Proctalgia Fugax
Posted , 123 users are following.
I have had this problem since my late teens or early 20's. As I get older (now 56) this pain is coming much more frequently.
The pain generally comes when I am sitting or in bed, which is fortunate since the pain is so severe it is very difficult to do anything until the pain subsides. Each episode lasts 5 minutes or so (never actually timed them)
Since my early 20's I have brought this up to my Dr. and have been fully dismissed. Over the alst 10 years or so I never bother mentioning it when I change Dr's because I have not expected an identification.
While watching the Dr. Oz show on TV this morning this was brought up during a question period. This was the first time I heard of others having this and an identifying name for it. I now am able to do research on the internet and decide on further action.
7 likes, 261 replies
Tinybird Guest
Posted
I would have loved to have found this forum before yesterday after dealing with my latest attack, as it was so severe it fair took my breath away.
Like others have said, sitting makes it worse, and the need to visit the loo yet produce nothing had me practically imprisoned in the bathroom for hours. I've never fainted from it, but the teeth clenching/ drenched in perspiration/heat flashes/screaming in my head that an attack produces is possibly akin to being disembowelled - not that I have ever been (un)lucky enough - thankfully - to experience that one!
Even though my levator ani started in my early 20's it seemed to be absorbed under the umbrella of IBS by my GP and was ignored, so I struggled with it for years, taking one prescribed medication after another.
Eventually I discovered that the digestive system requires vitamin B to function correctly, and as the system begins with the mouth and ends at the anus, there's an awful lot to be affected. It keeps the digestive muscles relaxed so they function smoothly rather than cramp and tie their selves in knots.
So I began taking Vit B complex (timed release) daily and found over a few months that not only the the IBS practically disapeared but the levator ani attacks dwindled, became intermittent, then stopped altogether. I have continued to take the VitB for years now, but earlier this week I ran out of them, and idiot that I was, and because I was feeling so well, I thought maybe, just maybe I can stop taking it.
Within three days of stopping (yesterday) I had one of the worst attacks ever and straight away I connected it to the lack of Vit B as it was the only thing in my daily diet routine that had changed, so my partner dashed off to the health food store and was back in half an hour with some. I took a dose there and then, followed by a second one 4 hours later, and a 3rd one in the evening. This morning I feel so much better and intend never to stop the Vit B again.
As the recommended dose states on the bottle just one tablet a day then yes, it was more than I should have taken , but for me, it was an urgent need and a one off, and most of all it worked for me. I shall keep with the one- a -day from now on.
In my case I have Fibromyalgia which causes muscle spasms anyway, but nothing on the cale that this delivers. It is a double edged sword to find that I am not alone in suffering this, but it is astonishing and dreadful that so many of us do. Food intollerances also plague me
The comment re 'punching' the area when it starts is something I've never heard of before. So if - and I say IF - I get another attack I shall try it, as even though the VitB worked for me, it took longer to work than this punching method seemed to do.
Walking also helps me in that it seems to help everything settle back into it's usual rhythm, and I also agree with the comments re dehydration.
Best wishes to all.x.
sarah70061 Guest
Posted
michael50160 Guest
Posted
Now for the good news...
I've found a 100% effective method to relieve the pain, sometimes within 60 - 90 seconds.
I lie on the floor, on my back, legs and arms extended straight up and down like in a Superman pose, and I stretch the torso of my body as much as I can. I especially target the abdominal region. The sooner I get to the floor to begin these stretches, the easier and faster the pain subsides. Sometimes, when I do not wake up right away and the pain becomes very intense, I have to stretch for longer periods of time and I sometimes resort to opening and closing my legs as I also stretch my torso. Stretching in this fashion ALWAYS causes the pain to ease.
I hope this works for you too. Lord knows this is a very painful condition. Good luck.
Tippy6 Guest
Posted
I'm a 20 year old woman and I've suffered from PF since my early teens. The pain is completely immobilizing (I understand the lady who likened it to giving birth!!). The episodes normally last only a couple seconds to a couple minutes, which still sucks, but it's manageable since I can just stand perfectly still until it passes.
Today for the first time, it lasted about 4 hours. I had to pull over on my way to work because it hurt so much and I couldn't even sit down properly - it was so strong I felt nausous and the pain radiated thoughout my torso.
I read through this thread and tried the "punching technique" and it seemed to mildly work. The pain even subsided enough to have a BM and walk around!! (I'm still having abdominal spasms, but I think it's because the PF lasted so long.)
Thank you to everyone online who have shared their stories and advice!
rojotoro Guest
Posted
Sorry to hear you are suffering from "Satan's Anus" (and I am going to trademark that!) Hydrate and do the "Striking Crane" as needed.
So I wanted to be REALLY annoying and say something: Beginning of the year I started a fairly rigorous weight exercise regimine, and yeah, I know, but the PF flares have dropped to zero. That's ZERO.
