Everyone,

Well I have started taking some chia seeds to supplement my diet. Today my bowel movement was very easy, nice and smooth.

So today I have much less pain and the consistency of my bowel movements always seems to be the difference between a bearable day pain wise and severe pain. The whole trouble is achieving the perfect bowel movement consistently.

Pafen,
Yes, I'm not getting any pain relief from the gabapentin yet.... But I've had to work my way up slowly to this low dose. I've not heard of lyrica or endep..... What sort of pain meds are they?
It sounds like you have been suffering for as long as I have... Although I have had fissures throughout that time, but I do believe the majority of my pain comes from nerve damage, as I have been in double the pain since my flap surgery back in July.

I'm glad the chia seeds have helped with bms. I used to take ground flax seeds, but stopped when I had the flap as I was scared of getting the little bits caught under the flap lol!

Alyssa, let me know how you get on with your phisio today.... And tell me what she does please.

OMB x

I got home late from my doctors appointment since I have to drive 1.5-2 hours to get to San Francisco in traffic and it turns out some of my pelvic muscles are still tight; my pain specialist suggested a ganglion nerve block.. My husband drove me home in traffic (2.5 hours) when I got home my sacrum area was stinging from the injections (numbing shots and nerve block); if my nerves are involved I should get a reduction in pain within 7-9 days.

Today the injection area is tender so I had to add an ice pack; I Also went to physical therapy. Well see if this nerve block works...

Hi everyone,

Just been using the tens machine 30mins each day on the tibial nerve on my heel. See what happens after a month or so. My pain specialist said this is the next step and safest way to treat rectal pain. Obviously his approach would be an implanted device.

Transcutaneous electrical posterior tibial nerve stimulation for chronic anal fissure: a preliminary study.
Altunrende B1, Sengul N, Arisoy O, Yilmaz EE.
Author information
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Recent studies showed that sacral nerve stimulation might be an effective treatment option for chronic anal fissure. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as a noninvasive alternative treatment for chronic anal fissure by stimulating the sacral nerve in the ankle via the posterior tibial nerve.
METHOD:
In this prospective study, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation was applied for 10 days in addition to conventional medical treatment in ten patients. Wexner's constipation score, visual analog scale for pain, quality of life (Short Form-36), Hamilton anxiety and depression scores, symptom relief, compliance, fissure healing, and side effects were evaluated before and after treatment (days 0, 5, and 10).
RESULTS:
Ten patients (eight females/two males) with a mean age of 50.7 ± 18.5 years were enrolled in the study. Pain and bleeding resolved in all patients 2 days after the treatment, and mucosal healing was observed in six patients 10 days after the treatment. Wexner's constipation and visual analog scale scores for pain decreased significantly (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Hamilton anxiety and depression scores decreased as well (p = 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively). Among Short Form-36 subscales, only mental health score increased significantly (p = 0.003). One patient underwent surgery at follow-up due to recurrence of symptoms, and rubber band ligation was applied to another patient who had internal hemorrhoidal rectal bleeding at the end of 10 days.
CONCLUSIONS:
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation application to the posterior tibial nerve has the potential to be an alternative treatment option for chronic anal fissure patients who seek noninvasive treatment modality.

Alyssa, that sounds a very sore procedure. I really hope it makes a difference to your pain. I have never heard of this sort of thing before.... Will the injection not confuse things when you get the urge for a BM?


Pafen, that's an interesting concept. I have heard of rubbing that bit on your heel to relieve anal pain. I made my husband do it every night for the first month after my flap. I suppose it's just taking it up a I notch using an electrical impulse.

My gp has told me to put up the gabapentin to 300 mg x2 a day. I am struggling to get it up to that level in the mornings... Makes me feel very sleepy. I've not had any real results from it either.... So I'll give it another couple of weeks.
I had my first acupuncture session yesterday. She seems to think I have hypermobility syndrome with EDS ( friable skin) she spent alot of time going through my medical history. She then used a red light thing on me then a couple of different places with the needles. I'm pretty sore this afternoon... But she said I would be as everything has been stirred up. Will wait and see.

OMB

Alyssa, that sounds a very sore procedure. I really hope it makes a difference to your pain. I have never heard of this sort of thing before.... Will the injection not confuse things when you get the urge for a BM?

I was sore for two days but now I'm feeling better; nerve blocks are used to interrupt pain signals to the brain...I have not had any issues bm but I am only 3 days in we will have to see. Will keep you updated, I hope to get some pain relief because this burning sitting pain is awful!!!

Ok, so I saw my CRS yesterday... And as I thought, he says I have neuropathic pain from years of fissures.
He is going to refer me to a specialist in anal pain, who is currently using the same technique as pafen is having... Stimulation via the heel/ foot. There will be a waiting list.. But he will try and hurry it along.
I feel better knowing what it is, and that I'm not re- fissuring... But it's a god awful burning pain... I really hope it can be significantly reduced.

Alyssa... How are you feeling after the injections?

Pafen.... Are you noticing any difference??

OMB x

Mentally wise not so good! I still have the sitting burning pain..

Botox has helped with pain during bm but the sitting burning pain persists. If I stand for most of the day, I feel somewhat okay but if I sit for most of the day I'm in burning pain.

I use the tens unit but I attach the electrodes on my butt... No one has mentioned placing them elsewhere.

Glad to hear that you are not re-fissuring OMB. Too bad your CRS didn't have better news for you though as far as pain control goes. I am curious how he determined you have neuropathic pain though. Was there some testing he did?