I'm not a weenie when it comes to pain, having had three children with minimal pain to no pain meds on board. The pain is definitely comparable to childbirth only it keeps happening every day! At 5 or above I have to bite on something during a BM. These ratings are mostly from the morning BM, though sometimes the after-pain (spasms) have been more severe. This begins at two to three months after initial onset.
Week Average pain level highest pain level of the week
4 7.8 / 8-9
5 7.3 / 9
6 6.8 / 7.5
7 8 / 9
8 7 / 8
9 6.1 / 7.5
10 5.7 / 8
11 6.3 / 7
12 5.5 / 7
13 5.3 / 6
14 5.1 / 6.5
15 2.6 / 4
16 3.7 / 6
17 2.6 / 6
18 3.1 / 6.5
19 2.1 / 3
20 2.4 3.5
21 1.7 4
Now, my intro. Onset of AF was 12/22/12. It wasn't correctly diagnosed but I improved after five weeks and then had a month off and then retore (badly) on 2/22/12. Based on exam, the naturopath who has treated hemmies and AF's for 37 years said mine was at the top of a severity scale (not that one exists) and had minimal chance of healing without intervention. He estimated 2 cm long and 1 to 2 cm wide and understood the pain I'd been having was very severe. Yet, he recommended diet changes and the ointments (diltiazem, lidocaine, and steroids on the scar tissue). I went to the CRS clinic within my HMO and saw a PA, who also diagnosed AF and recommended ointments and follow-up in six weeks. So I persevered, found this forum and worked on achieving a soft, passable stool! It has taken a really long time but I am improved again. If I retear in the future I plan to high-tail it to a CRS for surgery. I'm in-between health plans and trying to keep going....Kind of a success story, though don't know the ultimate outcome! Thanks to everyone on the site for their encouragement and tips!:D


