Hey everyone,
I'm glad I've found this forum. I'm a 25 year old male who has had hemorrhoids and now a fissure for several years. The pain used to be unbearable a year or two ago but the past 6 months or so haven't been bad. Sometimes I have pain after a bowel movement but more common is a feeling like there's broken glass in my anus after a movement or after walking or being active an extended period of time. I've been to a CRS several times over the years and the latest visit he said a fissurectomy is probably the only thing that will get rid of this permanently (I've tried nifedipine and natural remedies but they didn't work).
I've read lots of horror stories about months of pain after this type of surgery and I'm wondering if it's worth it. I only have pain every once and a while and the broken glass feeling but it's not too bad. I do want to fix this once and for all before I get married in July 2012 but don't want to deal with months of debilitation. Is it unrealistic to be back to work after a week of surgery? What about lifting weights? (My doctor said I could lift weights after a week of the surgery... I'm very skeptical of that). If anyone with a similar situation could chime in with what you did I'd appreciate it.

Welcome.
I had been dealing with fissures for about 5 years before getting an LIS. I wish I would have done it lot sooner to end the roller coaster. Your fissure is considered chronic. The odds of healing it without surgery is low.
Everybody is different in terms of their experience with surgery. There have been a lot of positive stories lately which is awesome. I would hope if you were going to do a fissurectomy that a LIS would also be performed to help heal the fissure.
I had my surgery on a Friday and was back to work the following Tuesday. On the treadmill(walking) on the following Wednesday to get moving. I had a lot done - LIS, 2 fissurectomies, skin tag cut off and a fistula layed open. Recovery was rough but I didn't let it slow me down to much. I believe taking it easy while also being somewhat active helps promote healing - gets the blood flowing. Of course, sitz baths are a must - so prepare yourself for at least 2-3 a day after surgery.
Good luck with what you decided.

Hi Mike,
I agree with Paul, your fissure is chronic and probably isn't going to heal without surgery. I had LIS in October of 2010.
It really wasn't that bad for me and I have had a good recovery. I think it's really important to get a well qualified CRS (Colorectal Surgeon). I wouldn't just have a fissurectomy without having the LIS. The fissurectomy smooths downs the edges of your fissure while the LIS will relax/ loosen the sphincter (muscle) and allow your fissure to heal. I did not have a fissurectomy. My fissure was cauterized which basically serves the same purpose but I believe with less pain than the fissurectomy from what I've read from others.
I've had a very good recovery, everything has been up-hill since my surgery and much better than having the fissure but as Paul said we are all different in our recoveries. There's no way I could have got on a treadmill after my surgery. I was sore for 6 weeks. I had a skin tag removed also....
I wouldn't lift anything heavy for awhile after surgery. I haven't lifted anything heavy since my surgery and I'm almost 4 months post-op. I think it's definitely possible to be back at work at a week but I think most on average from what I've read waited 2 weeks.
Don't let the horror stories keep you from getting the surgery. I was so freaked out and thought there was no way out of this by all the horrible stories I read...It was much better than I ever expected and I'm really glad I had the surgery.
Good luck and if you have any questions, you're in the right place. :)

Hey there, I had LIS and Fissurectomy 6 months ago after suffering for over 2 years in severe pain, the post-op pain was traumatic and lasted a long time and I'm still not healed but am living in hope, what I would say is don't expect immediate results, saying that though, some people heal quicker than others, as with any anal surgery there will be pain, especially with Fissurectomy.

Found this link on here from 2008 http://anal-fissure.org/t921-fissurectomy#9707
Hope it might help. Best wishes.

Savaici,
I read that post before my LIS. I remember reading every post on here before my LIS, Lol
It's just my personal opinion but I wouldn't have a fissurectomy! I asked my CRS before my LIS if I could possibly need a fissurectomy and she told me NO, that they don't do them. I don't think I would have did it. I know it may work for many but it doesn't make sense to me why they would do it when they can cauterize it and get the same results. My CRS said they are "old" and don't make sense?!

@dawn. That is what I have read too. That they are not as popular these days. Before I have anything done, I am convinced I will have read everything that is out there. Having had 3 hemmy surgeries, two where they messed up and had to operate within three days of the first darn surgery, I am just dubious. Surgeons are surgeons. It is their job to cut and that's why am seeing a GI specialist first. Before I ever let a surgeon "at me" again, I will makes sure too that I have the best out there with the greatest hands. Research
has become my mantra.

I think it's wise to research and get as much information as you can, to know your options and to ask all the questions you can before letting someone cut there.
I also think some think the older the surgeon is the better but I don't necessarily feel that way. I feel some of the older surgeons are doing" old school" techniques.
I think a well experienced(not old) surgeon is what we need to look for.
Again, that's just my opinion :)