Anal Fissure Specialist

What is an anal fissure?

Anal fissures are small tears in the tissues that line your anus. They might appear when you pass large or hard stools during a bowel movement and can be painful. Simple treatments can offer symptom relief and enhance healing.

What are the symptoms of anal fissures?

Common signs and symptoms associated with anal fissures include:

• Pain with bowel movements
• Mild to severe pain
• Blood in your stool
• Blood on toilet paper when wiping
• A crack in the skin around your anus
• A lump or skin tag near the fissure

Complications that can occur with untreated fissures include failure to heal, recurring fissures, and tears in the surrounding muscles.

What are the risk factors for anal fissures?

While an anal fissure can happen to anyone, some factors increase your risk. Examples include:

• Passing hard or large stools
• Straining with bowel movements
• Constipation
• Chronic diarrhea
• Childbirth
• Anal intercourse
• Crohn’s disease
• Other inflammatory bowel diseases
• Syphilis
• Tuberculosis
• HIV
• Anal cancer
• Trauma

Anal fissures can occur at any age but are common in middle-aged adults and infants. 

Ways to reduce your risk of anal fissures include preventing constipation and diarrhea, eating high-fiber foods, drinking plenty of fluids, and getting regular exercise to avoid straining during bowel movements. 

How does my doctor diagnose an anal fissure?

To find out if you have an anal fissure and develop a treatment, your Premier Surgical provider reviews your symptoms and medical history. They complete a physical exam, including an exam of your anal area, to look for visible tears.

In some cases, they insert a thin tube into your anus to get an in-depth view of the inside of it, your rectum, called anoscopy and sometimes send you for an evaluation of your colon.

What are common anal fissure treatments?

Depending on the severity of your anal fissure, your specialist may recommend one of the following treatments:

Home remedies

Home remedies for anal fissures include 25-30 grams of fiber daily, taking a fiber supplement if your doctor recommends it, increasing your fluid intake, and not straining during bowel movements. 

Non-surgical treatments

Non-surgical treatments for anal fissures include topical creams, Botox® injections into the anal sphincter muscle, and some oral medicines. 

Surgery

If you have a severe or ongoing anal fissure and other treatments haven’t worked, your specialist may recommend you undergo a minor surgical procedure to reduce pain or spasm and promote healing.

Don’t live with anal fissure discomfort when simple treatments can offer you relief. Call the Premier Surgical office to schedule an appointment or book one online today.