So sorry to hear about your situation, let me tell you I know EXACTLY how horribly frustrated you are, this is just not fair that anyone should have to go through this.

I have heard that Valium has been very helpful for some - I would take it as prescribed and see how you feel! It's awful that they would not prescribe anything specifically for pain, I sometimes think they just don't know how bad this is!

Unfortunately I cannot take Valium as it has an opposite reaction - it makes me completely wired and I hallucinate...runs in the family. But I have heard it can be very helpful!

Ryleighsmama, Sounds like sphincter is having major contractions.. I am checking into cramp bark and black haw I am told this could end and or reduce this, that way pain will go...internal hems become inflamed and swell. botox has healed mine 4 weeks in now the tightness and granite muscle has to be retrained little by little, i read this even happens to people after hip surgery really any injury to the body and muscles connective tissue create knots and triggers that are excruciating.., being scared makes it worse dont be afraid it will go away, nothing stays the same, it is temporary. Make it your prayer or mantra .

Yes mamafizz I think it was terrible spasms. Just woke me out of my sleep. I'm a little worried about the Valium feeling a little hopeless and wanting to give up. I won't because I have a beautiful 22 year old angel to stick around for. I am counting the minutes until Friday. Thank you GG and MF for the support.

Just so you guys are aware, I had a visit with my surgeon this week and this is what she had to say:

Even if the fissure is healed over (not an open wound) the area is still very easily irritated. I had my fissure for 3 months - you can imagine the damage to the area after being an open sore for so long. Likely the skin has healed, but not the underlying tissue. So the cycle is essentially the same as when the figure is an open wound, but the pain might not be quite as horrendous. The area is sensitive, the muscle contracts "protectively", but this impairs blood flow, makes healing more difficult and causes more pain. The pain in turn makes the muscle contract more - it's a vicious cycle.

My surgeon advised me to try physio for 2-3 months and measure improvement. I will be keeping a symptom journal. If there is no improvement after this time, my surgeon is confident that the lateral internal sphincteronomy (LIS) surgery would solve my issues. In this surgery, a very small cut is made in the internal anal sphincter muscle - not enough to cause the muscle not to work, but enough to let it relax a little. This is the absolute gold standard for treating this issue - it is very successful and very very few individuals experience any incontinence.

If you're able to see a CRS, they will likely bring up this possibility. It's good to know that if things don't resolve, you have that option.

Hope that helps!

GG

GG, thank you that makes sense I had mine 6 months approx and it only just healed 2 weeks ago... I will meet with Physio I thought maybe it would be too invasive and possibly aggravate the fissure or hems. ?! So its good to know it just takes time, but I have had 6 children and am older, part of the reason I wanted to talk to another specialist also, I read only about 5% have to have surgery, most do resolve eventually? I will share also what else I learn.thanks much

Reighleysmama, I read GABA supplement may be better than that check into that possibly..?

GG, also I am going to find out if the tenesmus would go away and how it affects that constant knotted feeling and nerves there, the more they are disturbed the more aftermath of lingering pain , hope to find out..

MF,
When you say GABA do you mean gabapentin?

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter - it binds to channels on neurone and stops them from firing. It's in this way that gaba can have a sort of calming effect on the nervous system. I don't think there is any evidence that GABA supplements are effective since it seems like it doesn't actually reach the brain in enough of a quantity to have an effect. However, benzodiazepines are anti anxiety medications that do travel in large enough quantities to the brain when taken orally. These molecules can take the place of GABA and have the calming effect. Primarily they are prescribed for anxiety. Sometimes they may be prescribed for pain also.

I believe gabapentin actually works by increasing the amount of GABA in the brain...so it may be helpful for pain! I think it is often prescribed for nerve pain.

Yay science!

GG