Bowel Movement

I have internal and external hemmoroids (hemorrhoids) and a flexible sigmoidoscopy confirmed this finding about 5 years ago.  I am 46 years old. Lately, I notice about a half hour or so after a bowel movement, I have slight discomfort down my left leg.  It almost feels like discomfort in my sciatic nerve.  It comes and goes and can last almost all day.  I do not have any discomfort when I have a BM nor any blood.  I do not have pain or discomfort anywhere else.  The only blood I may have from time to time is a streaking on the toilet paper after I wipe myself and that was the reason for the sigmoidoscoy in the first place.
I do not have any other symptoms and blood work was normal in June.

My question is could hemmoroids (hemorrhoids) cause this discomfort because they may swell after a BM?  Since my upper and lower back is almost always sore anyway, is it possible I may have a muscle strain that seems to become uncomfortable after a BM?  

Thank you for your advice.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Although possible, I have not heard of swollen hemorrhoids leading to nerve symptoms such as the one you describe.  

More likely is the second scenario, that a bowel movement may have aggrevated a previously strained muscle.

With the symptoms of radicular nerve pain (i.e. going own the leg), you may want to consider a lumbar MRI to evaluate for any nerve compression or disk herniation.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com