my headache but my pelvic pain went away. I told my pelvic physical therapist and she said she had heard of that before. Maybe because it is for seizures, it loosens up the spasms in the rectum? I don't know. Since PTs can't prescribe medicine, I don't know who you would ask. Maybe discuss with family doctor???? Let me know how you make out. Who are you seeing now? As any doctor you are seeing now. Good luck. I will pray for you.

REPLY
Profile picture for mikayla @mikaylar

Ask for anti-seizure medicine - Topamax maybe. This is the only thing that worked for me after 2 fissure surgeries and sitting on a donut for 4-1/2 years.

Jump to this post

This may be a stupid question, but is Topomax a cream applied to the lesion, or is it ingested? I don't understand the anti-seizure/lesion connection. What type of doctor (oncologist, radiologist, surgeon, primary care provider) could I discuss this with?

REPLY

Ask for anti-seizure medicine - Topamax maybe. This is the only thing that worked for me after 2 fissure surgeries and sitting on a donut for 4-1/2 years.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.