The fleeting proctalgia is the involuntary contraction of the anus muscles, of benign character, that can last a few minutes and be quite painful. This pain usually occurs at night, is more frequent in women between 40 and 50 years old and has no definite cause, but it can happen due to stress, anxiety or tension, for example.
The diagnosis of fleeting proctalgia is made based on clinical criteria to exclude other causes of pain in the anus and indicate the need for treatment, which can be done through psychotherapy and physiotherapy to teach the person to relax and contract the anal muscles, relieving symptoms.
Main symptoms
The most characteristic symptom of fleeting proctalgia is pain in the anus that lasts from seconds to minutes and can be very intense, being similar to a cramp. Pain attacks are not very common, but some people may experience painful attacks two to three times a month, for example. Learn more about the causes of anal pain.
The onset of symptoms of fleeting proctalgia usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 50 and, despite being a benign condition, some more serious diseases can present proctalgia as a symptom, such as bowel cancer and anal cancer. Here's how to identify anal cancer.
How to diagnose
The diagnosis of fleeting proctalgia is made by the doctor based on the symptoms described by the person and on some clinical criteria that exclude other diseases that can cause pain in the anus, such as hemorrhoids, abscesses and anal fissures. Thus, the diagnosis is made taking into account the following criteria:
- Frequency in which pain in the anus or rectum occurs; Duration and intensity of pain; Absence of pain in the anus between episodes of pain.
From the assessment of the signs and symptoms of fleeting proctalgia, the doctor can confirm the diagnosis and indicate the best treatment option.
How the treatment is done
The treatment of fleeting proctalgia is established by the doctor according to the intensity, duration and frequency of contractions of the anus, and no type of treatment is indicated for those people whose proctalgia is not frequent.
Fleeting proctalgia has no cure and, therefore, the treatment recommended by the coloproctologist aims to relieve pain. Thus, biofeedback exercises can be recommended, which is a physiotherapy technique in which exercises are performed that teach the person to contract and relax the anal muscles.
In addition, it is important to regularize the gastrointestinal tract, through a balanced diet and exercise, and in some cases, perform psychotherapy to relieve anxiety and tension, as fleeting proctalgia can also be caused by emotional changes and psychological.
