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Proctalgia Fugax -- Part III

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Posted 3/19/2013 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
Like a few here, it seems, I presented to my doc about 12 months ago with all of the sypmtoms described, and she explained that it may be muscle spasms, but gave me no clear diagnosis or treatment.

I am so relieved to know that I'm not going crazy. Like documented in some of the other threads, as a male, I had my first bout of PF after sex. At first the bouts didn't last long, but the other night it woke me up and lasted an hour.

Well after seriously praying to Jesus that it would stop, I thought let's fight fire with fire, and we (my very understanding wife and I) had sex - GONE! I know what all you men (-woohooo!) and women (-Oh you can't be serious!) are thinking, but yes, pain gone! yeah

I wonder whether the spasming muscle gets a counter spasm which switches the 'looping' spasm off? I really hope this works for some others!
Posted 3/31/2013 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
PF sufferer for 15 years, one or two attacks monthly: Here are my symptoms, and a treatment that, I think, has failed me only once in those 15 years.

SYMPTOMS: Severe rectal cramp pain accompanied by a frighteningly solid erection; only occurs at night, always wakes me out of deep (possibly REM) sleep, usually from 1 to 4 hours after I turn in. Without treatment the pain lasts 30 - 40 min. and is, as I said, severe. With treatment, pain's gone and I'm back in bed in under 5 minutes.

TREATMENT: Store-brand saline enema. Administer, wait 45 seconds, release into toilet, wipe up, back to bed. (Half the time the release will also include a couple small (5-10 mm, marble-size?) stool pellets, that appear to me to be in the process of forming.)

Reading so many of these anguished accounts, I feel lucky that I've found a treatment that works quickly, and has reduced this terrible, excruciating condition to an occasional inconvenience.

RANDOM THOUGHTS:
- Attacks seem to have, for me, a correlation with stressful times. Springtime is stressful in my work (science teacher) during which I'll have 2-3 bouts a month. I get summers off - b l i s s ! - and I can and have gone all summer with no PF attack.
- NEVER FORGET THE ENEMAS WHEN TRAVELING. I'd forgotten them before, but the last time I forgot them, I had an attack. So yeah; won't make THAT mistake again.
- Cute story, or, as I like to call it "The Day I Learned That I'm Not Adopted." A couple years after I first began having the attacks, I was chewing the fat with my dad and the discussion came around -- as it often does between us -- to "Gettin' Old's A B**ch." I mentioned my "butt cramps" and his eyes lit up…he gets them too and always has, with almost identical presentation! What a bonding moment! :-)
Posted 7/31/2013 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hello again. As I said in my last post, I don't often get this pain any more as I avoid all food that might contain corn. That includes food sweetened with the fructose of corn, such as soft drinks. Last week I ate a gluten free friande at a café and obviously it contained cornflour as three days later I was in agony with PF. Thanks to all who have posted re sitting on a tennis ball. Putting pressure on the anal area does help.

I notice that lots of people say they get the pain after some sort of activity or while cold or while stressed or sleeping. Is it something to do with oxygen levels? Even though my pain is due to allergy it does come on (if I've eaten corn) when I'm asleep or on a brisk walk.

I really wish some of you out there would try a fructose free diet to see if it gives relief. In my case it's the fructose of corn, but it could be a different fructose for someone else. Life is lots better without the pain of PF.

Posted 8/1/2013 1:12 PM (GMT 0)
I have had this for years and seems to be no rhyme or reason to it. I use to think it only happened around my menstrual cycle and thought that was it but then i found this site and realize how many men have it too. I can't correlate it to any particular foods or activities but maybe trapped gas in the colon. I wonder if anyone else thinks this could be it. Usually after a nightly episode(had one last night at 4am)I have to get up and fairly soon have a BM which included plenty of gas(sorry,gross)so i am wondering if anyone else has noticed this too.
Posted 8/15/2013 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all. I am a 44 year old male and have had this condition for about 4 years. I cant find any cause of the attacks which I get about every 8 weeks. They last around 40 minutes to an hour and cause fainting due to extreme pain, sweating, a general feeling of panic and leave me feeling wiped out.
Very relieved to find this forum, my doctor had no answers for me but my symptoms are exactly what people on here describe.
I am not alone.
Posted 8/16/2013 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
No, you guys are not alone. This is actually a pretty common problem. Sucks doesn't it!?

