by jlm1 » 20 Jan 2015, 10:02
I have been doing the electrical therapy for about 6 weeks, during physical therapy which I have twice a week. I think it's helping but I'm still in pain so who the heck knows! I do think that it may be too soon to tell. It seems as if these sorts of injuries take a loooong time to heal and there is just not a lot known about neuropathic pain.
My CRS has said that the fissure is healed and, while I like this doctor as she has been informative, gentle and listens, I do think she is at the end of her ability to help me. Just to re cap: I got a fissure in late May, tried nitro and diltazam then finally had botox in July. Got an abscess that was drained and then a fistula, which I had surgery for in October. Basically part of the fissure did not heal from the inside out so that part was cut open so it could heal properly. The CRS also told me that she removed a part of the skin tag too. I thought things were slowly looking up but then the burning started.......and then pinching during BM's. This worries me as I have not had pain during bm's since the fissure. It goes away right after and then the burning starts.
So like I said, I think this CRS has done all she could. I saw her last week and she said all looked good, fissure is healed, an internal hemmie looked aggrevated an maybe that was contributing to the pain. She said if it got bad, we would remove them, But after everything I have read here, that is the last thing I want to do. No more surgery unless absolutely necessary. She mentioned levator ani syndrome and nerve pain again. I have taken time off of work to deal with this.
The physical therapists who I am seeing for pelvic floor dysfunction have been very helpful. I should mention that when I had my baby 2 years ago, it appears something shifted and I have been having talibone discomfort which is what let me to the physical therapy. It was there that I started learning about the connection between the fissure and tailbone discomfort. I thought there had to be a connection but my doctor said no, the CRS said no and then finally the physical therapists said, of course it's all connected. At least I sopped feeling like I was crazy. The therapists said that it's all muscle down there and a small one at that. When something is pulled taut, it can make the nerves fire off and that it what is causing the burning pain. It's unfortunate that doctors are not trained in this and do not know a lot about nerves and muscles, etc. I am doing lots of stretching and certain exercises. I have to say that I find the stretching to really, really help the burning pain. That and ice even though I prefer a hot bath.
Hope some of this helps you! Please keep me posted and let me know how it's going! And hang in there. It just has to get better. The body wants to heal itself.
fissure May 2014
nitro, diltiazem
botox July
fistula surgery, piece of skin tag removed Oct
fissure declared healed Dec
currently have burning/pain-told it is nerve pain
physical therapy, sitz baths, valium suppositories
hoping I am healing