Help for rectal pain

[JanieBoof]

I have constant pain in my rectum.  It started after walking on the treadmill and the pain in unbearable when I sit. I was diagnosed with Levator Syndrome.   In January of 2008 I had IV steroids (Salumedrol) for my asthma and the pain stopped until the first of July. Before that I had injections in the levator muscle with no results.  In July I started walking again and the pain came back even worse than before.  I also went to my colo-rectal surgeon last week and he found a small anal fissure but that is not what's causing all the other pain.  I am suffering with the rectal pain so badly that I am thinking I might have to quit work.  The only relief is when I get home and get in bed.  Can someone recommend a some kind of treatment?  I am at my wit's end.


This discussion is related to Rectal pain.

[Davidme]

Rich,

I have very similar symptoms. I have been to many different doctors and it seems to some type of nerve musle problem causing pain. One colon rectal dr thinks it is levator syndrome. Please respond back

david

[patient915]

Please post your question as its own post because this one is so old.

[Richlanders]

I have rectal pain too.

42 Yo male.
18 months ago I started having occasional
Blood in toilet and red in toilet paper after Bm.
Doctor said I had hemroids, either internal and maybe
External.  Doctor gave me sepositories that did not help.  Pain continued.

I went to see a colon rectal specialist and he did a banding
If internal hemroid.  Pain got so severe doctor had to remove band after 2 days
Instead of letting it get rid if hemroid.  Doctor that did it caused me
Emotional and physical distress at the time because I dint
Think he knew what he was doing.

Since then the blood in toilet and paper has stopped
And doctor said u just have minor external hemroids that
Would not cause tge pain I have now.

The pain seems like a throbbing pain.  I can have it
When sitting, standing or laying on couch.  Pain comes
And goes tgrought the day.  I normally do not
Wake with the pain.  Days I do not have a bm the pain is not there or
Just a little discomfort.  No pain during bm.  U usually have bm daily
As I drink a glass of metamucil daily and eat fibre one
Fir breakfast.  After morning bm I usually then have
Pain throughout day.   Every couple months I get a severe aching pain
In rectum (about a 9 on pain scale out of 10).  I take advil
And sit in hot or cold bath and pain subsides after about
10 minutes.

I have not found any solution.  
Doctors have done,
Internal ointment.
Sepositories.
Ibuprofen.
Valium (muscle relaxer)
Biofeedback (internal probe that showed I had a
Highly elevated spasm)
An active MRI where I expel gel, cane out negative.

I would so much like to get rid of the pain.  I can't say
That the pain keeps me from work, but It is making me unhappy,

My doctor said no hemroids, anal fissure.  

Doctor thinks it is problem with pelvic floir in spasm.
Next test is to test my anal pressure.  

Doctor suggested possibility of injecting a Botox type substance
In my pelvic flour to freeze the spasm.  I was told
The Botox is temporary doctir said and would wear off after
6 weeks or so.  My fear is that this could aggravate the area even worse.

Anyone else have something similar or ideas?

Thanks.

[swishha1]

i have had severe rectal pain which causes muscle spasms,and it is getting worse, i have had 3 colonoscopy of which they found nothing,also had 3 upper colonoscopies ans the same results. Also i have had the botox surgery on my bottom,in which it only made it worse, i have tried every kind a cream u can imagine ALONG WITH prescriptions that  have been mixed,nothing seems to work and it is getting more then i can stand. I  need help bad ,does any docs have any suggestions.  I am at my ropes end

[Esterberry]

My husband came down with INTENSE rectal pain after a RPP (prostatectomy) in Feb.The pain did not actually surface until 2 months later. Until then, it was numb.
Now he is being treated at M.A.P.S. Medical Pain Clinic in Minnesota by a doctor that specializes in Pudendal Neuropathy. His pain is lessening...but he still cannot sit.
He may need to go in for nerve entrapment surgery. we are just waiting to see if he gets better. Maybe this could help you.

[JanieBoof]

I have tried the warm baths.  It relieves the problem for a while.  I sit all day at work and sometimes the pain is unbearable.  Some of my friends don't understand how it can hurt so badly that your nerves are shot and your temper is short.  I never realized that pain can take over you life like this.  

[ARTB]

A fissure can cause you pain or it could be a rectal spasm.  I had both and the pain persisted for almost a year.  The spasms would knock me down for the count but happened only a few times a week.  Doc perscribed vallium which seemed to do the trick.  Warm baths helped also.

[JanieBoof]

What medication is your daughter on?  My doctor told me at one time my levator muscle was having spasms the whole time he was examining me.  Maybe your daughter's medication could help me also.  He gave me some muscle relaxants and it helps for a short while, but not for long.

Thank you for your suggestions.  Please let me know the name of her medication.

[boron]

Small fissures can probably be repaired by "small operation procedure" or whatever it may be called. It's important to be sure there's no infection under the tissue, so ask the doctor how to check this (I was thinking MRI).

[marval]

my daughter has a similar problem and she was diagnosed with colon spasms.  she is on a medication that helps alot,  her pain seems to come on after a bowel movement and sometimes before.  she also has colitis and IBS, as well as esophagitis.

[JanieBoof]

Thank you for your suggestions.  I'm using a compound prescription called Diltiazem 2% Gel.  It's supposed to help heal anal fissures.  It seems to have helped some---but not enough that I'm completely without pain.  My doctor said to give it 4-6 weeks to help heal the fissure.  Do you know if a small fissure has to be surgically sutured or can it be carterized?  

[boron]

It's possible that there's something under the skin or mucosa and can't be seen from outside or with colonoscopy.

Like abscess or so. In this case a MRI would be needed.

[JanieBoof]

Yes, I've had a colonoscopy in May and it was normal.  Like I said before the problem started after walking on a treadmill.  After that I had two steroid injections in the levator muscle 3 months apart with no success.  After my hospitalization in January with IV steroids it stopped until I started walking 3 weeks ago.  When sitting I am in terrible pain and don't know where to turn.

[boron]

Have you already have a colonoscopy?