Anyone have constipation/anal sphincter spasm?

I don't know if I have MS or not, but I do have many of the symptoms of it. One of the most troubling (besides constant fatigue and heavy-feeling legs) is the diagnosis I've received that explains my severe constipation - my internal anal sphincter (involuntary muscle) is in a constant state of spasm and therefore I cannot have bowel movements without enemas, and even that is getting less effective. I have tried every laxative, prescription med, diet, etc... for this, to no avail. 

The most recent colorectal doctor I saw for this said he commonly sees this in people with neurological disorders and that there is nothing I can do about it except to cut the sphincter (that scares me) or have a colostomy (bag on my side to collect waste).  I'm very ill and having all this waste inside me constantly makes me even sicker.

Anyone here have a problem like this?

Thanks in advance.

Kim

Hello, Kim and good luck in finding relief...I'm sure others have mentioned to you ibs, irratible bowel syndrome...I have both MS and IBS and I know exactly what it is like to get plugged up...look into that also

I would love for the baclofen to work for you, Kim.  It is a pretty good med.  For some, it doesn't do much, but for others it is a Godsend.  Don't be afraid to really mess with the dosage.  Take whatever they will safely allow.  It is a different med, it works directly off the spinal cord rather than the brain so for most, there are very little side effects.  Some are a bit drowsy at first but you get over that pretty quick.  It is a drug that appears to be safe for long term usage as well.  Again, I wish you the best of luck in finding something that helps.  Aside from my chronic vertigo, that is my worst symptom. 

ATTENTION KAP

I too have the same symtoms. My internal anal sphincter is in a constant state of spasm. I would love to speak with you with you furthur

when you log back on this forum. I have had this since 9/2007 and gone thru all the tests, doctors, CTs, etc..... Please contact me at



Welcome to board. This is a public forum and for your protection, please do not list your email in a post. You need to add it to your profile. When you log in, go to the control panel on the blue bar to the right. If you have any problems, let me or Rhonda know. You can email either one of us by clicking on our names. I also have these symptoms, so you may email me as well for more discussion. I would love to help you anyway I can.

Post Edited By Moderator (Gretchen1) : 12/29/2008 10:54:32 AM (GMT-7)

Hey Kim

 

I have exactly the same problem as you do it seems.  I have been suffering from sever constipation for the past 7 months.  I have not had a single bowel movement during this time.  The numerous laxatives, fiber supplements that I have tried only made the matters worse; the pain increased to the point where I could not function at all.  I have seen a variety of doctors, even went to the Mayo clinic, so sever was the pain; I was and still am very weak and unable either to work and study for the most part of the day.  The only relieve I get is doing three to six water enemas daily but they do not help to evacuate the gas and bulk completely; so I am still left bloating and with dull abdominal pain unable to eat much during the day.  I have just completed the anorectal monametry test and they found that as in your case I have spastic or hypertonic internal anal sphincter.  My gastroenterologist suggested that before cutting into the sphincter we might try to use a botox injection on this muscle first.  This procedure would allow to paralyze the muscle and thus to keep it from contracting even further when it needs to relax.  This may be a temporary solution or it may work for a longer period of time a year or even more and then might need to be repeated but it is something to ask your doctor about if you did not know that such an option exists.  I am having this procedure done this Friday so I can let you know whether it helped me or not.  I hope this helps; good luck to you.  

Hi,

I saw this forum this morning as I was searching the internet for any information on spasms in the anal sphincter.  I have suffered with chronic constipation for 7 years now and have seen at least 9 G. I. docs.  Usually I am dismissed because they are unable to help me.  Recently I had surgery to repair the interior damage that is being done by the constant straining.  After the surgery I got worse it is in constant spasm, and two doctors told me this past week to have a colostomy done in order to get some sort of quality of life back.  I at least want to try botox injections first to try to calm the muscle down.  Has anyone had any success with botox?  When I read some of the posts this morning I shocked that I wasn't alone with this problem, like all these doctors have made me feel over the years.  Thank you to anyone who has any good advice.  They also suggested cutting the muscle if the botox doesn't work I don't know how I feel about that yet.