So shocker, exercise is good for you, blah, blah, blah.
I didn't exercise before and got the pains, I exercise now and don't get them anymore. Sorry, I'd be annoyed too, but again, on the off chance that it helps.
Closing thought: Seems like everyone who comes here says pretty much the same thing eg: I was dying in pain, had no idea why, found this, praise be to God, etc.
When people do an internet search Google looks for key phrases, and I was thinking that everytime we post we should include the words:
"Rectal pain, protologica fugax."
Because Google will eventually pick that up in it's algo and when other hapless souls, like we used to be, are up searching the web at 3:00 a.m. wondering if they have rectal cancer between gasps, they might more quickly find us, the Punching Cranes.
Just a thought, now, go drink a big glass of water!
RT
StrikingCrane rojotoro
Posted
Proctalgia fugax, is definitely Satan's Anus!!!
I have been suffering from various medical complaints lately, including Proctalgia Fugax, leg cramps, painful vaginal spasms during intercourse, severe back pain after sleeping for 4-5 hours every night. I also have very bad hip bursitis and other body pain that seems it may be from inflammation, TMJ, painful knees, slight shoulder pain, consistently raised levels of eosinophils for 6 months, and some kidney anomalies. Many of my symptoms seem like they might be related to an autoimmune disease and my GP and I will explore that further. I recently experimented with a very low carb diet (no grains at all, under 30g of carbs). I was suprised to find that my pain has significantly lessened after only 3 days on this diet. I don't know if it is just a coincidence. Maybe whatever this flare is is at the end of it's lifespan. But it is a mighty big coincidence, considering how much relief I feel.
The reason I tried the low carb diet was because I read about how good it is for inflammation and some autoimmune diseases (Ankylosing Spondilitis). I really wonder about the correlation of food sensitivities and PF that some of you have expressed. Could Proctalgia Fugax be a manifestation of autoimmune disease?
I was having a couple of attacks of PF a week for 6 weeks. They were not major attacks, but the frequency was really interrupting my sleep. I sometimes also get these attacks after orgasm, just sitting in the subway, or walking down the street. I will continue with the low-carb diet and report back if PF is affected positively over a longer term. If I get an attack I'm definitely going to try the "Striking Crane".
Thank you so much to all who have contributed to this thread.
rojotoro Guest
Posted
I guess sorry is the first thing I should say, I'll remember not to complain about my problems as they seem non-existant when compared to yours.
The thing we always have to keep in mind is that within a population 1,000's - 100,000's of people could present with a similar symptoms that are unrelated, or have different causations.
"Pain in the ass" is a cliche for a reason, a lot of people suffer from it.
I have pretty much narrowed mine down to dehydration (why?) and found resolution in vigorous exercise and yoga.
But it's good to add more experiences and symptoms to the discussion because you never know when someone might mention something that is helpful to another.
I'd also add again that we need to tag / flag every post with pain in the ass / proctalgia fugax, leave the light on for those still searching.
R.
kami88998 Guest
Posted
Smokey911 Guest
Posted
OMG finally, I'm not alone. I have been explaining this and asking questions for 2 years now. Its so hard to explain and since its so random its hard to do anything about. I get woke up probably once a month and cant move I'm in so much pain. Praying it will hurry and run its course. Last night was the worst ever, I hurt so bad I thought I would throw up, probably the longest I've ever had at about 20 min. Which seems like an eternity. I have googled everything and today was the first time I've came across this. With no cure I still feel better. There is no doubt this is what I have. I'm a 45 yr. old male btw, going through more stress in my life than anyone should ever have too. This has been going on for a couple of years now. I'm glad I'm not alone and I would like to say I hate it for all of us. Its horrible. Luckily it only lasts a few min. I read somewhere that going to the bathroom can help. I find the opposite. It makes the pain much worse. I just wait it out....Thank you
jim77426 Smokey911
Posted
Hi Smokey911,
I'm sorry to hear that you are in so much pain. I don't know if you've heard about the 'punch technique' but but after experimenting with a few other methods I happened upon it about 10 years ago and it's worked like a charm ever since.
The very first time I experimented with the punch technique I could not believe how well it worked and how easy it was to do. Thanks to the punch technique, Proctalgia Fugax Is no longer a problem in my life. It is a minor irritant that takes me about as long to solve as picking up a Kleenex and blowing my nose.
I emphatically encourage everyone else who suffers this pain to give the punch technique a try.
In case you haven't read my previous posts describing the technique, the purpose of the punch technique is to send a shock wave up the colon to interrupt the spasms.
