What causes anal pain?

Mar 20, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Li Jingxiang

Introduction

Consuming large amounts of spicy and irritating foods, such as chili peppers and mustard, can stimulate the anal mucosa and nerves, causing pain that is more noticeable during bowel movements, often accompanied by a burning sensation. To improve this condition, dietary adjustments are needed: reduce intake of such foods, eat more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, increase water consumption to ensure smooth bowel movements, and maintain a daily water intake of 1500–2000 milliliters.

Anal pain may be caused by dietary irritation, poor bowel habits, anal fissures, hemorrhoids, perianal abscesses, and other conditions. Appropriate management can be selected based on specific circumstances. If discomfort symptoms appear, it is recommended to seek medical attention at a hospital as soon as possible and follow medical advice for treatment.

1. Dietary irritation: Consuming large amounts of spicy or irritating foods, such as chili peppers and mustard, can stimulate the anal mucosa and nerves, causing pain that is more noticeable during defecation, often accompanied by a burning sensation. Improvement requires dietary adjustments, reducing intake of such foods, eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, increasing water intake to ensure 1500-2000 milliliters daily, and maintaining regular bowel movements.

2. Poor bowel habits: Long-term suppression of bowel movements and excessive straining during defecation can place pressure on the tissues around the anus, easily causing pain, a feeling of heaviness before and after defecation, and occasional minor bleeding. It is important to develop regular bowel habits, defecate at fixed times daily, avoid suppressing bowel movements, avoid excessive straining or spending too much time on the toilet, and keep defecation within approximately 5 minutes.

3. Anal fissure: Hard stools and straining during defecation can cause a full-thickness tear in the anal skin, forming an ulcer. Symptoms include severe anal pain during defecation, which is cyclical, along with small amounts of bright red blood in the stool. Patients can use glyceryl trinitrate ointment, compound carrageenan suppositories, or kangfuxin liquid under medical guidance to alleviate symptoms.

4. Hemorrhoids: Congestion and swelling of the venous plexus in the rectum or lower rectum can lead to pain when defecation causes compression and friction. Symptoms often include bleeding and prolapse of masses. It is recommended to follow medical advice and use medications such as Ma Ying Long Musk Hemorrhoid Ointment, Gang Tai suppositories, or diosmin tablets to relieve discomfort.

5. Perianal abscess: Infection of the anal glands spreading to the surrounding tissues forms an abscess, causing persistent severe anal pain, redness, swelling, heat, and possibly systemic symptoms. Patients can use amoxicillin capsules, metronidazole tablets, or ichthammol ointment under medical guidance to improve symptoms.

In daily life, learning relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, or warm water baths can help relieve tension in the anal sphincter muscles.

References:

[1] Chen Huiqing, Hu Xiaoling, Peng Junliang. Research Progress on the Treatment of Postoperative Complications of Anal Fissures with Traditional Chinese Medicine [J]. Guangming Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 40(02): 389-393.

[2] Wen Wen. Application Progress of Five-in-One TCM Nursing Health Management in Patients with Hemorrhoids [J]. Chinese Journal of Metallurgical Industry Medicine, 2025, 42(01): 15.

View All

How to treat spasmodic anal pain

In general, the treatment methods for spasmodic anal pain mainly include conservative management, local physical therapy, pharmacological treatment, traditional Chinese medicine, biofeedback therapy, etc. In addition, patients should follow medical instructions strictly during treatment and must not adjust medication doses on their own. It is important to maintain a regular daily routine and avoid spicy foods that may irritate the anal area. If symptoms such as increased pain, more frequent episodes, or rectal bleeding occur, prompt medical attention is recommended.

View Full Answer

What causes rectal bleeding and anal pain?

In general, bloody stool and anal pain may be caused by an imbalanced diet, poor bowel habits, anal fissures, thrombosed external hemorrhoids, or perianal abscesses. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive appropriate treatment under a doctor's guidance. In daily life, maintain cleanliness and dryness of the anal area, gently wipe with soft toilet paper after bowel movements, and avoid using coarse sanitary paper.

View Full Answer

How to diagnose hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are primarily diagnosed based on typical symptoms related to the anus and defecation. Core symptoms include rectal bleeding, anal pain, protrusion of tissue, local itching, and abnormal bowel movements. Initial identification can be made according to the specific characteristics of these symptoms, with slight variations depending on the type of hemorrhoids. In daily life, it is important to maintain regular bowel habits, avoid prolonged squatting on the toilet, and increase dietary fiber intake.

View Full Answer

What are the therapeutic effects of Jingwanhong hemorrhoid ointment?

Jingwanhong hemorrhoid ointment, as a commonly used topical medication for hemorrhoids, generally provides therapeutic effects such as relieving perianal pain, reducing local swelling, stopping bleeding, protecting wounds, promoting wound healing, and alleviating perianal discomfort. The analgesic components in the ointment act directly on the painful areas caused by hemorrhoids, inhibiting the transmission of pain signals and reducing burning or stabbing sensations during defecation or daily activities, thereby improving the quality of both movement and rest.