I had my fair share of PF about 2 months ago....I was very close to going to the ER for mine. Not to be so graphic, but I felt like there was a red hot poker up my tush. I was quite grateful when it stopped! It lasted for about 3 days. So my heart goes out to you all that have had to deal with it longer.

I have not read this whole thread, but I read online that if you we're to use something to break the spasms, it can help relieve it. There is a product that is a "plug" filled with water, you put it in the freezer and when you have a PF attack, you insert it. I have not tried this but I can see the validity of it....though I imagine that it could be quite cold! Lol
Posted 8/25/2013 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
I recently stumbled across a solution for proctalgia fugax. Out of desperation to stop the pain, I took a 5mg dose of cyclobenzaprine, a muscle relaxant, and it worked very quickly. I'm being hypocritical, but consult your doctor before trying it. It is meant to be taken right before an 8 hour sleep session. However, my spasm usually occur during the middle of the night, so when I take the drug at that time, I'm left with about 4 hours of sleep before I get up. I did not feel drowsy when I woke, so like most drugs, it will vary among users. I hope this helps anyone who has not yet found their solution.
Posted 9/14/2013 8:27 AM (GMT 0)
I have suffered from proctalgia fugax for decades, but have only recently put a name to it. Believe it or not, this pain took a backseat to the far worse trigeminal neuralgia. Fortunately my TN has gone into remission, and I am finally dealing with the PF.
The one and only thing that has helped so far is for me to take Ativan as soon as the attack starts (usually it starts in my sleep, but recently daytime bouts are becoming more frequent). I have had bowel issues my entire life and suffer from B12 deficiency. I receive 2000mcg IM three times a week. I am curious if any other sufferers are B12 deficient?
Posted 9/22/2013 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
I've had this for 40 years. I'm female. It sometimes accompanies other cramps, but for the most part does not. I've tried most of what people talk about here, except drugs. about 7 years ago I hit on a solution that ALWAYS works for me.

First, I have to be warm- cold helps cause this (note, I never sleep with my butt uncovered anymore since I found this out). I keep a heavy quilt at the foot of the bed.

Second, I sit cross-legged (like lotus position but with your feet under your thighs), and bend forward stretching. Like one of the other posters said, these are CRAMPS. What helps cramping? Stretching the muscle.

So I sit cross-legged on the bed, wrap a quilt around my whole body so I'm practically entombed in it except my face, and bend forward stretching as much as I can. They're are gone within a couple of minutes. Every time. This has never not worked for me. I was so happy to figure this out, I really hope someone else finds it works for them too.
Posted 9/22/2013 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for mentioning this stretching exercise! While I probably do not have the exact symptoms you're describing, ever since I had a colon resection and 90% of my sigmoid removed, my bottom has never been the same since my surgery. I occasionally get into a very painful phase and it's awful, all you can think of, sitz baths help but sometimes I need to wait it out. I prefer pressure and it's hard to find that exact sleeping position to relieve the pain, sometimes I sleep with a rolled up towel under my bottom but it shifts thru the night and then I have the discomfort that wakes me up. I'll have to try that exercise next time.

I did discover calmoseptine ointment greatly helps with external discomfort. It's a great product, purchased behind the counter at your local pharmacy.
Posted 10/6/2013 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Ouch PF now. Am sitting on a tub of vasaline, a tennis ball was suggested but I cant find mine and the tub of vasaline is about the size... - I'm feeling most undignified but this does seem to be breaking the cramp and greatly easing the pain.
Posted 2/2/2014 4:41 AM (GMT 0)
My wife found this site for me, and the name of a condition I have suffered with since I was 14, (That was a very long time ago as I am in my 57th year.) with many unanswered and embarrassing doctor visits. I stumbled onto what I believe is a very important piece to this mystery. It is perhaps more closely associated with LAS which symptoms see to abate after 30 excruciating minutes of pain.

My theory is that the bladder muscles which contract during sexual activity contract involuntarily to stop the flow of urine. These muscles also contract during heavy lifting, stress, bowel movements, dehydration due to exertion and other times when the body calls for this stoppage. Why it occurs during the night is due to the the brains triggering of sexual stimulus that often precedes an erection.

