My butt crack is cracked...need input

Alright everyone, I know others have mentioned having a crack in their butt crack.  I have seen the regular dr, the GI, and a colon/rectal surgeon.  None of which have taken the crack in my crack seriously they say put some cream or lotion on it . I have had this issue for over a year, and It seems to heal a little after my Remicade, but about week 4 or 5 it is back to raw and bleeding.  It becomes very painful, the butt surgeon did a MRI to but only found inflamation.  I am now also getting scar tissue there, and recently have started tearing between the rectum and vagina.  Anyone have this type of problem and have had it healed to where it does not return on a regular basis?  Any adivce is appreciated.

My routine for helping the pain is to soak in epsom salt as it relieves the pain especially if bowel nears the tear.  I have also tried Destin, Boreduex Butt Paste, and various over the counter creams. 

I've heard endocort used for this kind of problem.....

I have the same problem….. This darn fissure comes and then *almost* goes but never completely leaves. During its bad times it bleeds and hurts so bad! Especially when the surgeon takes a lot at my abscess and pulls at it by mistake! Don’t they know how much they hurt!? I use these wipes called rectogesic instead of toilet paper. I wish I’d known about them when I first got crohn’s – I don’t know about you but I suspect TP is a big culprit for giving me a fissure! Rectogesic medicated wipes can be used for hemmies and are perfect for pregnancy (according to the packet) http://www.rectogesic.com.au/

I’m really not sure but I think remi would be great for healing fissures – it seems to be great for eveyrth8ing! After 3 yrs with an awful GI who only offered me pentasa, I am finally on my way and have been prescribed imuran and am applying for an accompanying drug. Yay! Now I finally have hopes for me abscess/fistula/fissure!

 

Your surgeon and GI should take it seriously because they are so very painful. I had mine looked at yesterday and my GI described it as a ‘deep’ fissure. Boo.

The sores between your rectum and vagina sound like fissures, but I've never heard of any developing higher up between the buttocks. I can't tell exactly where you mean, though. That area tends to sweat a lot and bacteria or fungus can thrive if you have proclivity for it. If it were a fungus, I think they would have seen that on a culture - but a bacterium they might find normal.

I had a pretty painful one recently... I would not say it is 100% healed, but it generally is not a problem anymore.

I soaked in hot water 15 min a day for a few weeks. Also, I was applying vitamin E oil or an ointment from Burt's Bees directly to the area. I read that comfrey ointment is supposed to be really good for healing fissures. Burt's Bees makes a few products that are meant for healing cracked skin that contain comfrey, vitamin E, etc. Res-Q ointment is one. You can find them in a grocery or drug store.

Best of luck.

I had a sever fissure many years ago, felt like I was pooping glass! It was surgically fixed along with a fistula I had near by at the time. Never a problem with it since. Those are very painful, so I know how you feel!

want_2_be_well said...
Alright everyone, I know others have mentioned having a crack in their butt crack.  I have seen the regular dr, the GI, and a colon/rectal surgeon.  None of which have taken the crack in my crack seriously they say put some cream or lotion on it . I have had this issue for over a year, and It seems to heal a little after my Remicade, but about week 4 or 5 it is back to raw and bleeding.  It becomes very painful, the butt surgeon did a MRI to but only found inflamation.  I am now also getting scar tissue there, and recently have started tearing between the rectum and vagina.  Anyone have this type of problem and have had it healed to where it does not return on a regular basis?  Any adivce is appreciated.

My routine for helping the pain is to soak in epsom salt as it relieves the pain especially if bowel nears the tear.  I have also tried Destin, Boreduex Butt Paste, and various over the counter creams. 

Hi I didn't read the rest of the posts but I would state my life on it its a fissure that is what it sounds like but is there any drainage from this tear like stool I know u said there was blood it could also be a fistula hiding behind it but than again the surgen would have noticed that right I would go to the ER cause your not getting any help with the problem from anyone else c what they say best of luck to ya keep us posted?Jenn

Wow, you'd think with how many replies there are to this thread (and how many people read and didn't reply) doctor's, or at least drug companies would figure out how to treat this!

My doctor thought that prescription hemmorrhoid cream would help. It has steroids along with several other ingredients one of which is an anti-bacterial, it's call "ratio-PROCTOSONE. The cream did help a great deal, but not completely. I think yeast is common in that area, and your skin can't protect you when it's broken. Anyway I went to the grocery store and purchased the no name brand of the canesten cream (I didn't need the whole kit thank goodness). I alternated both creams and it cleared up in less than a week.

Having said that if you do have a hidden fistula (my doctors missed the first one all together since it didn't look like what they expected) creams are just not going to do it.

Then again for the $2.50 it costs for the canesten cream it's probably worth a try.

Hope you feel better soon
Sylph

Hi I have read Nifedipine is used for fissures but do find out what the problem is and keep us updated on how things go... lol gail

I went to the doctor for a cracked crack. He put steri-strips on the area, A large gauze pad over the steri-strips kind of wedged between my cheeks. Then he put tape over the gauze pad and held my butt cheeks together that way. It has been 3 days, and I went back for a check and the wound is healing nicely. I am supposed to clean it with peroxide once a day and carefully use a q tip to apply antibiotic ointment. I am in a lot less pain than I was.

The crack in my crack started on friday, and I tried to keep it clean and apply triple antibiotic ointment, but every time I bent over or sat down the wound would pop wide open again.

So I recommend this technique to keep the crack in the crack closed and allow it to heal.

I also have been using a donut pillow for when I am sitting, and try to lie on my side as much as I can. I am a stay at home mom, but the doctor offered to write me a doctors note so I didn't have to work for the next 10 days while it heals properly.

More doctors should take this condition seriously. It really hurts, and with it being such a moist and sweaty area, not to mention butt cheeks move a lot splitting the cut open over and over again.... steri strips are really necessary.

Hope you all get feeling better soon! Cracked Cracks suck!

Post Edited (lilypie) : 8/30/2009 7:49:14 PM (GMT-6)

Advice for the cracked crack. Recently this became an issue in my household and I
cured it overnight with an ointment called Nystatin and Triamcinolone Acetonide from
the company TARO. My dermatologist had prescribed it for a crack in the side of my
mouth and it turns out it works magnificently for the butt crack issue too.

I use Bepathen Cream - a couple of types one is for baby nappy rash and I use othe other one which is in blue tube/box in NZ.  I was put onto it by my gynae and it is awesome for all our nether regions esp cracks as it doesn't sting.  Suspect the Vit B is the healing part whilst the barrier components protect and soothe :)