Spastic Rectum

airborne72
airborne72 Member Posts: 296 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Yesterday afternoon I began to have a new pain deep in my rectum.  It feels like a cramp and will cycle from discomfort to comfort.  Repositioning and sitting on a heating pad provide little relief.  My sleep last night was very much affected by the discomfort.

Anyone else experienced this?  If so, what did you do to make it stop?

Jim

Comments

  • Mikenh
    Mikenh Member Posts: 777
    #2
    I'm not there yet but I have

    I'm not there yet but I have had lots of experience with cramps. The type that I've had are usually either the direct result of physical activity as in cramping while working out, or a cramp that wakes me up in bed or while sitting. The latter is usually the result of an electrolyte deficiency and I usually try to get more electrolytes. Salt is the easiest to find though magnesium and potassium are good if you should restrict sodium.

    I will step back and let the folks that have gone through this comment and hope that it goes away soon.

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #3
    Radiation

    I had what I believe to be similar pain while undergoing radiatoin, and a good two month afterwards. It felt like the contractions when I had my babies. 

    I also get anal spasams which I believe is related to nerve damage when I have an uncomfortable bowel movment that have causes fissures. Spasmodic contractions of the anal muscle, which makes me feel like I have to go NOW, but end up being nothing but air (for the most part).

    You are so soon out of surgery, it is probably related. Be sure and talk to your surgeon about it.

     

    As for making it stop; I have never found anything that works. But your pain may be completely different than what I experienced.

    Tru 

     

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    edited October 2017 #4
    Yes

    Also had that and when it was in a spasm I'd go and go and it would hurt.  It will take a while for the whole area to calm down.  You are going to experience a lot of different sensations while recoopering so hoping that you continue to come on this board and discuss it as a lot of us have been there.  Hope that it settles down soon for you.  It's very uncomfortable and makes it feel like you want to just push down because it is so uncomfortable.  Sometimes they call that phathom bowels.  Can be very common.

    Kim

  • lhduffer
    lhduffer Member Posts: 90 Member
    edited October 2017 #5
    Yes

    I had pain while sitting after my LAR surgery in which my entire rectum and a portion of my sigmoid colon was removed and I received a temporary ileostomy.  I thought it was just normal pain from healing and had mentioned it to the PA who said to let them know if it did not get better.  The pain continued and when I went for my follow up 5 weeks later and told my surgeon he immediately ordered a CT to make sure there was not a leak at the connection.  The CT did show fluid in the sacrum area and they installed a drain for two weeks and the fluid resolved and the pain went away.  I should have told them sooner about the continuing pain and it would have been corrected sooner and not delayed the start of my mop up chemo.

    A certain amount of pain is to be expected, and what occurred with me is not common, however, if you feel that something is not right, please tell your doctor and let them decide if it should be investigated sooner.  Hoping it is just the  normal healing pain and that it subsides.

  • airborne72
    airborne72 Member Posts: 296 Member
    #6
    Time in a bottle...

    Jim Croce sang a song in the early 70's with the lyric: "if I could save time in a bottle..."  That concept is applicable here.  After 48 hours of time, my rectal pains have dissipated.  The only therapeutic intervention was time.

    Thank goodness no human can put a patent on time.  It remains to be extremely effective and FREE.

    And, thanks to each of you for responding.  This forum is priceless.

    Jim

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #7
    airborne72 said:

    Time in a bottle...

    Jim Croce sang a song in the early 70's with the lyric: "if I could save time in a bottle..."  That concept is applicable here.  After 48 hours of time, my rectal pains have dissipated.  The only therapeutic intervention was time.

    Thank goodness no human can put a patent on time.  It remains to be extremely effective and FREE.

    And, thanks to each of you for responding.  This forum is priceless.

    Jim

    Time in a bottle

    My husband sang this to me, soon after we met and got engaged (and we met and got engaged on the same day). It is now 'our song'. 

    And yes, I am happy that time has eased the pain. It is always good to be cautious, and I'm glad you came looking for answers. 

    Tru

  • danker
    danker Member Posts: 1,276 Member
    edited October 2017 #8
    We are like a talk show

    The host contends "That all of us know more than any of us."

  • airborne72
    airborne72 Member Posts: 296 Member
    #9
    Just Think

    So true.  There is definitely strength in numbers.  It has a synergistic effect.

    Just think what we could accomplish in this world if everyone came together, without prejudice, and moved toward common and selfless goals.

    Jim

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