rectal spasms - tenesmus?

[pearlgirl]

Okay, from searching this forum for "rectal spasms", looking for some remedy that might help B get relief from the constant feeling of having to "go" following his ostomy reversal, I came upon the term "tenesmus", which seems to fit what is going on with him. However, I can't find information on how to treat it. Even googling the term only brings up articles about finding the cause of it, not how to treat post-surgical tenesmus.

Has anyone been prescribed medications that have helped? He has tried sitz baths, low-dose Xanax, adding fiber... Any other suggestions?

[ed_colon]

imodum can help by making bowel movements less frequent and more solid

[Guest]

I've had a couple of rectal spasms since surgery and they where painful to the point I compared them to the pain at labor only the location was different. My surgeon didn't have any proper ideas what to do. My oncologist told me there was a surgeon who treated the spasms with corticosteroids. Did not use them.
I've found myself the spasms occured when I was constipated and they got worse if I felt irritated and nervous. I tried xanax but it didn't helped.
When the spasms started I went into a peaceful quiet room and relaxed. The spasms didn't escalate and they ended sooner.
I haven't had any for half a year now and they are a mistery to me.

[Gaelen]

Immodium is, as far as I've read, the *last* thing B. would need.
Pearlgirl, have they tried morphine? Or Methadone?
There's some research that oral methadone relaxes the constant spasming in the colon sufficiently so that the tenesmus is relieved, even in patients who can't tolerate the morphine.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11305071

[pearlgirl]

He doesn't have pain so much as constant pressure and occasional, uncomfortable muscle spasms. Morphine has not been an effective pain reliever for him, but methadone is a possibility we can look into.

[Gaelen]

Actually, that's the perfect reason to request the methadone--because the morphine hasn't been effective. I believe that was the whole focus of the trial I linked.

[momsCancer]

My mom had rectal spasms from radiation. She had the continual urge to go and alot of pain. We were prescribed proctofoam. It is injected and immediately relieves spasm. I don't know how she would have made it through without it.

[pearlgirl]

I am leery of Proctofoam because it is a steroid, which can thin the skin, and he has internal radiation damage.

[CRguy]

Don't be too shy about steroids, my rad onco gave me some low dose cortisone suppositories at the end of chemoradiation...so check with the docs before avoiding it completely, if they think healing has progressed well enough along, so far ??

Also had similar symptoms / sensations post takedown, but no severe pain or involuntary spasm as I recall. It will get better with time, so the methadone sounds interesting to tide you (him) over.

(( side note : recent use of oral methadone for analgesia in pets as well !!! ))

Cheers
CRguy

[Tom Whelan]

I had my rectum removed 3 months ago (massive polyps) and my colon was looped to use as the "new" rectum. During the 3 months with the ileostomy bag I had involuntary discharges of mucus from my "new rectum". The doctor said this was normal and that the mucus is normally discharged with a bowel movement. Since the reversal of the ileostomy I am still have involuntary discharges. It is painful, I squeeze to try to stop it (and I do exercises everyday with sphincter muscle) but I cannot stop it. So before the reversal I had to deal with the mucus discharge and now its either diarrhea or a hard stool (sometimes combined with gas) that is being involuntarily discharged, its been 6 weeks. Some nights I'm up the entire night dealing with toilet paper and stools. Depending on the consistentcy of the stools will depend upon whether I am bleeding or on fire . Does anyone else have this? Please help!!!

[Polarprincess]

my doctor prescribed me a compound of amitryptiline(an antidepressant which helps block nerve endings, and baclofen (muscle relaxer) which was applied locally and helped immensely.

[jules10100]

I had spasms so bad that my surgeon recommended Botox so help with the spasms. It did help but your insurance would have to approve. It was done at the same time as my resection. Actually I've had it done 3 times. It figures, my friend fights wrinkles on her face with it and I only get to use it on my butt!!

Botox". Not just for facial wrinkles anymore!

[KellyBelle]

I had terrible rectal spasms for several months after surgery and my doc prescribed LidaZone HC Cream. It's a suppository analgesic that worked wonders for me... this does get better, and I haven't had to use any in a very long time (except for the one time I ate popcorn).

Kelly

[meeko]

I still have them on days when I have to go alot and i sit/lay on the heating pad! Helps me relax and then the spasms subside...they can be painful and make you a bit nauseous...blech

[Endo girl]

Hello everyone,

I thought I was the only one suffering from tenesmus. I hope no one minds my barging in on this topic. I do no have rectal cancer but I'm 10 months post bowel resection. Im told they removed only the last 6 inches of my sigmoid colon due to extensive endo on the bowels. I have had rectal nodules removed in a previous surgery 7 years ago. Recovery has been torturous and filled with many hours in the bathroom. Initially, I was going 20-30 times a day after surgery. That rate declined through January until I wasn't going at all. Then, I started taking Miralax and finally going again but not able to find the right balance of the powder that doesnt send me into the bathroom 10 times a day.

So, the biggest pain in the azz I have right now is literally, the pain in the rectum. The rectal spasms are so distressing and unbelievably uncomfortable and annoying. I'm seeing a new colo-rectal surgeon in June to have him do a colonscopy. I'm so at a loss and just want to get back to normal!

Thanks
Colon Girl