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Fissures
Fissures are slit-like ulcers in the anus opening (anal fissures)
or just inside the anal opening (rectal fissures) and sometimes extending
the full length of the canal. Both types are characterized
by a hot, sickening, unbearable pain which comes on during or shortly
after bowel movement and lasts from a few minutes to several hours.
They are essentially a tear or a crack in the lining (mucosa). To
defend the area from inevitable re-injury during bowel movements,
the sphincter muscles become tense and irritable, and the opening
tight (a condition called anal stenosis),
which only worsens the fissure. The cause of fissures is typically
the presence of hemorrhoids, however severe or mild the case may
be. Other causes are enlarged papillas, polyps, inflamed crypts,
anal stenosis, proctitis and others.
Even the thought of bowel movement can turn the patient frantic
with the fear of the burning, tearing pain which is sure to follow.
Strong people have been known to faint at this time. The morbid dread
of bowel movement causes many to put it off as long as possible.
This, ironically, permits drying of the stool which increases its
hardness, and the eventual movement is more difficult than ever.
The tissues are then torn again exposing the nerve endings lying
beneath. Besides the pain, bleeding often follows. The accumulated
harm done to the body and emotions can be debilitating.
Our treatment of fissures is comprehensive and very effective, made
possible by an understanding of the dysfunction of which the fissure
is the visible part. In addition to being an ulcerated tear
in the anal skin and/or rectal mucosa, in most cases the fissure
also causes the muscle that underlies it to go into chronic spasm,
a reflex which in turn prevents the fissure from healing.
It is critical to break this reflex if the fissure is to
heal – a
result we achieve through a unique process
we have pioneered and documented, and that
only we perform. Called the Cranford
Technique, it’s an in-office surgery I perform under local
anaesthesia. Read more about it here.
Lateral
Fissures – an unusual type
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