Hi
I have been battling an anal fissure that will not close. I am going on several weeks. I am trying to avoid going to the dr for several reasons. First, it is too painful. Second, don't have insurance until next month and when I do, it may be considered a pre-existing condition. Third, new to this town and haven't even had the time to find a family dr, gyn or CS but somehow I managed to find a Vet for my 12 week old puppy (lol).
Anyways, the past couple days, I have been putting the Cortisone cream on the outside and the skin tag near the opening. I suspect some has made it on the fissure since it is on the outside. I did it primarly to stop the itching. I have noticed that I have less pain with going to the bathroom and afterwards. The bump is a little smaller, no bleeding and my stools are very soft due to not eating much and eating lots of vegetables. It seems effortless and almost painfree to go the bathroom. Is this possible?
Thanks

My CRS does not recommend cortisone cream. He said the cortisone cream can help reduce the swelling (which can initially make things feel better) but the cortisone can thin out the skin, which could easily lead to a re-tear.
The sooner you can get to a CRS the better. They can prescribe medication, such as Nifedipine or Diltiazem, that can relax the sphincter and help the fissure heal. According to my CRS, this will heal the fissure in most cases. However, the longer you wait the more likely it is that your fissure will become chronic, which means it will be less likely to heal.
My advice: go to a board-certified CRS as soon as possible.
In the meantime, I would recommend increasing your fiber intake (my CRS recommends Konsyl, which is available at Walmart), take a stool softener (such as Miralax), take hot baths to relax your sphincter, make sure you don't strain when you're having a bowel movement, etc. If you search the forum, you'll find all kinds of great tips. Of course, I am not a doctor, so I would check with your doctor before making any changes.
Good luck!

Forgive a stupid question, but what is a CRS?

Hi PJ!
That's NOT a stupid question at all. A CRS is a colorectal surgeon (formerly known as a proctologist). They deal exclusively with disorders of the rectum, anus and colon. Some people also refer to them as CS's.
By the way, for those who may be scared of the word "surgeon" in their name, just because you go to a CRS doesn't mean you are going to need surgery. In fact, most people that go to a CRS never need surgery.

Oh, my surgeon/MD is "just" a Gastro-intestinal. He suppose to be the specialist at Cedar's Sinai...I wonder if he uses the CRS also, humm, I'll have to check.

A gastroenterologist (GI) doctor usually deals with diseases of the digestive tract. A colorectal surgeon (CRS) usually deals with disorders of the rectum, anus and colon. Even though a GI doctor may be able to diagnose and treat a fissure, I would still go to a CRS. You definitely want someone that is a specialist and deals with fissures on a daily basis.