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Henrie's Recipes
Pain around the anus
Posted Tue, 30 May 2000
Question
I periodically suffer from intense pain in and around my anus. It sometimes occurs during the day when I am passing a stool, but usually happens at night, when it can wake me up. If I try and relieve it by passing a stool very little happens and very little is passed. What is this and is there some treatment for it?
Answer
You are suffering from a common complaint called proctalgia fugax, also known as nocturnal proctalgia. The bad news is that no-one knows what causes it, and treatment is difficult.
Some people find that they get relief from medications which relax smooth muscle, such as salbutamol, and inhaled salbutamol is apparently quite a common treatment. People who prefer a "natural" alternative may try chewing a leaf of feverfew.
It is described in one of my text books as "recurring paroxysm of intense rectal pain of a stabbing or constricting type, usually occurring in the night." It is supposedly most common in anxious, highly strung men and apparently tends to occur after an anxious, frustrating or erotic dream. However, I know plenty of women who suffer from it as well.
I'm not sure what to suggest. Getting up and attempting to pass a stool often does relieve the pain, even though little may be passed. A surgeon I worked with in Canada suggested pelvic floor exercises for a female patient of mine, but those are not appropriate for a man. I think the best thing is to realise that, although thoroughly unpleasant and irritating, it is not serious, and is not a sign of any illness.
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