"That's interesting about the learned nerve pathways. I guess what that means if you have an anal fissure, get it treated quickly rather than prolonging the pain?"

Yes that's correct... Or else you will have to deal with all these difficult issues/ therapies in trying to erase that pain memory. In my case, I only had the active fissure for 2-3 months... Dealing with erasing this memory has been much more difficult and frustrating. All I really know is that I still have pain.

Alyssa,

That Dr Dellon article I posted mentions that physical therapy must be tried for a minimum of 6 months for chronic pelvic pain. So I am religiously doing this every day now rather than the few weeks than stop method.

Still try to keep yourself as physically active as you can while dealing with this :) distractions from the pain is a good idea I think. Never know the nerve sensations could normalize.

There has been cases where chronic pelvic pain has resolved on its own with time.

Had a bit of a flare up today with my rectal pain. I have been using the Thera wand every day. I have some really tender areas inside. Will keep going for 6 months with it though. Has anyone noticed their trigger points become less sore with regular massage and stretching?

P,

The only thing that helped was getting Botox.. I just got my dilators and they are enormous no way will I putting those things up my bum.. They are a freaking starter kit!

I too had a flare up yesterday too; the burning sitting pain was unbearable.. I cried myself to sleep; I've become sitting disabled!

Alyssa,

Its been about a month since I have last seen the dr that does trigger point injections. After yesterday, I have made an appointment to see him next Thursday. It seems that my pelvic floor wand has given me more pain from the massage?

It's a bit of a drive from where I am but I know a few other people with neuropathic back pain, so they come along with me as well for treatment.

I did find the trigger point injections into my buttock were helping, but the effect only lasted a week or so.

It's something else you could try. This dr does acupuncture as well, but he seems to think with me it's muscle spasm related in response to the surgeries down there. He just wants to eliminate trigger points.

Get yourself a heat pad for at night when you are resting? I am using one of those wheat ones that you just put in the microwave.

I hope your family is supporting you through all of this.

Alyssa, did you get your ointment yet? If so, has it helped at all?

Yes I got my ointment yesterday... But have not felt a difference just yet.. Feels weird when I first put it in.. Today I had biofeedback in the rectum (1st time in that area) and am a little sore... According to the nurse practitioner, my is is tight! Inserting the probe in the bum was very uncomfortable, even the lube stang!

"My appointment isn't till the 27th October( I thought it was earlier) so I will know what my next step is then."

Pafen,

Just wanted to check in and hear how your doctor appointment went? Do you know what nerves/ spinal cord areas can contribute to chronic rectal pain?

The areas my pain specialist said we start with for neurostimulation are T10-T12. The next option would be the sacral nerve roots usually s2-s5. T10-t12 is more for deep rectal pain and pelvic floor, sacrum more so for the anal canal etc.

Its an option I will leave on the cards for next year. So far the dilation seems to be giving me more pain rather than less, but I will keep it up for a while with the no pain, no gain attitude.

Thanks for the update and for the information... I hope that this procedure helps with eliminating the pain. In the meantime, keep doing the dilation because it might help break the spasms/ tension. I have to start doing it too since my internal fissure is still tight and holding a lot if tension... My next treatment option is to get Botox into the internal sphincter only since now my pelvic floor muscles are relaxed. Tired, exhausted...