Piles, Fissure and Fistula: Cracking The Cause, The Effect, and The Treatment

Does the thought of going to the lavatory seem daunting because of the pain you feel every time you have a bowel movement? It could be because you have piles, fissures, or fistula - all afflictions of the rectum and the anus. Read on to know more about their symptoms and what you should do if you contract these ailments.

What are Piles?

There are many major veins in the anal tract. Sometimes, chronic constipation, straining while defecating, pregnancy or obesity can interrupt the blood flow to the anus, causing the veins to swell up. These swellings are known as piles.It can be internal or external. Internal haemorrhoids develop in the lower rectum and sometimes protrude from the anus. External haemorrhoids show up on the skin surrounding the anus. If blood clots form in external piles, they form a hard uncomfortable lump around the anus.

What are Fissures?

Chronic constipation makes bowel movement difficult. When you are passing hard stool, it might tear or rip the mucous layer around the anus. This is a fissure and it is more common in children than in adults. In adults, reduced blood flow to the sphincter muscles (present in the anal canal) or Crohn’s disease might also trigger it.

What is an Anal Fistula?

Sometimes faecal matter can clog up the tiny glands present in the anus and lead to an infection. This forms an abscess. The abscess leaks pus and if this pus does not drain away properly, a fistula can form.

What are the Symptoms of Piles, Fissure and Fistula?

Though piles, fissure and fistula are separate ailments, the symptoms they exhibit are very similar.

• Bleeding while defecating
• Swelling around the anus
• If it is a fistula, the anal area will constantly feel wet because of pus discharge.

Usually, you cannot tell these disorders apart from their symptoms. If you notice these signs, consult a doctor on MediBuddy to determine the problem.

Are There any Home Remedies for Piles, Fissure and Fistula?

Yes, there are. You can use the following remedies to relieve symptoms of piles, fissure and fistula:

• Coconut Oil: This oil has many benefits ranging from improving your immunity to acting as a laxative. It can help stool pass quite easily and reduce the swelling around the anus.
• Aloe vera: for treating fissures, if you have an aloe vera plant at home, you can crush a leaf and apply the gel to the afflicted area. It will help repair the skin.
• Warm bath: Soak yourself in a warm bath for 15-20 minutes and you will immediately notice a significant decline in both pain and swelling.

How can you treat Piles, Fissure, and Fistula?

The initial treatment for piles, fissure, and fistula is very similar. The methods are:

• Consume a healthy diet to ease your bowel movements.

• Drink plenty of water, which also helps soften stool.
• Topical ointments that can effectively relieve the pain.

Is Surgery necessary for Piles, Fissure, and Fistula?

If diet and medication do not work, then your doctor might advise surgery. Unlike the initial treatment, the surgical methods for these conditions are different from one another.

Piles

If piles form blood clots then there are two options -

• Haemorrhoidectomy - snipping off the protruding piles
• Staple hemorrhoidopexy - cutting off the enlarged piles and repositioning the rest of the tissue by staples

Fissure

For fissures, a sphincterotomy is the last resort. Doctors recommend it only if the symptoms are severe and it is impossible for a person to pass stool. In this method, a small incision in the sphincter muscles of the anus is made to relieve the pressure. This allows the fissures to heal.

Fistulas

Fistulas don’t usually heal by themselves and keep recurring. The permanent solution is surgery where a doctor will drain the abscess. This procedure is called fistula-in-ano. Life with any one of the three ailments, piles, fissure or fistula can be miserable. But, there is no reason why you should have to live with them. Treatment is easily available and even the surgeries are simple and risk-free.