by mm92599 » 29 Aug 2010, 13:55
my whole ordeal with rectal problems started with a similar type of discomfort that you describe. It was about 10 years ago and I suddenly had this "golf ball" in the rectum feeling. Didn't hurt so much as it was just very uncomfortable to sit down. I did ok when I was standing, just couldn't sit and the feeling was very annoying. At first it was thought to be my prostate, but after many, many doctor's visits and physical therapy visits, it was diagnosed as levator ani syndrome. What I was told is that when pelvic floor muscles are in a constant state of spasm/tension, then you get this feeling of something being stuck up your butt. The treatment for this is to try and relax the pelvic floor muscles. What I've found to be the most successful treatment was, ironically, no treatment at all. I've done the internal massage treatments, but they haven't really helped much. The times where I actually saw improvement were times where I just learned how to adapt to the discomfort and very slowly I actually started to feel better. There are medications aimed at relaxing that area that can help and certainly there are physical therapy exercises that people swear by, but I think the key is that if the docs can't find an actual cause, such as abscess, fissure, hemorrhoid, fistula, etc., then try not to get to caught up in finding a cure that it ruins your life. Because, as I know all too well, it can become a very vicious cycle where your stress and anxiety can actually create more tension and not allow for healing. Just my 2 cents.