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
b85343 Guest
Posted
Hello, I haven't read all of the comments here but it seems most people suffering from this condition aren't aware of a simple solution. Yes, I have this condition and yes, it can be very uncomfortable. I'm usually awakened in the middle of the night with the beginning of anal pain. If you want very immediate relief, you can get it by putting an ice cube inside the painful area. Because I usually catch it early, I typically wrap a washcloth around a small container of "blue ice" and get back in bed on top of a towel. I lie down partly on my side and partly on my back, sort of sitting on the blue ice. The cold sensation begins to relieve the pain very quickly. Usually I fall asleep like this, surprisingly.
Guest Guest
Posted
It's said that misery loves company but I think those of us that suffer from
PF would not agree. It is comforting to know that what I have experienced
is similar to what others have gone through. I am 60+ female with no
children or abdominal surgeries. My first episode occurred about 13 years
ago. The pain was in the stratosphere and I literally went to my knees. The
pain came and went very quickly that first time. Now episodes are more
frequent and last much longer. About 2 years ago I had an episode where
I awoke from a sound sleep (1 am hour) in extreme pain, rushed to
bathroom to sit and exert a little push pressure, hoping that would help. I
remember wondering what I would do if the pain got any worse. I passed
out. I came to on the floor but then made my way back to sitting. Pain
was completely gone. That is the most severe episode I've had. It was
4-5 months before next episode, which was mild as far as pain level. But
again, episodes are becoming more frequent (2-3x per month) and the
pain level seems to be increasing each time. I'm going to try the ice cube
remedy next time. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences so we
can help each other. I mentioned it to my doctor last year and she indicated
that she didn't know anything about the condition.
jon1302 Guest
Posted
I been reading your comments, I have found if you push as if trying to go to the loo it makes it ten times worse ! Massage with e45 cream or my best remedy is a hot bath immediate ! This is the same as having cramp in your calf but in the sphincter muscle inside !
I hope this helps ! Jon Jackson
Guest jon1302
Posted
Thank you Jon. I just found this forum yesterday so I'm learning. I'll try the remedies I'm reading about and write back what I discover. I am absolutely thrilled that we have a forum and that others have found something that works to stop an PF episode!
Chelsea30412 Guest
Posted
This has been going on for about a year now. Im 33 years old. It was odd to describe at first. When i told my mother who's a medical professional she had no idea what i was talking about. It only happens once every 6 months or so. But, it is the worst random 5 to 10 minutes ive ever experienced. Usually happens when I'm laying down in bed watching tv during the day. The pain is very spontaneous. It feels like I either have a bad case of internal hemorrhoids, or im suddenly severely constipated & it wants to come out but can't. The pressure it causes in my rectum is unbearable. I do believe it has something to do with dehydration. However, nothing makes it go away other than letting it subside on its own after 5 or 10 minutes. I try walking around, laying on my side, sitting on the toilet which doesn't work at all. I just had a spasm & that's how i found this site. Im glad to know im not alone. Good luck everyone.
itsapain Chelsea30412
Posted
HeidiRn Guest
Posted
I cannot believe I've finally found some answers to the horrific pain I've been experiencing all these years. Even as a healthcare person I had a very hard time identifying and/or discussing symptoms such as these. My spasms are intense and last at least an hour each time. I can find no relief. I tried the "punching" method and it did seem to relieve the intense pain but it did not stop the spasms entirely. I'm off to more research on this topic. I also suffer from Chron's like symptoms though never have been diagnosed. I am really beginning to wonder if I fall in to this category. Thanks all for the support and info!
pat1951 HeidiRn
Posted
Heidi, this is my first post to this forum. I am a 65 yo female and have suffered since age 40. My pain comes in spurts over days and weeks and then disappears for a few months. Then the cycle begins again. I found an ARNP who was the most knowledgeable about this subject of any health care professional, but only after I told her of my online research. I have found that albuterol by inhaler helps. Also with a nebulizer. It's an anti-spasmodic so it makes sense right?
Yesterday I was riding in the car and was hit with a horrible episode. It lasted over an hour and I had no inhaler with me. BTW it was prescribed to me for bronchitis and I hang onto my puffer each time for the pain attacks.
I started reading this forum to try to put it out of my mind....right! Jim's punching method was difficult in the car but easier at home. I'm not able to get into his recommended position, so I simply punched intermittently on my coccyx and it seemed to help.
