Anal fissure after pelvic radiotherapy
What is an anal fissure?
Related pages
Anal fissure treatment
Your doctor can usually prescribe creams you apply to the area that help it heal. It is important to avoid getting constipated, because this can make a fissure worse. Your doctor may prescribe a laxative to make it easier for you to go to the toilet.
If the fissure does not get better
Your doctor may advise injections of botulinum toxin A (Botox®). These are given into the tissue that lines the anus. Botox® causes the muscle to relax. This reduces the pain and increases the blood flow, which helps the fissure to heal.
Some people may need a minor operation to make a small cut in the muscle around the anus. This releases the tension in the muscle and allows the fissure to heal. You usually have this operation under a general anaesthetic, as a day patient.
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