This simple exercise has stopped the pain immediately every time. Run a very hot tub, not scalding, lean back and relax every muscle. This may sound silly but it works—focus on relaxing your bladder to allow urine trapped by cramping muscles to flow. Cold air contrasting with hot water usually does the trick. Sometimes I have to pull the plug and subject myself to the temperature difference. Typically, you will notice only a very small release of trapped urine. The pain always leaves immediately for me, every time. Note: I never feel the urge to pee when the pain hits or during a bout.

I hope this helps someone as much as it has me.
Posted 3/1/2014 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
My Dr. has prescribed something that seems to stop the pain fairly quickly. I have only just had one episode since the medication was prescribed and I cannot say that it is always going to work because my episodes vary in severity and frequency so much that it will take some time to determine if it will work every time. I was given a cream solution of nitroglycerin .5% (one half percent) that is to be applied to the rectum at the onset of the pain, the method of application was by use of a piece of paper (supplied) that the cream is applied to then is supposed to be put in place. This application procedure, I'm sure, was for applying the cream to the chest area for heart conditions so I found applying it using a rubber or latex glove to the rectal area to be the best way to do it. For my first episode the pain stopped within 2-3 minutes and did not radiate (as it normally does) from one side of my rectum to the other over a 15-20 minute time period. I do not pray for another episode to try the cream again but when and if it does I will again post the results.
Posted 4/24/2014 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
I've had this since I was in my 20s (now 59)--never a huge deal since it only happens maybe a half-dozen times a year, although it's pretty intense pain for 15-20 minutes like clockwork. Always it the middle of the night, I wake up at first wondering why I'm awake and then I feel the pain building and I know I'm in for the 15 minute drill.

Nothing really ever seemed to help much. If I got up I would feel lightheaded and almost faint. One time I measured my blood pressure during an incident and it was indeed very low. My doctors just shrug when I mention it. So like I say I just live with it.

However, in the last year or two I have actually come on a solution that works amazingly well. I forget how I discovered it exactly--just serendipity. What I do is slide toward the side of the bed, lying on my back, and let my right arm dangle to the floor. Believe it or not, within a minute or so the pain goes away and the attack is averted. Never in the decades I have experienced these attacks has one just evaporated before running its allotted course. Now it goes away *every* time (and doesn't go away if I don't do this, which I tested once since I'm a scientific type). I pass this on in the hopes that someone else might try it as confirmation. I'm thinking the condition has something to do with blood pressure, at least in my case, and lowering the arm changes the blood pressure situation somehow for the better.
Posted 5/3/2014 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
HI. Can someone help me feel better? My husband has researching this, and is convinced this is my problem. I have 'll possible symptoms and last night's episode was the worst ever. The pain is more frequent and painful each time. Hot baths Do not really help. Aleve does, but takes a while.

It is so random when it comes on. Sometimes, I have just been standing still, sometimes a simple bite of food starts it--defiantly sugary foods trigger it. I don't want to go out anymore. I am so scared all the time. This has happened over a number of years. My heart breaks, because my husband watches helplessly.

My brother has severe throngs disease. Is it related? Please, does anyone have new information or enlightenment to my symptoms?
Posted 6/10/2014 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
Not too sure but i think strawberries are my culprit. The last 2 times i ate strawberries i ended up waking up with this pain. I don't panic like i use to and just stay calm and try to breath through the pain and eventually can go back to sleep.
Posted 8/8/2014 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All,
I too have suffered Proctalgia Fugax, several attacks per year, almost always at night and usually associated with an erection as well.

I am happy to tell you all that I have discovered an immediate cure that always works for me.
It's simple too.

I make a fist, reach around and punch my anus with my knuckles. Good solid punches, enough to send a shock up the colon. I punch at different intervals in order to interrupt the timing of the peristaltic contractions.

I normally punch about 20 -25 times. And that's it. It stops.

Since I discovered this method several years ago, I have been able to stop every attack since.

I sure hope it works for you too.

