Proctalgia fugax is ruining my life

Ashley, 

I also understand and feel you pain.  I'm in my late 40's, and have suffered with this since I was in my mid teens.  It feels like (for lack of a better expression) being stabbed in the butt with a knife.   I am also awakened out of a deep sleep when the spasm hits.  It usually gets me 3-4 times a year, and mines last usually 45 minutes to an hour.  I have a recliner that I have to lay in.  I have to put it in the fully reclined position.  I sometimes have to massage try to deep massage my butt cheeks and lower back.  It's really hard to explain, but I've read that other sufferers have tried quite a few different things,and usually finds a few that work for them.  I also take a couple of rapid release Tylenol right when I wake up with the pain.  When I was younger, I used to stand on my head propped against a door to get relief.  I'm too old for that now, hence the recliner.  Also, if the recliner doesn't work, I try standing up and touching my toes with my knees slightly bent.  

I haven't heard about the magnesium, so for me, that I will be investigating and trying.  

I have a GI doc who has treated my hemorrhoids, and done colonoscopies.  I also use fiber supplements and prep H.  I think the fiber and hemorrhoid treatment has also helped to decrease my episodes, as I used to get an attack once a month.  

I hope this helps.  Although I wouldn't wish this type of pain on my woes enemy, it is nice to know I am not alone.  

On a side note, I actually found this sight after just having an attack.  I guess some people get migraine headaches, and we get proctalgia fugax.  Well, at least our syndrome has a cool name.  

Hi Ashley I was finally able to put a name to this tonight. I have suffered with this for quite sometime and I do notice that it is associated with diarrhea. I have tried looking this up every time it happens but was never able to find anything. I think I tried explaining it to the doctor once and they looked at me as if I were crazy. I do have to let you know that I also have IBS-D. The information that I found says that this might be an occurrence for someone who suffers from that. It's the worse pain I have ever felt, when I have this pain I typically take hydrocodone and the pain goes away with in a few minutes and I am able to get back to sleep with out any residual effects the next day. Thanks for sharing your experience, I am now able to put a name to this awful feeling.

A GI doc made up a nitroglycerin salve that when rubbed on the outside of the anus, should produce relief quite quickly. However, because I take nitrates for other issues, I am not allowed to have anymore. But the nitro penetrated the skin and went right to the spasm. Another effective solution I have found is using a heating pad on high heat. I keep one close by and if I get an attack in the middle of the night, I slide it under me, and with ten minutes, the pain has subsided. I think it's a matter of distraction. The heat distracts me and smothers the pain.

Hello Ashley,

Well Holy Moses, I finally found out what this condition is and what it's called, and more importantly that I am not the only one who suffers with this. I do understand the pain you are going thru, as I can see by the other comments here so does everyone else. I am nearing 60yrs old, male  and have been experiencing this for I'm guessing 15 years? It is the most God awful pain and I also have passed out from this at times. My episodes seem to last approx 15-40 minutes. I also find that about 99% of the time it happens after I have fallen asleep (30 min to 3 hrs). No rhyme or reason.

I recall only a few times when it happened during the day for no good reason at all. The last time when I was driving home from work. I had to pull over into some companies parking lot and just suffer thru the pain until I was able to drive the rest of the wat home.

The only thing I have found that seems to have helped me over the years is to sit on the toilet and very slowley and gently "push" as if I were attempting to go to the bathroom(deficate), but not push too hard as that can make it worse. I usually expell gas but no feces. It's a trial and error thing for me. If the pain gets to be too much I tend to lie on the floor as I know it's just a matter of time before I pass out. Quite the horrible feeling.

I wish you and all the others on this site well. It seems everyone has a different method to deal with this. You will find something that will help.

Hello , my husband is a sufferer and we have found that Buscopan really helps. He takes it immediately he feels the pain come on together with 400mg Ibuprofen. Buscopan is an anti spasmodic that you can buy over the counter. It might be worth a try .

Proctalgia Fugax does not have all those symptoms such as the diarrhea. Typically it's the pain. Also, it does not cause fainting. Sounds like something is going on where your sciatic nerve is being pinched, or cut off at times. That would cause fainting & even loose stools when waking up. You should go see a GI specialist. Good luck with everything

Hello Ashley, 

Since a child i have suffered from this awful and painful disease. I discovered the name of this wretched illness thanks to Google. At the age of 37, I serendipitously cured myself.

I stopped consuming gluten and within 6 months I was cured. If am travelling on business and I have no option but to eat Gluten the pain comes back slightly the following night.  It is very hard to stop consuming gluten as it is in lots of foods but for me it is worth stopping as I have cured myself.

Hope my story is helpful for you.   

Hi, have suffered for years not knowing it had a name and GPs no help. Usually it wakes me in the early hours. It always happened during sex so that is a big no no now. I found the only thing that helped during an attack was wrapping an ice cube in a plastic bag and sitting on it. If I do this as soon as I feel it coming on I am less likely to faint. If I get hot it makes it worse so when it eases off I go back to bed and have to stick my butt out from under the duvet - nice