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Discomfort In Anal Canal. Did Endoscopic Exam. Prostate Cancer?
Question: Hello Doctor,
I am sorry to trouble you on a Sunday, but I do have a question. I am a 57 year old male, 6'4" and around 240 lbs, generally considered to be in good health. For the past couple of weeks I have had some minor discomfort in my anal canal. I often feel like I need to defecate or there is gas, but I do not need to go nor do I have gas. Sometime there is a very small pain. My stool looks normal and does not appear to have blood in it and I do not have any discomfort during the process of expelling solid waste.
It almost feels like I do when, on rare occasion, I eat too may Jalapeno peppers or some other type of really, really spicy food.
If it never gets any worse, I suppose I could live with this weird feeling, but I am concerned that might be cancer or something. The only thing that has penetrated my anal canal is a digital rectal exam for check for prostrate cancer or my first endoscopic exam a couple of years ago. I also lift weights and wondered if pressure focused on that part of my anatomy during leg lifts or squats could have torn something.
What are your thoughts?
XXXX
I am sorry to trouble you on a Sunday, but I do have a question. I am a 57 year old male, 6'4" and around 240 lbs, generally considered to be in good health. For the past couple of weeks I have had some minor discomfort in my anal canal. I often feel like I need to defecate or there is gas, but I do not need to go nor do I have gas. Sometime there is a very small pain. My stool looks normal and does not appear to have blood in it and I do not have any discomfort during the process of expelling solid waste.
It almost feels like I do when, on rare occasion, I eat too may Jalapeno peppers or some other type of really, really spicy food.
If it never gets any worse, I suppose I could live with this weird feeling, but I am concerned that might be cancer or something. The only thing that has penetrated my anal canal is a digital rectal exam for check for prostrate cancer or my first endoscopic exam a couple of years ago. I also lift weights and wondered if pressure focused on that part of my anatomy during leg lifts or squats could have torn something.
What are your thoughts?
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Life style changes, colonoscopy, gastroenterologis
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for the query,
It could be important first to evaluate any changes that you have had , especially concerning your diet lately. A history of recent could as well alter bowel movements.
What you describe looks more of a functional problem. This means, changes with the normal bowel movements. The commonest condition that is responsible for this is called irritable bowel syndrome. Drinking much water, vegetables, a lot of fruits and fibres, eating on specified times and avoiding late meals could be of immense help. Exercise or walking could be useful.
It is very reassuring that you do not have any blood in your stool and the recent anal examination was within normal limits.
Eating a lot of pepper could aggravate or cause peptic ulcer disease (gastritis), that presents itself rather is upper abdominal pain, and not anal pain. It is true that eating pepper at times could also cause some itching in the anal area.
It would be necessary to exclude also the commonest cause, depending on evolution after normal life style changes as indicated above, which is tumors of the colon. It is recommended that individuals above 50 years of age should have a test for occult blood in stool and a colonoscopy. This is the surest method to exclude any serious disease.
I strongly suggest you start the recommended measures and book an appointment with a gastroenterologist for a complete clinical review and to get a colonoscopy done. Thanks and hope this helps as I wish you the best of health. Feel free asking follow up questions in case you got specific concerns.
Kind regards.
Bain LE, MD
Life style changes, colonoscopy, gastroenterologis
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for the query,
It could be important first to evaluate any changes that you have had , especially concerning your diet lately. A history of recent could as well alter bowel movements.
What you describe looks more of a functional problem. This means, changes with the normal bowel movements. The commonest condition that is responsible for this is called irritable bowel syndrome. Drinking much water, vegetables, a lot of fruits and fibres, eating on specified times and avoiding late meals could be of immense help. Exercise or walking could be useful.
It is very reassuring that you do not have any blood in your stool and the recent anal examination was within normal limits.
Eating a lot of pepper could aggravate or cause peptic ulcer disease (gastritis), that presents itself rather is upper abdominal pain, and not anal pain. It is true that eating pepper at times could also cause some itching in the anal area.
It would be necessary to exclude also the commonest cause, depending on evolution after normal life style changes as indicated above, which is tumors of the colon. It is recommended that individuals above 50 years of age should have a test for occult blood in stool and a colonoscopy. This is the surest method to exclude any serious disease.
I strongly suggest you start the recommended measures and book an appointment with a gastroenterologist for a complete clinical review and to get a colonoscopy done. Thanks and hope this helps as I wish you the best of health. Feel free asking follow up questions in case you got specific concerns.
Kind regards.
Bain LE, MD
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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