Good luck,

Jim
Vancouver
Posted 11/12/2014 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
I've had proctalgia fugax for the past 10 years (age 40-50), 5-6 times a year, 20-40 mins each time, sometimes very intense, sometimes less so. I've found something that really helps me:

homeopathic cell salts - Hylands #8 Mag. Phos. 6X - for Muscle cramps and pains

Only about $7 from local health food store. I take two tablets that dissolve under my tongue at the onset of pain. The pain either completely stops or does not worsen. I can't tell you how relieved I am. I hope this is helpful for others.
Posted 1/8/2015 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
I have had Proctalgia Fugax for approximately 18 years or so. My first experience with it was waking up in the middle of the night with that awful pain and thought I had to have a bowel movement. about 1/2 way to the bathroom, I felt like I was going to pass out and did when I reached the bathroom. I began having episodes every so often (about once every month and a half or so), with the pain intensifying and lengthening each time. I only fainted the first time, and haven't again since then. I did see the episode on Dr. Oz and realized that I had PF.

I had come down with chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia about 6-8 months prior to that, and figured that it was somehow related to that. Over the years, I have tried so many different natural supplements for CFS/FM and started taking magnesium approximately 10 months ago. From what I've read, most people are deficient in magnesium and with FM, your muscles get extremely fatigued even when you're not physically active and more so when you are. I started taking magnesium citrate and hadn't noticed during that time that my episodes of PF were actually lessening although they would still occur periodically.

My FM symptoms had been getting worse, mostly because of more activity on my part (I was pushing myself too hard), and I found another supplement with magnesium, especially for people with FM. The other day, I felt a tiny little twinge, like I might be getting ready for one of the painful PF episodes, and it went completely away in seconds! It finally dawned on me that I hadn't had one (full) episode since starting this new supplement that I began about 5 months ago. It is called Fibro Malic, and has magnesium hydroxide, malic acid, MSM and olive leaf extract as well as vitamin C and B6 in the formula. I feel certain that this combination and although it is specifically made for FM patients, is the key to not having a PF episode for many months now. In fact, I can't remember exactly when I had my last one. So, I think that the magnesium citrate probably did help a bit with lesser occurrences, but the Fibro Malic formula has been the key for me! The bottle says to take 3 in the morning and 3 at night. I usually just take 2/morning and 2/evening. I get it through iHerb.com (product code is FIB-60967) and it is made by Trask. It is called Fibro Malic Advanced and there are 180 capsules in the bottle. The cost is 25.63 a bottle. Totally worth it!!! I am not associated with iherb.com in anyway shape or form, just to let you know.

I am not a doctor, this is just something I wanted to share in case it may help someone else with this horrible ordeal. There are many types of magnesium, and other types may also help with PF as well. It just makes total sense to me, since PF is a muscle cramp/charley horse and magnesium is good for your muscles!! Maybe a magnesium deficiency, which is very common, is the reason so many people are having these PF occurrences.
Posted 2/13/2015 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hello I have just joined this and cannot explain my relief after having privately suffered with this pain for 6 years to find that I was not alone. I could've cried with happiness once I realised I was not the only person suffering with this and it has given me the courage to tell my husband and go to my doctor as well. I was just so embarrassed I didn't want to tell anyone. I am 33 and have been just went to my doctor today who diagnosed me with PF. She prescribed me a salbutamol inhaler and diazepam 2mg. My attacks normally would happen at night time and I get the feeling like I need to pass a bowel movement but that never happens so I just have to sit on the toilet or I find that if I pace up and down and try to focus on my breathing to calm myself that it helps. The pain can be excruciating for me and last from 5-35mins. I have never fainted but always feel very weak and my legs go to jelly. Now unfortunately over the past two years I've started to take attacks during the day and I know when an attack is about to take place because I will start to get slight cramps in my feet. And then about five mins later the full on pain will come. It is really the worst pain I've ever felt and worse than childbirth which incidentally when I was pregnant I didn't have one attack!! It's so strange! I suffered two attacks this week two days in a row which left me exhausted for three days afterwards. I'm upping my water intake and going to take a magnesium supplement now and at least I have the salbutamol and diazepam to try the next time I get an attack but please god I'll get a break!!
Posted 3/6/2015 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
I have been suffering from this for several years. To the point of my post. I am convinced this is diet related. I can go on for weeks or even months without an attack and then I eat bread related items I don't normally eat and it is a guarantee of an attack. When it first started happening, my son liked to go to Pappa Murphys pizza and build his own pizza, take it home to bake etc. That is when the trouble started and I woke up in the middle of the night praying for relief. After I finished I was saying to myself, what was all that about? So after a couple more runs at that pizza place the timing started to come to a focus for the cause.

