Acute rectal pain

[Unregistered]

From time to time I suffer this severe rectal pain. It usually occurs late at night and lasts almost exactly 20mins. The pain is unbelievable. Then it just stops so when I see a doctor, I have nothing to show for it. Does anyone know what this might be? I have been told constipation but I have never had a problem there.

[tdannar]

I am 55 years old and have had this problem for MANY years.

I put up with it for years and was pretty concerned. Usually I would wake up in the night with an uncomfortable feeling at my rectum. The uncomfortable feeling keeps getting worse and some times the pain is so bad, I would think that I was going to pass out. I found that when I feel it coming on, if I can lay in a tub of VERY warm/hot water, it seems to pass quicker and the pain is less. If I just relax, the pain gets worse (because it cramps more).

I had an episode one day at my office and thought I was going to die! I had worried about what I would do if I had the problem during the day, because I would not be near a tub that I could soak in. I decided it was time to get this checked out. Went to specialist and he tells me that what is happening is a cramp in the sphincter muscle just inside the rectal opening. He indicated that one of the causes for this is STRESS. From that time on, when I would have an episode, I would think back in the last day or so, and sure enough, I would have been stressed/worried about something. I was told by the doctor that you treat it like any cramp, you need to massage it and work it out. I guess that is also why the heat from the warm water helps. He said that in a really bad case, you can digitally insert you finger and massage the muscle. Not my favorite thing to do, but I think it does help.

I have two sons, one has the same problem. In fact the doctor that I saw has the same problem. He said he knew what my problem was when he went to check my lower colon and said my anal sphincter muscle was as tight as a banjo string!

Knowing what my problem was seemed to help. I still have the problem during times of stress, but the problem doe not STRESS ME OUT like it did.

Hope this is all that your problem is.

Terry

[Unregistered]

I was just diagnosed last week with these exact symptoms. (After having a colonoscopy and then a ct scan). My doctor told me I have a condition called Proctalgia Fugax. There is info on the internet. He told me it is rare, and not much can be done. It is hereditary and after speaking to several of my family members about it, sure enough, my father, 2 of my aunts and my grandmother have all suffered from this. (Wish I would have known earlier) It is VERY painful and I have been dealing with these pains for at least 15 years.

[tompaul]

Im a very young 55 yr old and hours ago just had my first acute rectal spasm. Oh MY GOD!!! thought I was going to pass out, had cold sweats, and really wanted to die. After reading about this, Im at least more educated on the subject. Thank God for the internet. tp

I am 55 years old and have had this problem for MANY years.

I put up with it for years and was pretty concerned. Usually I would wake up in the night with an uncomfortable feeling at my rectum. The uncomfortable feeling keeps getting worse and some times the pain is so bad, I would think that I was going to pass out. I found that when I feel it coming on, if I can lay in a tub of VERY warm/hot water, it seems to pass quicker and the pain is less. If I just relax, the pain gets worse (because it cramps more).

I had an episode one day at my office and thought I was going to die! I had worried about what I would do if I had the problem during the day, because I would not be near a tub that I could soak in. I decided it was time to get this checked out. Went to specialist and he tells me that what is happening is a cramp in the sphincter muscle just inside the rectal opening. He indicated that one of the causes for this is STRESS. From that time on, when I would have an episode, I would think back in the last day or so, and sure enough, I would have been stressed/worried about something. I was told by the doctor that you treat it like any cramp, you need to massage it and work it out. I guess that is also why the heat from the warm water helps. He said that in a really bad case, you can digitally insert you finger and massage the muscle. Not my favorite thing to do, but I think it does help.

I have two sons, one has the same problem. In fact the doctor that I saw has the same problem. He said he knew what my problem was when he went to check my lower colon and said my anal sphincter muscle was as tight as a banjo string!

Knowing what my problem was seemed to help. I still have the problem during times of stress, but the problem doe not STRESS ME OUT like it did.

Hope this is all that your problem is.

Terry

[irocktheguitar]

I'm 100% convinced that this is what you have:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proctalgia_fugax

Thankfully, it's not serious. Though there is no "cure". What you're doing with the hot bath is a remedy though.

[Unregistered]

I've experienced this as well, although it hasn't come back in a long time (6 months). I took high doses of Magnesium which helps relax muscles in the body. If you can, try to get Magneleuvres from a company called Seroyal. Highly absorbable. I also meditate and avoid stress.

[Unregistered 2641]

I was just diagnosed last week with these exact symptoms. (After having a colonoscopy and then a ct scan). My doctor told me I have a condition called Proctalgia Fugax. There is info on the internet. He told me it is rare, and not much can be done. It is hereditary and after speaking to several of my family members about it, sure enough, my father, 2 of my aunts and my grandmother have all suffered from this. (Wish I would have known earlier) It is VERY painful and I have been dealing with these pains for at least 15 years.

This is just exactly what I was diagnosed as having -- Proctalgia Fugax. When it happens to me, it wakes me up and I learned not to go into the bathroom because I break out in a cold sweat and feel like I'm going to faint. It's an awful pain and I can compare the severe pain to the xanthine kidney stones I have passed -- but the pain is just in a different area of my body. I know my dad used to faint several years ago but don't know if this is why. I have been diagnosed with a primary muscle disease also which causes every muscle in my body spasms at some time or other... even my throat muscle! That's freaky when your throat closes on you not from choking but from a muscle spasm. It's not nice that you have this but it's nice knowing other people have the same problem as I. I too thought I was going to die from the pain!

[Jimbo 54]

I have suffered this problem for 10 years . It often wakes me just after going to sleep, is more likely to occur post sexual activity. At worst it prevents urination during the attack


I find releif in a hot tub with 2or 3 cups Epsom Salt ( magnesium) and the Shussler Tissue Salt MAG PHOS taken well chewed with a glass of very warm water

Doctor dont seem to know much

[irocktheguitar]

Wow.... I didn't realize that others too had cold sweats and possibly will faint. I thought it was just me. I have a high threshold for pain, but these episodes almost always will make me faint if I don't get in a hot bath IMMEDIATELY. I posted my original story here:

http://forums.wrongdiagnosis.com/sho...?t=3633&page=2

and my follow-up is on the last page:

http://forums.wrongdiagnosis.com/sho...?t=3633&page=4

Doesn't sound like much can be done to prevent it. I wish that I would NEVER have another attack. But hopefully some of the measures I'm taking will help (hot bath, massage). I read somewhere that an asthma inhalant called Salbutamol can take away the spasm almost immediately.

I literally FEEL YOUR PAIN guys. It's gawd awful, and no one understands because they have never had an attack.

[jbiv]

I have had this for several years. It wasn't until after a colonoscopy was done last week that the pain became so bad i that I passed out. It felt like I had a hot curling iron being inserted into my rectum. I was then finally diagnosed with it.

My doctor prescribed Clonidine HCL and Albuterol. An asthma inhaler for pain in my ***? I said, You've got to be joking. And no you don't use it directly onto the area of pain.

I'm still not sure if the Clonidine is helping at all, but the inhaler seems to give me almost immediate relief. Sometimes not for very long, 10-15 minutes later it returns. Any relief from this type of pain is helpful.