Anal Trauma

What is anal trauma?

Anal trauma is an injury to the tissues of the anus or anal canal. The most common cause of anal trauma is changes in your bowel movements. Both constipation and diarrhea can cause anal pain and damage the delicate anal tissues.

These bowel conditions can also cause anal fissures (tears in the anus). These fissures can bleed and are often very painful. Anal fissures typically take 4-6 weeks to heal. They sometimes become a chronic problem lasting for months.

What other causes are there for anal trauma?

Another common cause of anal trauma is the insertion of foreign objects into the rectum. Children sometimes poke things into their bottom that can cause anal trauma, but most cases arise from sexual activities.

A sharp, hard, large, or rough textured object can cause anal trauma when pushed into the rectum. Any object can cause anal trauma if used violently enough. You can get anal trauma from rough sex or from being overenthusiastic. That includes using a penis, sex toys, or even a finger.

Giving birth can cause the anus to tear as you push during contractions. Some anal fissures develop if you have:

• Anal cancer
• HIV
• Tuberculosis
• Syphilis
• Herpes

Trauma can also happen if you have a problem with your sphincter muscles that makes them overtighten or spasm.

How is anal trauma treated?

Treatment for your anal trauma involves stopping any further blood loss, reducing pain and inflammation, and helping the injury heal.

If you have anything stuck in your rectum or anus, don’t try and force it out. Go to the emergency room and have a doctor take a look. You don’t need to be embarrassed. ER doctors have dealt with this problem many times before.

If you have a tear or fissure because of constipation or diarrhea, finding the cause of these changes in your bowel movements is essential.

Diarrhea is often due to gastrointestinal infections or food poisoning. Constipation is often due to poor diet and other bad lifestyle habits. Both could be due to inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Stool softeners can help with constipation, but only take laxatives or anti-diarrheal medications under a doctor’s advice. Sitz baths relax the anal muscles and improve blood flow to aid healing. Hydrocortisone creams or nitroglycerin ointment can reduce inflammation and promote healing, and lidocaine ointment can numb the pain.

In some cases, you’ll need an anal sphincterotomy to relax your anal sphincter and encourage healing. You might also need surgery to repair severe anal trauma.

Find out more about dealing with anal trauma by calling Colon and Rectal Surgeons of Greater Hartford today.