Hello,

I am new to this forum and thank you all in advance for the great support I have seen on other topics. I’m 45 years old and I’ve been suffering from an anal fissure for a few years now. I’ve tried the medications but did not respond well to them. I also do the sitz baths three times a day. My pain has gotten so extreme that I find myself in pain constantly. My doctor recommended Botox injections but I’m afraid of any complications such as incontinence even if it is only temporary. I live a very active and busy lifestyle and could not imagine this outcome but I can’t handle this pain any longer. Any help or advice from someone who has been in similar circumstance and had Botox I would greatly appreciate any information you can provide!

Hi!

So I had Botox 4 days ago and was feeling pretty nervous, especially after reading about lots of peoples’ difficult experiences on here.

However, so far so good - no issues with incontinence or flatulence (my consultant told me this is very rare), and pain levels manageable. I was given co-drydamol to take regularly for the pain, took it on days 1 and 2 but it made me very dizzy so I’ve now swapped to paracetamol which is good enough. Admittedly a little uncomfortable and swollen still but nothing compared to the pain of the fissure at it’s worst. I went back to work for half a day on day 3 (a bit uncomfortable to walk but ok) and a full day today (basically fine).

For context, I’m 32 and active - I know age and activity levels do make a difference in terms of healing etc.

Fingers crossed the Botox does the trick and the fissure heals!

Botox girl - how is your BOTOX results

Not great so far - AF is still bleeding so not healed yet. The Botox has definitely relaxed things - but apparently not enough. Hoping it might still heal before the Botox wears off as I really don’t fancy a sphincterotomy...

Hoping faster recovery for you.
Keep us updated

https://www.facebook.com/groups/266969863992662/

Just had Botox myself, join our group on fb for fissure support! I’ll post an update on my Botox soon when I have time to observe results!

Please can someone help me - I am still incontinent over 3 months after receiving botox, am I permanently incontinent now?

This forum is pretty quiet these days but I recommend joining a fissure support group of Facebook :-)

Hi, new to this forum. However, I can say I had quite a tough time with a small garden variety anal fissure, post rotator cuff surgery, exactly a year ago. Why is shoulder surgery a problem? Because a.) painkillers that one initially has to take stops your gut, and b.) due to sleeping all the time for weeks or more in a recliner causes multiple problems for your rectal area from the pressure. So....last Thanksgiving, 3 weeks post surgery, my problems began. By early January 2025, it got so bad I had to go to the ER at Duke. Yeah, the spasms were that bad. They couldn't do much, except get me a script for nitroglycerin salve and set me up at end of January with general surgical clinic at Duke. I had "meh" help there: they wanted me to wait nearly 2; months for botox injections. Yeah.....2 months. I said "Thanks, but I'll go to UNC," and I did. I had a great specialist who saw me ASAP, set me up for injections at UNC, anaesthesiologist sedated me briefly, and I got 3 injections of 25 U ea (I think), botulinum toxin. (BTW, if you're sedated you'll need to have someone drive you.)I have to say there was a slight setback, even with a narrow 24 gauge needle, because injections are in a sensitive area. But IMO, unless you get injections, your muscles won't relax: you need them to relax so you can get blood flow to heal that fissure. That's my experience, and I'm very glad I had it done. If I ever have this problem again, I would get the botox injections in a New York minute! For maintenance: Metamucil (psyllium) is a must. I tried virtually all the creams, nifedipine/lidocaine, sitz baths, you name it: I think I did everything. I was in agony at least twice daily, the pain exceeded knee replacement surgery, childbirth, and I'm told it rivals a kidney stone. Bottom line (no pun intended), I would investigate botox (if you're not allergic) and get a good doctor. Like I said, it took me 2 hospitals to get it right. Best of luck to you, I've been there!

Hi everyone. I am new to the forum. 50 years peri-menopausal. I first had Botox (following a haemorrhoid banding around 5 years ago and I have been great. However in August following a bad tummy I had a fissure recurrence. It wasnt as painful as it has been in the past but lots of leaking. Got a Botox injection in October. Recovery was fine and smooth until mid January when again I felt something was off. Pre Botox I was given dltiazem which I had a very bad reaction too. Anyways, mid Jan, I started feeling a stretch/ soreness. Two weeks ago I had bleeding during a night time BM and some pain in the morning BM. Diet is very controlled, lot of fibre and water, two laxatives (one morning and one night). BM isnt painful to be honest but there is always something - for instance, I always feel very sticky. Last night I wasnt able to sleep because of severe itching. And post BM again, I am itchy and very uncomfortable (I think there was some leaking last night as my sheet is stained yellow). I was given rectogesic a week ago and I am not sure if this is a side effect. It’s been 4 months since the Botox and I feel like I am not ever going to come out of this situation. I do stress a lot and suffer from anxiety. Losing my mind. Any advice will be gratefully received.