Just a question to put out there for those of you on prescribed muscle relaxant ointments.
How were you advised to apply the ointment?
I've had one CRS tell me to apply the cream on the outside of the opening only...she is adament about not inserting anything in. She says it will absorb into the muscle from the outside. I've had another CRS tell me to apply it inserting just half of the tip of my finger inside the opening. I choose the latter.
Angel

Angel,
I've heard different things from different doctors too. To me though, it makes more sense that it needs to get to the internal sphincter, since it doesn't do anything for the external sphincter. You can locate the internal sphincter with a finger by feel. It begins a little bit of the way inside the anal canal. You can actually feel where the internal sphincter begins, made easier by contracting and relaxing the external sphincter so you can locate it. I have always applied the medication a little bit of the way inside and only get any pain relief when I do it this way. I can understand why a doctor might advise using it only on the outside because in the presence of a tense muscle there is the potential for irritating the fissure and possibly opening it more if you aren't really careful, but i go very slow, breathe deeply and take my time and I have never worsened a fissure by applying the ointment inside a bit of the way.

i think that GTN goes inside and dilitazem goes around the outside, that's what i was told any rate.

I'm on the dilitazem..it's my primary crs who says outside..the secondary crs I saw said half fingertip in...just ridiculous for this one important factor towards aiding in healing these specialists are not on the same page
Guess I'm expected to pay a third crs to break the damn tie
Thnx for the input and best wishes,
Angel :D

it is pretty wild how many different instructions come from different doctors. As if we aren't dealing with enough stress already, we have to sort out the medical community's inconsistencies too.