Wondering if someone can spell out the difference between hemorrhoids & anal fissure? I've had family members who've had hemmorhoids removed. My doc thinks I have a fissure, but am not in pain all the time only when I have BM, specifically when it first comes out, it stings a bit. Minor spotting, but basically that's it. Just the stinging pain. I have two small skin tags which CRS claimed weren't worth removing surgically. But then two weeks later my primary doc looked at me & claims he saw a fissure (didn't do an anoscopy, just looked outside). Oh, and back in July, when I saw the CRS for follow-up after my colonoscopy, I didn't have the stinging at that point. This seemed to all start after a bad episode of constipation about a month ago.
So how do I know for sure if I have a fissure or hemorrhoid? The main reason I want to know is so I can get the right ointment. Visually, my skin tags don't look inflamed, I can't tell if I have hemmorrhoids or not. is hemmorrhoid pain different from fissure? My fissure (if that's what it is) is on one side, & feels like a sharp stinging which is rather brief, when passing stool. Not a constant pain, never an ache. Physical activity doesn't seem to bother me. In a few more days, if the current ointments don't start helping the stinging, I'll have to try a different cream.