Find a private room, pull your pants down, bend over, make a fist, and deliver gentle but firm punches directly to the anus. Focus the energy by slightly rotating your fist so that you are striking your anus with the first knuckle. You don't have to strike really hard at all. Just a nice solid contact so it will send a shock wave up the colon. I usually need to deliver a couple of dozen hits. Sometimes I'll stop after a dozen or so to see how I did but if I sense any lingering spasm still in there then I deliver another dozen hits.
It is 100% effective, It is immediate and doesn't require are seeing a doctor or buying drugs.
Consider giving it a try Smokey911. Hopefully it'll put an end to the pain you're feeling and let you get on with your life without worrying about about it anymore.
Cheers,
Jim
Vancouver
kathy_60765 Guest
Posted
carriosity Guest
Edited
I can't believe I've found a discussion board dealing with a condition that has plagued me since my late teens. I'm a 50 year old female and began experiencing this debilitating pain around the age of 19. Everything you guys have described, as far as the pain goes, is accurate. I had a horrendous attack last night that woke me up about 1:00 am. My routine to relieve the pain involves immediately taking two ibuprofen and drawing a scalding hot bath. Many times, alternating between the tub and trying to go to the bathroom. Sometimes being able to 'go' will help a little but it's my honest impression that the attack just last as long as they will regardless of anything I'm doing. The attacks usually last about 20-30 minutes although I've had them last up to an hour. When I was younger, I'd faint about half the time.
This pain is absolutely horrible and I've had two children, migraines and kidney stones in my life. This pain is crushing. It's altered my life, frankly. I'm terrified of having orgasms because this can easily bring on an attack. The pain is not just localized in the anal/rectal area. It radiates throu the entire pelvic area and equally affects the 'lady parts' (lol). I think it's crazy that modern medicine can't identify the cause of this chronic syndrome and I'm absolutely unwilling to have deadly botulism injected into my body.
One thing I'm wondering about is whether other females may have a condition that I have and I've always questioned if it is related somehow. My bowel is misshapen, probably from birth, and when I had a hysterectomy in 2004, my doctor 'corrected' this as much as possible but I feel that since that time, whatever corrective measures she employed may have been reversed. I don't know that my PF is related to this but just wondered about similar conditions that other women might have. So glad to find you all and hopes for each of us that one day someone will find a reliable and SAFE way to relieve this pain or correct this condition.
JayJayBee carriosity
Posted
Hi there, I've been following this thread for a little while now and feel moved to reply to you as you sound like me! I have been getting PF for around thirty years now, I think they started soon after my daughter was born. Both of my children had traumatic births, head facing down, cord wrapped around their necks, forceps, long labour etc. most times I am woken in the night by it and I have known it to last 2 hrs, although usually it is 30 - 40 mins. I get by using various methods. Sitting hard on a golf ball, massaging the area with some force, flinging myself down on a big pillow and stretching my legs out while forcing my posterior up in the air!. The latest is punching the area, which someone has recommended is very effective. I tried this recently and it worked. I haven't tried the hot bath, I dot want to wake my other half up. I just take myself off to the spare room while I do what's necessary. It's hard to know what causes it, some people say dehydration is a factor so I now try and remember to drink plenty. I take magnesium because it's supposed to help with cramps which I think PF is. My GP, who first told me about this years ago said to try glyceril trinitrate tablets which you can buy over the counter and are usually taken for angina. This worked for a while, they dissolve under your tongue and by the time they had dissolved, the pain was ebbing away but more and more I found they just gave me a headache. This may have been because they were out of date because they only have a 2 month life after opening the bottle so you need to keep replacing them.
The thing that strikes me about your post is the orgasm thing .This is often my trigger too, I'd say 80% of the time I will get PF afterwards and it is causing great distress! I don't know if my bad experiences of childbirth had anything to do with it but it did manifest after having my kids. But then again, I've heard a lot of men get the problem too! I too find that it spreads out into the whole pelvic area. I can barely walk when it gets that bad.
if you read about this condition, it often says sufferers get it once or twice a year.... I wish!! I now get it at least once a fortnight and I wish I knew why ??????. It really is a B*****d of a condition and live in dread of the familiar feeling in the middle of the night!
carriosity JayJayBee
Posted
Oh JayJay. I feel so badly for you that it's happening that often. Your post has caused me to rethink when, exactly, this condition commenced. I know that I had them when my children were babies (16 mths apart) because I remember having a remarkably severe attack late one night and fainting in the bathtub and awakened to both my babes crying in their cribs. Both pregnancies involved very extended labor and a period of 'pushing' that was much longer than normal. My first child was born and was absolutely perfect with no issues or medical problems at all. However, my second child, along with the almost 24+ hour labor, 3 hour pushing and being delivered with forceps, was born completely black-blue and had to be whisked away for emergency procedures to clear his airway and stabilize his temperature. It was a harrowing delivery.