I'm glad we both found this forum and I wish you well on your journey. Pat
itsapain pat1951
Posted
Pat, in the same way as you use your inhaler as an anti spasmodic ( which didnt work for me) i now use valium as a muscle relaxant. and ONLY as a muscle relaxant. gp's are reluctant to prescribe it for fear of misuse. I saw a physio specialising in the male pelvic floor ( yes physios, us men have them too !!!!!!!). he says there are only 4 such physios in the uk. he carried out a VERY thorough examination and suggested that my pelvic floor is hyper tense and the cramp spasms are as a result of that. more treatment and exercises to follow but at least he seemed to be aware of the problem so its a start. its only taken me 30 years to get this far.......
pat1951 itsapain
Posted
Glad to hear you're making progress! The inhaler doesn't give me immediate relief but it's been my only treatment till yesterday. And I've only been prescribed it for upper respiratory. The nurse who spoke with me at length was not going to prescribe it. So like you with Valium, I use it only when necessary.
Interesting that you mention pelvic floor. Over the years my pain has moved from the rectum only to now well into my pelvic floor. It feels like terrible menstrual cramps to as bad as childbirth. I have Fibromyalgia as well, take muscle relaxants for that which haven't helped the Proctalgia, and have often thought it was the pelvic floor muscles going into spasm. Shyly I will tell you that this can occur after orgasm (blush).
itsapain pat1951
Posted
yes with me too it can happen after orgasm. but most often in the middle of the night when im asleep. it soon wakes me up! a couple of times the pain has been so bad i have fainted. and the first episode after i had had a heart attack was quite stressful! the only thing we can do is try to manage the condition while looking for a ''cure''. rather than the medical profession which, as usual where they cant easily label it, tend to put in down to stress or anxiety. well durr!! who wouldnt be anxious with this? im quite hopeful about the new course of treatment. fingers crossed
kay24877 Guest
Posted
I am 82 years old and have had the symptoms of Proctalgia Fugax since I was a very young girl. I saw several doctors, none of whom put a name to it or offered any advice for relief. Although I've had occasional bouts while awake, mostly they wake me while I'm sound asleep.
On my own, I discovered the "Fist Punch" method, and while it does bring relief after a while, I find it difficult and awkward to keep my knuckles/fist in the proper position. About a year ago, in agony and desperation, I took one of my husband's golf balls and placed it on a padded leather desk chair and sat on it. To my surprise the pain subsided more quickly than with any other method I had previously tried. That's what I've been doing ever since, when one of these episodes starts. It has worked every time.
pat1951 kay24877
Posted
Skazie Guest
Posted
Hi All
I found the cure.!!!!
I never post to any forums but i have been suffering since i was a child with the same condition and lately it became more intense and last for couple of hours each episode. .i have tried everythong and recently i have tried enema with luke warm water with the shower hose..i have tried few times and within minutes the pain dissappears completely. Of course you need to empty your bowels from water..i don't know what is happening but for some reason it helps..please try and hopefully will help all of you sufferers as well..i would love to know that someone else has found a relief.
jon1302 Skazie
Posted
pat1951 Skazie
Posted
My episodes have increased in intensity and duration over the years, and I am grateful that now at my age, I am not working and have more privacy to do what I must to alleviate this pain and anguish. Thank you again.
pat1951 jon1302
Posted
Skazie pat1951
Posted
Hi Pat..strangely enough i had an episode in the middle of the night aftet i have posted this in here...i promise you it works and is much faster than rinning a bath...only couple of minutes and the pain is gone.
It doesn't have to be messy...is not messy as it sounds..once you have the water inside you just hold it and sit on the toilet like you do normally when you go in the toilet..don't do that in the bath cause it can become messy...i hope it helps..repeat 2-3 times....water inside and sit on the toilet xx
Skazie jon1302
Posted
pat1951 Skazie
Posted
I am so grateful to you once again, and of course, I feel silly at not thinking of transferring to the toilet. 🙃 For me at least that explanation was necessary. I'm happy to hear it worked for you once again. I'm going to give it a try.
Skazie pat1951
Posted
Please do..i am so happy that works that i will post it to all forums..i want to help everyone as i know how bad it is and no one u derstand how much we suffer unless they go through to the same thing.
I think the reason it works and i believe will also help you is that it needs something to trigger the muscles and nerves from inside
loulou_007 pat1951
Posted
or at night
extended puppy pose in the bed
Usually stop the pain within minutes