Rectal Pain and Pressure

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Febuary 21st I noticed I was getting sore in my rectum when I would sit some times. I had  some bright blood earlier that month on my tp, but I have had a small hemroid for many years, so I did not think anything of it.But as the month went on I kept getting sore more and more.I went to my GI, who by the way has been seing me over the last 5 years for Acid Indegestion and IBS Symptoms. I had a Colonoscopy 2 1/2 years ago for pain in abs, came back normal, with a palyop that was sent to pathology, and was also normal. My GI Said at this visit that my pain was hemroids, and gave me some Cortizone cream...2 weeks later, i went back because I was not getting better. He said not to worry that my colonoscpy was negative 2 years ago, and he gave me supposatories this time And we schedualed a Flex Sigmoid for in his office. I seem to be getting worse , and when I called his office he was out of town, so I went to a surgeon. He did a Anoscope, and said he saw a few small Hemroids but did not think they could cause my pain, and to come back in 3 weeks if does not get better. I went back to my GI and had the Flex Sig done, and he said everything looked good , and he saw a few small Hemroids. I told him my pain was intolerable, and that we need to find out why I cant sit, for it is painful, and continues throught the day...I asked if maybe I have Levator syndrome, and he kind of shook his head, and said that was the same as IBS. Well I also asked if maybe I had endometrioses on my rectum, he said not possible... I have seen my OBGYN in between these visits and he is going to do a Laparoscopy 4-18-06 to see if I have any endo on my rectum, he says that if I am having spasms, that something has to be causing them and it could be endo. He does not see that it can be anything else...
I am at my wits end please help me......These are my symptoms
Am feel ok.....kind of
After I have a couple of bowel movements I am sore in my rectum and feel some burning sometimes, not like hemroid burn. then as the day goes by, i feel like I have to have a bowel movement and push but nothing happens and its painfull. I feel pressure in my rectum , when I sit its real painful, so I cant sit. I have a ache in my rectum all day, and some times I feel like there is something in my rectum. The pain never goes away, just varies through out the day, when I got to bed at night it seems to not be as bad, then it starts all over again in am. I take a stool softner and eat alot of fiber and water, so I m not constipated

Please help.....

[dragons fire]

Sometimes I don't know which is worse though, the pain or the mental anguish this condition has caused me. I look back and I remember a time when I never even thought about the last time I had a bowel movemet, wether it was hard or soft, or even *gag* what it looked like.
Now, it's like.. Oh my god, I didn't poop today, what's wrong now? Or when I do, I'm like... how big is it? Does it have any blood on it? (gag again) Did I poop enough? It's almost like I'm trying to play detective. Thinking that maybe if I stare at it long enough I'll get some kind of answer like a psychic does looking at tea leaves, pffft.. It's insane but I can't help it.

And the confusion I feel about this whole thing. Ugh! All the misdiagnosis.. maybe it's this, maybe it's that.. all the time I've spent on the internet researching what in God's name is causing this, and comming up empty.  The best way to describe how I feel is helpless I guess.

[ccat1167]

I am glad I am not totally insane. I am so sorry that any one has this horrible pain in the rear issue. My problems are so similar to the ones described. Usually after a BM I get the stabbing rectal pain that seems to take forever to ease off. But sometimes I am rudely awakened by horrible rectal spams. The pain wakes me up and last sometimes the rest of the night. I have to take a Muscle relaxer or Hydrocone. My Doctor is treating me for high blood pressure ( probably caused by the intense pain in my rear) says he will send me for some test. I will check back. Good Luck to all of us.

[Linda J]

Hi all, I haven't kept up with this thread in awhile and I see it has grown. Oh my,  so many of us have the same problem.

Well, since I last posted, I had a colonoscopy because I was certain this rectal pain must mean something horrible. Well, my colon was clean except for one internal hemorrhoid. Some days the rectal pain is almost gone and other days it is stabbling again. I am still finding some relief in flexeril. I am planning on seeing the GI doc who did my colonoscopy again and he said we could try some other anti-spasmodics.

I noticed one poster said she didn't have this until after her colonoscopy. Well, I never had this until I had an ovarian cyst and the responsible ovary and tube removed. I am thinking this is related to IBS-C, because most of us post we have constipation.

This is the most annoying condition and one that seems impossible to figure out. How are all of you doing? Any breakthroughs?

Linda J

[Linda J]

Hi there, yes, levator ani syndrome. I pretty much diagnosed myself mentally with this as soon as I learned for sure, my colon was "clear". I know that is why the flexeril helps, as it is a muscle relaxant and the sphincter is a muscle...lol. But, this med makes me so groggy, I can only tolerate 1/2 tablet and only at night. So midway thru the day it wears off and the spasms are back.

Please keep posting about your hubby and if he finds something that really works. I think my ovarian cyst put pressure on my pelvic floor and caused these spasms to start. Now the cyst is gone, but the spasms are not!

Linda J

[jgreif]

I have read this forum and in fact even printed it out and took it to my husbands Dr.  To make a long long story short, my husband has suffered from rectal pain for the last 5-7 years.  Sometimes it becomes unbearable.  Like many of you he was told it was IBS, given all kinds of meds, told to eat fiber and on and on.  We finally went to the University of Michigan and saw Dr. Chey who is a specialist in Gastroentrology.  He scheduled a series of tests including a defacgraphy, a nerve test and others.  I really cant recall.  The bottom line is this. We went back today for a follow up.  Diagnosis!  Levator Ani Syndrome.  What a surprise as we had research this ourselves and we were armed with information if he failed to come up with an answer.  He said to try the flexiril but mostly it will be therapy which will help my husband learn to keep that muscle relaxed.  We had to find a therapist that specialized in pelvic floor/chronic rectal pain.  It really wasn't that hard to find.  So hopefully this will help some of you.

[Jet5L]

I still do not know what to make of my pain as well..so far saw my internist, rectal surgeon and my gyno...trying another gastroenterologist cause i cannot get in to see mine...

My rectal pain started after straining in the bathroom almost 5 weeks ago..the only way i can describe it is as if i am sitting on something, a fist in my butt or like something is falling out!!! I had sonograms and only found an ovarian cyst..I have internal hemmorhoids..so far no rectocele..My gyno said less than slight like a very..very..very less than small bulge to suggest a retrocele but says it is nothing to worry about( i havent even had kids!!)..i do notice the pain is worse before my period!!! the rectal surgeon suggested a "defogram" i think it is called..i know what it is and dont want to have it..but he does not know a radiologist who does this in my area!!!! I am so uncomfortable..the only thing that helps are numerous sitz baths..800 mg motrin or ultracet...I am very perplexed and dont feel like i will ever be normal again..and yes i also have irritable bowel with constipation...sorry so long..