How long fissure takes to heal

Both males and females can be affected and, while anal fissures may occur at any age, they are primarily seen in young adults. A chronic fissure is usually deeper than an acute anal fissure and is often associated with an external skin tag.

Chronic fissure is usually treatable, but recurrence of the fissure after treatment is common. An anal fissure may also be classed as: [4] [5]. The most common anal fissure symptoms may include: [6] [7].

Good to know: A person with an anal fissure often puts off bowel movements, leading to a worsening cycle in which stools dry and harden, leading to further constipation and anal fissure pain.

Less common anal fissure symptoms may include: [1] [8]. If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of anal fissure, try the Ada app for a free health assessment. An anal fissure can occur when there is overstretching of the anal canal, which causes the lining to tear. Common causes include a large, hard or otherwise traumatic bowel movement, or anal penetration.

Subsequent bowel movements stretch the area, meaning that healing is hindered. The anal sphincter may spasm as a result of anal fissure, restricting blood supply to the area and further hindering the healing process.

In children especially, putting off bowel movements to avoid the associated pain may worsen constipation and exacerbate the problem. Anal fissure most commonly occurs due to constipation. Lots of factors may cause constipation, but the most common include: [7] [10].

Read more about persistent constipation and possible treatments ». Anal fissure can occur in pregnancy. During pregnancy, women often experience constipation due to the increased weight of the baby putting pressure on the rectum, the final segment of the digestive system, which stores feces until a person is ready to defecate.

Other possible causes of anal fissure include: [6] [11]. Often, no clear cause for an anal fissure can be found. They are associated with tight anal sphincter muscles, though the cause of this is unknown. A doctor may diagnose anal fissure based on a description of the symptoms and a physical examination. The physical examination usually involves gently separating the buttocks to allow a doctor to see the area around the anus. A doctor will usually avoid inserting anything into the anal canal, such as a gloved finger or small instrument, as this can cause substantial pain and is often unnecessary for provisional diagnosis.

If there is recurring or chronic anal fissure, endoscopy procedures to look inside the body may be recommended to look for underlying causes. These are avoided in cases of an acute anal fissure, as they are not normally well tolerated.

Often, the patient is at first treated solely on the basis of symptoms. If needed, procedures may include:. This involves inserting a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera on the end into the anal canal.

Sometimes, topical anesthetic is used to facilitate an anoscopy. Those who have a chronic or recurrent anal fissure after surgical therapy may be evaluated further with anoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, a procedure similar to anoscopy, but which also examines the lower colon.

Sometimes, a colonoscopy procedure is used to look for the presence of an underlying condition that may be causing an anal fissure, such as irritable bowel syndrome IBS. This is similar to an anoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, but which also examines the entire colon. Read about Preparing for a Colonoscopy ». Good to know: Anal fissures are sometimes misdiagnosed as hemorrhoids.

This can delay appropriate treatment, which may lead to an acute fissure becoming a chronic one, which is more difficult to treat. Wrongful diagnosis of anal fissure can also occur because it is more common than some conditions with similar symptoms. This may result in other conditions going undetected and untreated, such as infection and, though it is rare, anal cancer.

Though medical attention should always be sought where there is any bleeding from the anus, the Ada app can help you check your symptoms. Download the app or find out more about how it works. Anal fissure treatment generally begins with following a high-fiber diet, as well as maintaining sufficient fluid intake to soften feces and prevent further damage to the area while the wound is healing.

It is also sometimes used in children; there is no licensed medicine for treating chronic anal fissures in children. Advice Information for the public About this information Licensing medicines What is a chronic anal fissure? About topical diltiazem hydrochloride Summary of possible benefits and harms Prescribing topical diltiazem hydrochloride More information. Download PDF.

Next What is a chronic anal fissure? You give birth. Childbirth can cause trauma to the anal canal. What are the symptoms? You may have: A sharp, stinging, or burning pain during bowel movements. Pain from a fissure may be quite severe. It can be brief or last for several hours after a bowel movement.

You may see a small spot of bright red blood on toilet tissue or a few drops in the toilet bowl. The blood from a fissure is separate from the stool. Very dark, tarry stools or dark red blood mixed with stool may be a sign of a more serious problem.

Tell your doctor if you have any bleeding with a bowel movement. How is an anal fissure diagnosed? The exam may include: Looking at the fissure by gently separating the buttocks. A digital rectal exam. The doctor inserts a gloved finger into the anal canal. This involves using a short, lighted scope to look into the anal canal.

How is it treated? There are several steps you can take to relieve your symptoms and help the fissure heal: Try to prevent constipation. For example: Include fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains in your diet each day. These foods are high in fiber. Drink plenty of fluids. Get some exercise every day. Take a fiber supplement, such as Benefiber, Citrucel, or Metamucil, every day if needed.

Read and follow all instructions on the label. Use the toilet when you feel the urge. Or when you can, schedule time each day for a bowel movement. A daily routine may help. Take your time and do not strain when having a bowel movement. But do not sit on the toilet too long. Try taking stool softeners or laxatives to make bowel movements less painful. Anal fissures are caused by injury or trauma to the anal canal.

Injury can happen when:. Fissures can also be caused by a rectal examination, anal intercourse, or a foreign object. In some cases, a fissure may be caused by Crohn's disease. Many experts believe that extra tension in the two muscular rings sphincters controlling the anus may be a cause of fissures. The outer anal sphincter is under your conscious control. But the inner sphincter is not. This muscle is under pressure, or tension, all of the time.

If the pressure increases too much, it can cause spasm and reduce blood flow to the anus, leading to a fissure. This pressure can also keep a fissure from healing. Sometimes an anal fissure may be a painless wound that won't heal. It may bleed from time to time but cause no other symptoms. A doctor can diagnose an anal fissure based on your symptoms and a physical examination.

The examination may include:. The doctor may wait until the fissure has started to heal before doing a rectal examination or anoscopy. If an examination needs to be done right away, medicine can be used to numb the area. During an examination, a doctor can also find out whether another condition may be causing the fissure. Having several fissures or having one or more in an area of the anus where fissures usually don't occur can be a sign of a more serious problem, such as inflammatory bowel disease or a weakened immune system.

Most short-term anal fissures can heal with home treatment in 4 to 6 weeks. Pain during bowel movements usually goes away within a couple of days after the start of home treatment. There are several steps you can take to relieve your symptoms and help the fissure heal:. Don't avoid having bowel movements. Knowing that it might hurt may make you anxious. But trying not to have bowel movements will only make constipation worse and keep the fissure open and painful.

About 9 out of 10 short-term fissures heal with home treatment—including using stool softeners or fibre supplements and taking regular sitz baths. And about 4 out of 10 long-term anal fissures will heal after home treatment is used.