I've had a fissure since about March. I got it during a bad bout of constipation during which I was an idiot and didn't take the proper stool softeners. I thought the fissure was a hemorrhoid at first, but when a doctor did an exam with an anoscope (which hurt like hell), she told me it was a fissure. I didn't know anything about fissures, and I walked out of her office thinking it would heal in a week or so, especially since she didn't prescribe or recommend anything. However, the fissure just wouldn't go away, so I scheduled an appointment with another doctor, who told me to use preparation h products. I used the prep h suppositories for about 2 weeks, but they didn't really help. So I finally scheduled an appointment with a gastroenterologist, who gave me a hydrocortisone cream to use for 2 weeks. I just started week 2 today, and sadly, I don't feel healed. I'll probably have to call her on Thursday or Friday and see what she says. I've been taking a bath almost every day, and I'm also trying to eat more fiber (in addition to using stool softeners every once in awhile and taking Citrucel).
I get the usual fissure symptoms - I had bleeding in the beginning (I haven't had bleeding for many weeks now, though), itching, pain during bowel movements, and rectal spasms (they are painless). I I have a really annoying symptom, though, that I've never seen anyone mention, and I'm just wondering if it's typical. It's really just the CONSTANT, NEVERENDING sensation of having a cut in that area (which I indeed do have!). It's almost like a pinching feeling, I suppose. It's not exactly downright painful, but it's extremely uncomfortable, and it's driving me up a wall. Does anyone else have this sensation?

I have had that pinching, nagging, poking pain before right after a BM. I think I know what you are talking about. When you start to heal your type of pain will change in stages. Weird huh? Did you try going to a CRS Chol-Rectal Surgeon there are other creams that you can use to help with the fissure. Keep reading on in the forum to get some ideas on what we have done to help our fissures along.
Patty

But yours is just before and right after having a BM? Not constant? Because mine NEVER goes away.
I haven't tried a Rectal Surgeon yet. Not sure where to find one!

Hi there,
I too had pain that felt like a cut, which is in essence a fissure. I didn't get the spasms so much like other people did though.

I think your doctor is approaching this in the wrong manner (if I may be so blunt). The prep H and hydrocortisone are the same thing and they are not useful for fissures although they are first line for hemorrhoids. Healing from a fissure is indeed daunting as it can take many weeks of doing the right things. Typically what doctors will prescribe is either nitroglycerin or diltiazem/nefidipine as a cream which helps to reduce the pressure in the anus so that healing can occur. I took a lot of advil to get me through it.

One of my kids is screaming, I have to run, but welcome and please read through our threads-tons of info!

Your regular doctor should be able to refer you to a CRS. It would be best to tackle it early on, if it was something serious.

Your symptoms are very typical for a fissure , pinching and all. You are VERY lucky of not being in horrendous pain 24/7 like many fissure sufferers are , but small butt problems like burning, itching and pinching can indeed make one go crazy too!
At this point, your fissure can be "labeled" as chronic and it needs different treatment that what your doctor is prescribing. They assumed that it will heal as any other acute fissure in 2 to 6 weeks, that is why they did not made big issue of it. Now that is past that period, you need more "aggressive" approach - regular sitz baths, stool softeners, and special crams that would help you with muscle relaxation and vasodilatation, or even Botox etc.
You really need to go to CRS , one that offers those treatments - not all do. So, before you make an app. ask if they are available so you will not waste your time or money .
All the best !!!

I found the name of a CRS who works at our local hospital, and will have to call our insurance tomorrow and see if they'll cover a visit to her! I'll have to put a call in to the gastroenterologist who prescribed the steroid cream, as I don't think I can see the CRS without a recommendation from her.
Does anyone know how I can find out if the CRS at our hospital is indeed a good surgeon when it comes to having the fissure removed? I'm hoping I won't have to do the surgery, but I cannot live with this for the rest of my life, so if I have to, I'll do it. But I've heard what happens if the surgery is done incorrectly, and holy cow - veeeery scary. So I want to make sure my surgeon is a good one. I just don't know how!
I have been taking regular hot baths and am taking stool softeners every once in awhile (I don't want to take too many, as they make me feel sick), but like I said before the only cream I'm using right now is some sort of hydrocortisone cream. I think the name starts with a P... I forgot!

Hi!
Sorry to hear about your suffering! This board is such a great place for advise.
The hydrocortisone is probably not doing you much good. It can thin the membranes down there as do all steroids. I am on nitro for my fissure and it is working great. Do an internet serch for a few different CRS's in your area. That is how I found my docs.
I know what you are talking about with the pinching feeling. I think most of us have had that feeling here. I think it can be a sign of healing in my opinion.
Good luck with everything! i hope you feel better.

Hello
Sorry that you to have gotten this "beast".
I to have the CONSTANT, NEVERENDING sensation of having a cut in that area. I guess it is the fissure itself we are feeling.
I think that the spasms does that you feel the other problems alot more than it should be...

Hi,
Good luck finding a good Dr. It has been diffiuclt for me to find a Dr. I am comfortable with, I'm on my third one. It is worth driving a ways to find somebody who is experienced and competent. Being knowledgeable when you go is helpful so you can ask him/her questions. It is good to write them down so you don't forget!
I am on the nifedipine ointment and it seems to be helping. The muscle spasms are disappearing and hopefully so is my fissure.
Hoping you heal quickly!
Jo