So now I'm wondering if these pains actually started after my second delivery and are maybe related to his being essentially 'trapped' in the birth canal for so long and the mind-boggling pushing I had to do that burst the blood vessels all around my eyes. I can't pin the time down.
The orgasm thing is what has always caused me to believe this is muscle-related. Orgasm involves very powerful contractions of the muscles all around that area and I'd say my rate of attack after one is very similar to your 80%.
I have never taken any medication for this condition other than ibuprofen. My husband and I recently went 100% vegan and I am hoping that after six months to a year, that may help this issue a bit and I'll certainly post about that. But the attack last night was so severe that it obviously hasn't helped yet.
Another issue that I wonder about others having is lifelong digestive problems and constipation. My becoming vegan has completely reversed this issue for me so that may not be a common denominator.
Another thought I've had is, as with the difficult deliveries that some women have as you and I have experienced, have some of the men experienced some kind of traumatic muscle 'stress' or injury in the pelvic region? Very curious about that.
Anyway, good luck to you, JayJay. Thanks so much for your post! This is such a crazy and embarrassing thing, it's nice to be able to speak to people about this!
JayJayBee carriosity
Posted
Ah yes! The old irritable bowel syndrome! I also have had digestive issues. I take soaked in water flaxseeds for that now and it helps enormously. Of course, the medics claim that stress has a lot to do with that and I also wonder if stress plays its part with PF too. When I remember I do some relaxation before I go to sleep in the hope it will help stave it off. I forgot to say also, I take amitryptiline for other numerous reasons but I think that is often supposed to help with PF. Apparently, PF is also tied up with a condition called Vulvodenia, which the medics tried to tell me that I have but I'm not convinced in my case. They sent me away with instructions to do exercises 'down there' which helps with all kinds of stuff including stress or urge incontinence. Tbh, I think they just wanted to give me a convenient label and send me on my way. I never went back. I do think that childbirth has a lot to answer for!
all in all, I agree with you that it is to do with muscles going into spasm for one reason or another and I think there are many factors involved in this. And all the remedies that people use are a bit trial and error. I hope that you manage to find one that suits you and this nasty problem eventually just goes away (in my dreams!) take care and keep me posted!
artemiss03220 carriosity
Posted
I had one last night!!! Terrible i thought i am going to die! I had no control of any move. I just lay down on the carpet without being able to move leaving my wife so scared!!! It started around my 25 now i am 32! Drs couldn't give me any good explanation!! So i have learnt to live with it!?????? a friend of mine who suffers from the same thing (because its a thing i have no other name to call it) plays some jokes saying everytime it happens to him the devil is having nice time with my anus again????! thats a funny way to see it. Let me know if anyone find a miracle remedy against this thing because its really really painful for those who know it.. all the best
jim77426 artemiss03220
Posted
Hi artemiss
I sympathize with you greatly. For me it feels like passing a shard of glass. The pain comes in slowly increasing waves that soon bring excruciatig agony. Not knowing when the next attack will happen causes worry as well.
I suggest giving the "punch technique" a try. Several members of the forum have tried it and report great success.
The principle of the technique is to interrupt the timing of the spasms so they stop.
To do this I make a fist, reach around and strike my anus with the back of the hand using the first knuckle to focus the energy.. Not hard - just firmly enough to send a shock wave up the colon.
I rotate my fist slightly and make contact with first knuckle only so that I can make contact between the butt cheeks. You have to make contact close to the anus so that force from the taps will propagate up the colon and throw off the timing of the spasms.
I normally strike about 20 -25 times. And that's it. It just stops. I began using this method about 10+ years ago and I've been able to stop every attack since in about a minute.
Give it a try. Hopefully it will reduce PF to nothing more than a minor irritant.
Cheers
Jim
Vancouver
p71471 JayJayBee
Posted
Hi there! I know this post is a bit old but I just found this dicussion and for years I too thought I had some sort of cancer -I am now 51 and had the colonoscopy screening and nothing found. I first experienced this pain shortly after I had my daughter 15 years ago. I was 36 when this pain first started and thought it had something to do with her traumatic birth as well. I had the first attack and didnt have another for 6 months. But when these attacks started re-appearing and disappearing I didnt think much other than OMG it's painful and yes it too woke me up in the middle of the night-I would feel sick like passing out and my forehead broke out in a strange cold sweat - believe this was because the pain level is so high. I have had attacks while driving, while at work and yes thank goodness it only lasts 5-10 minutes but has sometimes started out on one side only to be lucky enough for it to shift to the opposite side and start the pain cycle over. I did ask my OB/GYN and she did the horrible rectal exam and found nothing. I do think this may now be some sort of autoimmune disorder since It affects men and teens. I bet there are way more people out there with this condition but many physicians do not know about it. I do think the lack of vitamins have something to do with it since mine are low in pass and vit D3. i am thankful to have found this group and will try the pain relief explained. Thank you