NCBI Bookshelf. Munich: Zuckschwerdt; Jonas and J. Authors M. An anal fissure is a linear tear in the skin of the distal anal canal below the dentate line. It is a common condition affecting all age groups but particularly common in young adults; men and women are equally affected. The classical symptoms are of anal pain during or after defaecation and the passage of bright red blood per anus.
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Lateral internal sphincterotomy is surgery to help heal an anal fissure that has not improved with medicine or other treatments. Most people notice that the pain from an anal fissure goes away within a few days after the surgery. You may be worried about having a bowel movement after your surgery. You will likely have some pain with bowel movements at first, but it should be less than what you had before the surgery. You may notice some blood on your toilet paper after you have a bowel movement for the first few weeks after surgery. You can make your bowel movements less painful by getting enough fibre and fluids and using stool softeners or laxatives. Sitting in warm water sitz bath after bowel movements will also help. Most people can go back to work and their normal routine 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. It will probably take about 6 weeks for your anus to completely heal.
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An anal fissure is a small tear or split in the skin around the opening of your bottom anus. There are several different types of procedure available. Your doctor will discuss the options with you. Anal fissures are relatively common and they often affect adults from mid-teens to the age of They can also cause bleeding. Fissures are thought to develop when the sphincter muscles that control when you poo, spasm and tense up. This reduces the blood supply to the area, which stops the tear from healing properly. Sometimes anal fissures can be caused by constipation. Anal fissures often heal within 6 to 8 weeks using self-help measures. These include eating high fibre foods , drinking more , and taking medicines to soften your poo.
Back to Anal fissure. Like other small cuts or tears to the skin, an anal fissure will often heal by itself within a few weeks. However, you should see your GP if you have an anal fissure as they can give you advice and medications to help ease your symptoms and allow the fissure to heal more quickly. Most anal fissures will heal with treatment, although they can happen again easily, particularly if you don't follow the self-help advice outlined below. There are a number of self-help measures your GP may recommend to relieve constipation and reduce the pain caused by anal fissures. Relieving constipation can allow anal fissures to heal and reduce the chances of further fissures developing in the future. There are a number of different medicines your GP may recommend to help reduce your symptoms and allow your anal fissure to heal. Laxatives are a type of medicine that can help you poo more easily.