Then I noticed that I would go to a restaurant here or there, that I would not normally go to, and eat the harmless looking bread items they would provide before the meal. Bingo an attack would be had at 3am. So I have been building a list in my head, (with last nights addition of Olive Garden bread sticks) to stay away from. Went there last night for my step son's birthday and just decided to eat less than half of one, and that was enough. But it is not all breads. It just seems like there is an ingredient in the cheaper bread products that they are using that is causing the issue.
Well, Just my 2 cents. Going to read through this thread and see what relief I can conjure.
Thanks everyone.
Posted 8/22/2015 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
This is not medical advice.
I am convinced that it is diet related too. I started getting proctalgia fugax at the age of 23 I'm now 55. 1 year ago I made some big changes to my diet after being diagnosed with coronary artery disease. My diet is quite basic mostly natural food such as fruit and vegtables fish meat and chicken. Cut right down on carbohydrates such as rice, bread and pasta, and stopped any gluten intake. I've lost a substantial amount of weight, my angina has eased ( I'm also taking a suppliment that includes nitric oxide and amino acids) thats all for my coronary disease. But what I've also noticed is that I have much less nasal discharge and it is clean and white, it always use to have a yellow colour to it.
But the one important thing here is, in the last year I can't remember getting one single proctalgia fugax attack. I use to get it 2 to 3 times a month.

I've also been exercising 1 hour per day.

Post Edited (James592) : 8/22/2015 9:30:13 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/5/2015 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hello

I'm a 54 year old female educator of 30 years. I've suffered pf 40 years. My extreme food allergies/intolerances triggers this disorder. I've experienced 21 hours natural childbirth. My pf is worse than childbirth. It's shameful and tragic that not one of my doctors were knowledgeable of this disorder.

I happen to stumble upon this website and I thank God! I finally found a name associated with this pain. I feel empowered knowing that I'm not alone.

In March 2015, I had a colonoscopy with triggered unrelenting pf for a week straight. I emailed my doctors two days ago...blind leading the blind.

My prayers pf sufferers. Please email me. Perhaps we can be a support to eachother.
Posted 10/1/2015 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
I just found out I have PF. Started with pain in rectum. Woke me up at night. Had bad gas and had to pee. Went to restroom. Back to bed but laid awake until 6 a.m. Thought it was just a bad gas attack. Went on Internet to find info on sharp knife feeling in rectum. Saw PF and read. Really embarrassing. Didn't tell husband. I have never been diagnosed with IBS-D but I can get diarrhea anytime. Hoping it might be hemorrhoids. Finally went to our clinic and saw Doctor. She examined me. Have a small hemorrhoid but she said she believes it might PF. After reading many forums about PF I do not have it severe as others which I am very thankful. It has become less in intensity from when it first started. Hoping it leaves because we leave for a Italy trip which has been planned for a year.
Posted 2/16/2017 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
I still have these pains which started about 10years ago. First I thought it was something to do with hysterectomy which was done to me November 1999 as I had a hyperplasia, and the gynae referred me to another professor for colonoscopy. Then another abdominal ultrasound, ct scans more colonoscopy in short I made a couple of each test but negative results. I also had my gall bladder removed where there was another hyperplesia. Meanwhile I was given Spasmomen tablets which I take as soon as I feel this pain coming. I run to the shower and warm my lower half with very hot water and drink hot water. Next i dress and put a light blanket around me and lie down on the sofa for a while as i feel chills with the pain. It takes around 20minutes. The pain is sharp like giving birth but anal pain. The thing it keeps coming and I feel stucked and never know when it is happening. Yesterday I saw this sight and realised it is my situation. I stopped the simvastatin tablets last week as they give spasms. And last night after I read a couple of people suffer with this PF and they use turbo pulimcort inhaler I decided to read the side effects and it says too it gives spasms. Now I shall see again the doctor as I feel helpless as now they are getting often. I even stopped creams changed to lactose free milk. No fried food but still cannot find the cause. I drink camomile tea and boil two bayleaves as a drink a half teaspoon honey to calm my pain once a day. Help please Ben
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