Yes they should be able to help. But I think a colorectal specialist can help too.

I wonder how many come to this forum either in the hope of self-healing or in the process of self-healing. I know that in own case, apart from a series of medical interventions early on, I have managed my AF/rectal issues more or less independently of medical advice, especially as consultations with CRS have been at best inconclusive and at worst pointless.

This forum has been a real support over the years, and at times I wonder how I would have coped without it. After 8 years I have not yet achieved full healing, and still have some pain and discomfort, but my general health condition now is far better now than it was 8 or even 4 years ago. I have mainly used pregabalin to mute the pain, and have gone easy on the standard treatments like creams and ointments - in fact, I cut those out completely a long time ago. The only regular AF-specific medication I still use is a stool softener, macrogol.

I wish all self-healers the very best, and hope that they will continue to visit the forum in future, as we all try to discover a way forward and out of this cruel and debilitating affliction.

I tried self-healing for many years and finally was forced to do the LIS as I was straining every single time I had a BM which was scaring me that I could have a pulmonary issue. Since the LIS was done in October 2020 I have had no issues and no pain - I am back to normal BM's. Knowing what I know now, self-healing usually (not always but usually) means eternal walking on thin ice with every BM and I wanted to get on with life.

I think the truth is that everyone is different. For some, LIS may be the best and only solution, while others find that gentle self-therapy, with methods described and discussed in this forum, is a better path to take. Some may want to try both routes. I wish everyone a complete and peaceful cure, however they decide to approach the matter.

Folks

I am new to the group. I have had pain after BM. My primary care doctor checked and said I don’t have a fissure bit internal hemorrhoids and prescribed hydrocortisone and sitz bath and Metamucil. It went away after few weeks but came back after I stopped applying the cream. I am back with pain after BM and a dull pain throughout the day. My doctor says fissures are ‘12 o’clock or 6 o’clock ‘ ie vertical. But I can clearly feel like an open wound on the left side which hurts.

Any help on what has worked for folks would be very helpful

Also when I sit down on my chair to work on the computer, I can clearly feel it on the left side. It is better when I stand and work but I can’t stand all day. Any thoughts?

Thanks a ton

You might need some form of pain management. Not all pain medications are constipating, and some posters including myself have found anticonvulsants like pregabalin and gabapentin helpful.