ALTERNATE THERAPIES SERIES - 5. ANAL FISSURE

Kay Kay Healthcare Ltd.

ANAL FISSURE
An Anal Fissure is also called Ulcer ,is a single shallow crack in the lining of the anus( the lowest region of your intestine, which also opens to the outside). A Fissure begins just inside the anal opening and extends ¼ to ¾ inch along the anal wall.
An anal fissure can be excruciatingly painful. Passing of stool irritates it, and the anal sphincter muscles, at the anal opening, may respond by going into spam. These combined effects cause extreme pain that is made even worse if the stools are either hard or watery. Despite the pain, a fissure is not dangerous and will probably heal with the simple treatment.

CAUSES
Often it is not clear why an anal fissure has developed. Posterior fissures, along the back anal wall are probably the result of straining with Constipation; in passing large, hard stools, the anal lining stretches too much and breaks. Anterior fissures, along the front wall, are usually related to scar-tissue buildup from a previous surgery, or to the extreme pressure that the anal region endures during childbirth. Anal fissures can also be a side effect of another condition, such as Proctitis (inflammation of the rectum),Crohn’s diseases or Colorectal cancer.

TREATMENT

Conventional Medicines

Anesthetic Creams applied directly to the Fissure are the first line of defense along with warm sitz bath and dietary changes to avoid Constipation. This combination is usually successful if the fissure is treated early. If a fissure does not respond to these therapies yet is not terribly severe ,a physician may apply a local anesthetic and insert a gloved finger into the anus to dilate the anal sphincter. This decreases the pressure inside the anal canal, creating an environment more conducive to healing.

If the anal fissure is extraordinarily painful, resistant to other forms of treatment, or long-standing, surgery is the best option. This involves dividing the lower anal sphincter so it cannot tighten and potentially cause fissure. The surgeon may also remove the fissure and the skin just around it, including the sentinel pile if one is present. This 20-minute outpatient procedure is performed under local or spinal anesthetic and is highly effective.

The fissure usually heals, and recurrence is unlikely. more than 90 percent of those who have surgery have no repeat fissure if they maintain a high fiber diet afterwards. It takes three or four days to recover, and you may have trouble controlling flatulence after surgery.

ALTERNATIVE CHOICES

You can often heal an anal fissure by regulating your bowel movements and keeping your stress and anxiety levels low. If you can maintain these lifestyle change, it us unlikely the fissure will return.

HERBAL THERAPY

Dandelion ( Taraxacum Officinale) tea taken three times daily can help keep stool soft. Mix 2 or 3 tsp Dandelion root with 1 cup water and simmer for 10 minutes.

HOMEOPATHY

For up to seven days,12c of one of the following taken four times daily may help. If one remedy does not work try another.

• Aesculus can help soothe burning anal pain accompanied by lower back pain and large, dry, hard stools.
• Try Graphites for painful bowel movements with lumps and mucus. For sharp pains during and after constipated bowel movements that feel as if they tear anus, use nitric Acid. When anal fissure pains is sharp and burning as though glass were in the anus, use Ratanhia.

AT HOME REMEDIES

• Apply an over-the –counter cream containing 1 percent hydrocortisone or vitamin a and D just inside the anus.(Small rubber figure covers are available for the purpose). The Hydrocortisone can reduce swelling and pain, and vitamins cream soothes pain and promotes healing. Suppositories move too far up into the rectum to help.
• Several times a day , sit in a warm stiz bath for 20 minutes. This relaxes the anal sphincter, reducing spasm and their associated pains

PREVENTION

Prevention involves avoiding constipation and diarrhea through diet and exercise. Among other benefits, a healthy diet and regular exercise promote good bowel health and offer protection against anal fissures.