I am at my wits end! Does anyone else experience "not so painful" BM's but the stabbing/throbbing from my fissure starts hours later and continues for hours??

That seems to be the most common way of 'experiencing' AFs unfortunately.
The best thing people say is to do warm sitz baths and/or sit on an electric heating pad.
Some people resort to muscle relaxants.
Have you seen a CRS? (colon rectal surgeon)
They are the best type of doctor to see for your condition.
-Tanya

Thanks Tanya,
No I have not but I will be making an appt this week.
I do take sitz baths after a BM but the pain is draining me while sitting at work and driving. :(

Les,
I totally understand. But you need to make that appointment asap. Those guys are busy and you don't want to wait any longer than you have to.
Maybe your GP could prescribe you a topical. Something other than Hydrocortizone, which in my opinion does very little.
Most people here get a beta channel blocker like nifedipine and ditliazem or nitroglycerine.
Can you use an electric heating pad on your chair at work? I have one that is 12"x14" and I love it!
I don't get the spasms (TG), but the heat sooths that achy feeling and soreness I get.
-Tanya

Yes!
I have a heating pad and I will be using it.
Thanks so much for your support. I will certainly make an appt with a CRS asap!

Hi
I'm new to this forum. I can totally relate. In the morning I can be ok. But after a BM I'm left with really bad pain which can go on for several hours. I had a chemical sphincerotomy (Botox) done 5 weeks ago which aggravated more then helped. Const just said I fell into that percentage! Have to wait three months before I can have it done again. He did prescribe me some numbing ointment called xyleproct. He told me to insert 20min before BM. As I never know when and it's not been painfull whilst passing, I have used it after when the pains start and it does help with some degree.

You're not using Hydrocortizone cream are you? That made my spasms considerably worse - the burning sensation was insane and i had to immediately wash it off after applying it!

Hi
Yes it has lidocaine & hydrocortisone. It seems to work for me. Sorry it was of no help.

ahh maybe it was different i was initially prescribed lidocaine which didn't help the pain but the proctosydel (hydrocortisone) was agony for me!
Davo

Try just using Vaseline. Hydrocortisone thins the skin, and I had a severe reaction to Lidocaine, as have quite a few on here. Awful to have to work with this.