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My butt crack is cracked...need input

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Posted 6/10/2009 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
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. 

Posted 6/10/2009 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Fissure? I get them often...one heals, then I get another...my skin is quite friable..I use Niphedipine/Lidocane ointment which my GI prescribed, and must be done at a compounding pharmacy.

Also, try and use wipes instead of TP...I use 2 huggies and 1 Prep H...the huggies are cheaper, but the prep H wipe feel pretty good...I only use TP for #1, but the aforementioned combo for #2...I hope that you can find something that works...
Posted 6/10/2009 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
I've heard endocort used for this kind of problem.....
Posted 6/10/2009 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like a serious and deep fissure to me, from my understanding some docs will attempt surgery on severe and deep ones so it may be a matter of you finding one that will.

Guess my signature down below is appropriate for this post eh LOL!

:)
Posted 6/10/2009 5:54 AM (GMT 0)
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/
Posted 6/11/2009 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the input!  I guess I will continue to pester doctors about it until someone takes is more serious.  It can be so painful at times, almost like the open area is right near a nerve or something because of the pain it causes.

Looks like the rectogesic cream is not available in the US.  I will have to try and order the wipes. I will ask the Dr. about the compounded med as well.  Not sure about Encort, wouldn't the Remicade be the next level med for the same issues?   

Posted 6/11/2009 11:13 PM (GMT 0)

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.

Posted 6/12/2009 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Ok this might sounds silly but in the meantime before you see your doc, have you used neosporin with pain relief (make sure you wear a pad with it, it will stain undies/clothing/sheets, and keep really it covered with neo w/pain relief) everytime you use the bathroom.
Posted 6/12/2009 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
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.
Posted 6/12/2009 6:26 AM (GMT 0)

Hey guys, are you referring to my post? I’m not sure….

 

The IBD gastro I saw yesterday said I had a deep fissure which is up above my butt crack…. So they can appear there. I haven’t heard of the creams you speak of but I try and do salt baths whenever I can. Hopefully these news meds might help with clearing up all the problems down there

Posted 6/12/2009 1:12 PM (GMT 0)
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.
Posted 6/12/2009 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hey guys, thanks you all are giving me some hope! My only other hope is remicade is next week and I know it will start to heal some after that. I have tried neosporin and didn't feel much relief.

Anyone think the salt baths could be making it worse? My boyfriend thinks I should just try hot water for a while and see if there is any change.

I will be checking out the burt's products before I get home tonight. Any chance of something helping me get a decent night sleep tonight is worth a try.

I don't want anyone to get me wrong, my Dr's have been fabulous. They have gave me a life back, if we could only nail this cracked crack I would be in great shape! Somehow it seems to slip through the "cracks" because they all think of it as the other areas.
Posted 6/12/2009 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
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!
Posted 6/12/2009 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
I'm another person who thinks that this *might* be a deep and long-standing fungal infection.

You might like to experiment with some anti-fungal cream and maybe putting some white vinegar in your bathwater.

Ivy.
Posted 6/13/2009 12:02 AM (GMT 0)

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

Posted 6/13/2009 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
I had the same issues last year, in both areas.  I saw my GI and my Ob and finally my GI sent me to a dermatologist.  Just like you I had tried everything.  It turns out I had irritiant dermatitis from so much wiping and activity back there.  Then because I was so inflamed and everything was basically open sores/cracks I would get a little bit of a yeast infection.  The dermatologist gave me a steriod cream and some yeast cream and helped immediately.  After months of agony what she gave stopped most of my symptoms in a few days.  I still have problems now and then but she gave a lower dose steriod cream that I can use more often.  So basically I suggest you sae  a dermatologist.  My "crack" was so bad it extended at least 3 inchecs after your regular crack stops and the inflamation spread out up the sides of my cheeks.  The whole area between my rectum and vagina was just split and inflamed.  The stuff she gave was alomost instant relief.  The first cream she gave me was called Triamcinolone Acetonide ointment.  I hope this helps and I hope you get some relief very very soon.
Posted 6/13/2009 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
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
Posted 6/15/2009 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
So I tried the Res-Q this weekend, and it was a nice change! I slept all night without having to get up and take a hot bath. So for the short term this is helping, but I am not sure if it will heal everything.

Sarah, great input! I had not thought of a determatolgist, so that advice is priceless. I plan on calling the GI today and asking about the steroid cream or see if he wants me to go to the determatolgist. Either way it is another Dr who might might be able to provide some help. So if anything you gave me hope! Surely a determatolgist would be able to determine if it is fungal or not, or at least help with the pain.

Sylph how did they find the "hidden" fistula? The colon rectal surgeon tried the MRI as a way of finding the source of the tailbone pain associated with my cracked crack and pelvic pain but only found lots of inflamation.
Posted 6/15/2009 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
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
Posted 6/23/2009 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
Well I went to the dr again today, never a good sign when he says, "well that doesn't look good when" while looking at the old backside. It appears I may have a fistula forming that my remicade is keeping at bay. Good news it is not draining or though the skin so the remicade is doing it's job. This is causing some of my pain in the old arse.

The other issue with the cracked crack is being treated with vitamin e oil. They believe I have vitamin e deficiency and suggested taking it daily. Thanks everyone for the advice and help while I was trying to get a dr to look at the issue again.

Illini your the winner for your vitamin E suggestion! Too bad there is no prize, I guess you get the satisfaction of knowing you helped.
Posted 8/26/2009 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
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)

Posted 8/27/2009 7:44 AM (GMT 0)
Have you ever tried...bag balm? This stuff really is amazing..and it has antibacterial properties...but it cured a good friends athletes foot..and my family has used it for years..its in a green container and its sold at cvs..
Posted 9/17/2010 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
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.
Posted 9/18/2010 9:31 AM (GMT 0)
Can only relate our experience.

My son's extensive fissuring and skin tags ONLY resolved when he went into remission on Humira and 6-MP. Took several months on Humira for his perianal disease to heal.

We had tried everything else and, except for some healing when he was on exclusive enteral nutrition, nothing worked. We used pretty much every topical treatment anyone could think to rx, saw a wound nurse who gave up in frustration, did so many baths...

For him, there was no healing his perianal disease until his Crohn's was truly in remission.
Posted 9/18/2010 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
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 :) 
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