Painful Butt Cramps? Here's What Your Body's Trying to Tell You

Livestrong.com may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.
Talk about a pain in the butt.
Image Credit: Staras/iStock/GettyImages

Imagine that one moment you're just sitting at your desk or watching TV contently and suddenly you're gripped by a pretty intense pain…in your anus. It leaves you in agony for a few minutes and just as quickly as it came on, it leaves again.

Advertisement

What you may have just experienced was proctalgia fugax, which is a type of severe rectal pain. (I should know — it's happened to me before. ​In my sleep.​ I thought I was dying, and then I was fine again. And totally confused. My body just acted as if nothing had happened. So, I laid in bed frantically Googling at 1 a.m. Only when I learned about proctalgia fugax did I start to feel better.)

Video of the Day

Video of the Day

Here's what's going on: "Proctalgia fugax often happens when the smooth muscle in the anal canal spasms like crazy," gastroenterologist Supriya Rao, MD, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

It's not common, affecting just 5 to 10 percent of the population, Dr. Rao says, but the number could be higher. "Only 20 percent of patients who experience it tell their physician. That may be out of embarrassment or because it doesn't happen often enough," she says.

Each episode of this rectal pain lasts between a couple seconds to a few minutes and is fairly infrequent, happening five or fewer times in a year for most patients. In between bouts, you're totally fine.

Advertisement

What Causes Proctalgia Fugax?

While experts generally know who experiences this kind of painful anal spasm — adults of any age, more often in people assigned female at birth — it's not clear yet ​why​ it's happening.

"There are several suggested triggers, but there's not one true obvious trigger," Dr. Rao says.

Advertisement

The suggested triggers include:

  • Stress or anxiety
  • Constipation
  • Sex
  • Having your period

Proctalgia fugax may also be associated with IBS, notes a March 2013 article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (​CMAJ​). And sometimes there's a compression of the pudendal nerve (a main nerve in your pelvis) that leads to these symptoms, Dr. Rao says.

Advertisement

Other times, though, it just seems to happen at random, the ​CMAJ​ article authors note.

How to Find Relief

As for the fix, there's one powerful thing to keep in mind: The pain is fleeting. It will go away.

Advertisement

"If proctalgia fugax happens infrequently, most physicians would reassure their patients and explain what's going on, but no specific treatment is needed," Dr. Rao says.

Advertisement

In general, treating proctalgia fugax is challenging, notes a June 2020 review in Current Gastroenterology Reports. Of course, that doesn't mean you have to just grit your teeth through it. There are some things you can do to ease the pain, especially if it's occurring regularly.

Here's what to try, says Dr. Rao:

  1. Sitz baths:​ This is when you soak the anal area by sitting in a few inches of warm water. If you don't have a bathtub or have trouble getting in and out of it, you can try a plastic sitz bath seat that attaches to your toilet ($23.75, Amazon). Aim to soak two to three times a day for 10 to 15 minutes each, per the Mayo Clinic.
  2. Epsom salt baths:​ Adding Epsom salts to your soak may be beneficial because these salts are rich in minerals like magnesium that have muscle-relaxing properties.
  3. Prescription topical antispasmodics:​ These can be applied when symptoms start, to decrease pressure in the area. Your doctor can prescribe these.
  4. Biofeedback therapy:​ This type of therapy is often used in pelvic floor physical therapy and may help retrain these muscles to relax. Talk to your doctor about getting a referral for physical therapy.

Advertisement

You can also try to figure out what's triggering these painful episodes and work from there. If bowel movements (or a lack thereof) are to blame, try treating constipation by eating more fiber, drinking more water and getting daily exercise.

If stress is the culprit, get more zen in your life via daily meditation, deep-breathing exercises or other stress-busting methods.

Advertisement

It's completely normal to be shy about bringing up anal pain at the doctor's office — it's not exactly a comfortable topic to discuss. But it's important. "Being honest with your doctor can help you, so you don't have to suffer in silence," Dr. Rao says.

Advertisement

Pro tip: It might be helpful to say that you read a story about proctalgia fugax and use that as a jumping off point to talk about your symptoms.

When to See a Doctor (and What to Expect)

If proctalgia fugax is happening to you frequently (every few days or weekly) and it's enough to disrupt your quality of life, then you may want to make an appointment with your doctor.

There are many steps required to get a diagnosis, Dr. Rao says. For instance, you have to have recurrent episodes of pain in your rectum that are not related to having a bowel movement. These symptoms had to have happened within the last three months, with the first symptom starting six months ago.

In addition, your MD will rule out other potential causes of anal pain, such as anal fissures or hemorrhoids. A pelvic exam is needed to rule out pelvic inflammatory disorder, and you'll need a colonoscopy, too. Once these find that everything is normal, then your doctor can diagnose you with proctalgia fugax.

references

Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.

universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top