Hi Gretchen,

Thank you for your input on botox.  The repair was for an enterocele I do have a rectocele as well but it isn't as large yet.  He then did another experimental surgery because he felt anatomically my colon was closing on itself. Once both surgeries were done my outlet problem got worse and that's when they both said you need to have a colostomy.  I asked about the botox and my surgeon said it has a 50% percent chance of working as long as I don't strain b/c that immediately sends the sphincter into spasm again.  I read so many posts yesterday from people who go through hours of routine like myself just to find relief.  As bad as I felt for everyone I suddenly didn't feel so alone.  I am suppose to have the botox in a few weeks as soon as it gets cleared by my insurance and I am going to a support group the begining of next month talk to people who have colostomys to find out more about their experiences after this surgery.  How long do the injections work for you?

Hi Darlenec,
Sorry to hear you've been in pain for that long. By therapy do you mean biofeed therapy. If so yes I did it two separate times a year apart. It helped alittle but was not a cure for what I am experiencing. They thought at one time all I had was pelvic floor dysfunction. I do still however do the at home exercises every nite I figure they can't hurt. I wish you good luck with your therapy. If you have any other questions please let me know.

Karen Marie, Internal anal spincter muscle therapy.Didnt get to the biofeedback yet. Thought I was the only one with this problem. Guess not ..Lucky to have found this site. Therapy helps more than anything else. was on laxatives for more than 16 years. Since going to therapy not on any. It has help alot but have a long way to go. wish I new about this when I was younger. Would have been a little easier. thanks for your reply

Karen Marie, It is therapy very few people do this, Yes it Has helped . It sounds like you have the exact same thing. I had 2 vaginal births.from first birth a complete rectal prolapse,you dont want to know about that. 2nd child born with forceps. hemroid surgery. could go on and on... I go once a week. I am in the NY area. There is a book on this.

sure 730 should be good i will email you shortly

i am not surprised that medical science has not provided you with a cure for this problem. i do not have this symptom now but had it about 20 years ago when i had Ms but did not know it yet. Of course you have not described what your constipation is like in detail. Mine was horrible and many many times i had to "dig it out" etc. horrifying and painful. I had lots of doctors but somehow this was never their problem. It takes quite a few months on a ms diet to start improving the symptoms. I have observed that many ms patients are in denial about their horrible diets. because it is always impossible to speak enough or use enough words or have enough time to do it that I will summarize my advice and let you decide whether to believe my years of personal ms suffering and intense research and study of myself and symptoms/or/ to think i am one more spoof or nut. So without offering you proof I will say this:

Move to a cooler place to live. always be cooler. avoid heat and sun at all times or most of time. sleep in room that is cool using blankets or heating pads to keep warm and NEVER A HEATER neither electric, gas, or anything else. .....unless it is unbearably cold. always leave windows open for total fresh air. Walk barefooted whenever possible and go to beaches and forests to walk barefooted. If you can't walk then try to get somebody to let you off a top of a hill and see if you can walk down. Tie ropes to your arms and legs and pull them at various times when one or the other won't work. Eat all the vitamins you can and go on brown rice/vegetable/miso soup diet supplemented with prunes or other laxative fruit; herbal laxative called "swiss kriss" (once at night). Bran or oatmeal for breakfast with prunes. brown rice lunch. fruit desert. dinner of other soft and laxative foods. spend more time on toilet and practice exercises that help release stool. experiment with that. i found that bending over aand spreading legs while sitting and then sitting up and pushing helps. drink lots of totally clean water and move to a cleaner environment sucvh as here in Oregon coast. Live alone so you can control your environment, diet and rest. I take ibupofren for pain because it is an anti inflammatory. do other exercises to increase abdominal muscle strength (buy aerobic machine if necessary). Do not drink ALCOHOL OR any other solvent or strong acid like think as alcohol. avoid excessive sugar or fake sugar intake. thanks for listening i am sure in the long run the above advice will help. but everybody is different so experiment.

Karen, Got it thanks. I will be on this week at some point because have to get kids ready for start of school . hang in there... focus and good luck...