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What Do Pain In Legs And Buttocks Along With Blood In Stool Suggest?
Question: My husband has pains in his legs and buttocks and has recently had blood in his poo. He won't go to the doctors.
Brief Answer:
Needs colonoscopy.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Although there is a slight possibility that the pain and bleeding are from hemorrhoids or anal tear (hemorrhoids and tears usually causes localized pain in the anus/rectum), there is a much stronger chance that there is something going on with his colon, including colorectal cancer.
I don't want to scare you (or him) but I do want to motivate him to go in to see a doctor ASAP. I will tell you this: my 43 year old sister had blood in her stool and did not go in for a colonoscopy because a physicians assistant did not know to advise it. Had she done so, her colon cancer would have been diagnosed when in an early stage, treated easily, and she would be alive today. Colon cancer is a very treatable, curable form of cancer if found early. And a colonoscopy can find it easily.
There can also be bleeding from higher up in the digestive tract. If it is from the stomach though, the blood usually appears as a black tarry substance unless there is a very brisk bleed (which it does not sound like is the case).
So:
Go to a doctor ASAP.
Get a colonoscopy unless there is very obvious evidence of localized bleeding.
Needs colonoscopy.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Although there is a slight possibility that the pain and bleeding are from hemorrhoids or anal tear (hemorrhoids and tears usually causes localized pain in the anus/rectum), there is a much stronger chance that there is something going on with his colon, including colorectal cancer.
I don't want to scare you (or him) but I do want to motivate him to go in to see a doctor ASAP. I will tell you this: my 43 year old sister had blood in her stool and did not go in for a colonoscopy because a physicians assistant did not know to advise it. Had she done so, her colon cancer would have been diagnosed when in an early stage, treated easily, and she would be alive today. Colon cancer is a very treatable, curable form of cancer if found early. And a colonoscopy can find it easily.
There can also be bleeding from higher up in the digestive tract. If it is from the stomach though, the blood usually appears as a black tarry substance unless there is a very brisk bleed (which it does not sound like is the case).
So:
Go to a doctor ASAP.
Get a colonoscopy unless there is very obvious evidence of localized bleeding.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you very much. Any chance you can man handle him from the house & take him to the doctors. He won't go. But I really appreciate your reply, thank you. I'm so worried. What would be the treatment if is was that?
Brief Answer:
I know about husbands who do not want to go to the doctor.
Detailed Answer:
It's still possible it is something benign (is he very constipated?) but if it is a tumor, treatment depends on how advanced and where it is. Many precancerous polyps can just be removed during the colonoscopy itself, but if it is more advanced, then treatment may be removal of a segment of the colon and other treatments. Usually, unless a tumor is right near the rectum or distal colon, normal bowel function is retained without need for a colostomy. But this is getting ahead of things as we don't know what is going on yet. The most important thing is to get it diagnosed early.
Your husband is not alone. There are many people, especially men, who don't want to go to the doctor. But if he goes he can find out that it is either nothing concerning, or if it is something concerning, it can be dealt with promptly.
I know about husbands who do not want to go to the doctor.
Detailed Answer:
It's still possible it is something benign (is he very constipated?) but if it is a tumor, treatment depends on how advanced and where it is. Many precancerous polyps can just be removed during the colonoscopy itself, but if it is more advanced, then treatment may be removal of a segment of the colon and other treatments. Usually, unless a tumor is right near the rectum or distal colon, normal bowel function is retained without need for a colostomy. But this is getting ahead of things as we don't know what is going on yet. The most important thing is to get it diagnosed early.
Your husband is not alone. There are many people, especially men, who don't want to go to the doctor. But if he goes he can find out that it is either nothing concerning, or if it is something concerning, it can be dealt with promptly.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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