Medical Questions & Answers » Anal Problems

What Causes Kidney Stones

medicalquestions — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:00:50 +0000

Question: I have just experienced the most excruciating pain of a kidney stone. Why do they hurt so much?
The kidneys sit in your loins at the side of your abdomen, just below the ribs. The urine from the kidney is collected into a relatively large chamber, which has a fine tube (the ureter) leading from it down the back of the abdomen to the bladder.
Everyone forms kidney stones, but most are less than a millimeter across and pass unnoticed. If the stone is slightly larger than the diameter of the ureter, it will be forced down the tube by the pressure of urine behind it, but will scratch the inside of this long tube causing the excruciating pain that runs across the abdomen to the scrotum and penis. When the stone is at rest, only a dull ache is felt. Once it starts moving and scratching the tube, severe pain (described as far worse than childbirth) occurs.
Once the stone passes into the bladder, it easily passes out when you urinate with no further pain. If the stone gets stuck in the ureter, surgery or other procedures are necessary to remove it.

Question: My wife wants to know what causes kidney stones and how can she avoid having more, as she has suffered great pain with them in the past.
The kidney acts to filter the blood, and removes excess water and wastes. If these wastes become too concentrated, or altered in some way, they can precipitate out and form a crystal that slowly grows into a stone. Once the stone has formed, one of three things can happen to it.
Most stones are flushed down the tube that leads to the bladder from the kidney (the ureter) and are passed out of the body with the urine while still microscopic in size. These cause no trouble at all, and you do not know that they have been present. A small number of stones may slowly and steadily grow in size until they are the size of a grape, or even a ping-pong ball. These big stones may completely fill the urine collection chamber of the kidney. They usually cause no trouble, but they may be the source of repeated kidney infections and pain.
The third group is the most troublesome. These stones, from one to five millimeters in length, can enter the ureter. This fine tube is very sensitive, and as the stone is pushed along the tube by the pressure of urine behind, ir scrapes the tube wall causing the intense pain that sufferer’s experience.
There is no simple way to avoid kidney stones, but drinking plenty of fluids (mainly plain water) will help flush the kidneys out regularly and reduce the chance of anything but the smallest crystals forming.

Lumps near anus

medicalquestions — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:01:13 +0000

Question: I have two small lumps near my anus, which sometimes discharge blood and yellowish fluid, and then disappear for a while. They feel uncomfortable and I would like them to go away. Please advise.
You could be suffering from one of a number of conditions including piles, fistulae or cysts. There are also a number of rarer possibilities. It will be necessary for a doctor to closely examine one of the less attractive parts of your anatomy in order to make the appropriate diagnosis.
Almost certainly you will need some form of surgery to remove the cause of your discomfort.
If piles are present, injecting into the piles, or placing a small rubber band around the base of them may cure the problem, but in some cases, surgical excision is the only option.
A fistula is a microscopic tube that connects the inside of the gut just inside of the gut just inside the anus, to the skin beside the anus. These tubes become infected and painful periodically, and then discharge pus and blood. The only treatment is surgical.
A cyst can occur on any part of the skin, and may occur on your back as readily as your anus. There are many different types of cysts, including those that can be caused by blocked sweat or oil glands, ingrown hair, or infected hair follicles. Although these can burst and drain, they usually return unless they are cut out completely.
Don’t continue to suffer discomfort for months, suffer embarrassment for a few minutes instead, and see a doctor soon.

Bleeding in Anal

medicalquestions — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:00:59 +0000

Question: I am bleeding from the back passage after passing a motion. Is th serious?
Bleeding of this nature is most commonly caused by piles. These are dilated veins that are caused by constipation and straining. When hard motions are passed, the small veins around the anus become damaged and become thin walled and swollen. Further motions can easily rupture the veins, and this leads to bleeding after going to the toilet. Sometimes the blood in the pile becomes clotted, and they may become very tender.
There are other causes for anal bleeding that include diseases as diverse as cancer and a simple tear, so it is always wise to have this problem checked and properly diagnosed by a doctor.

Ring around anus

medicalquestions — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:00:58 +0000

Question: I have a very dark red, sometimes purplish colour ring around the opening of my anus. I’m too scared to go to the doctor in case it might be cancer. I’m extremely worried I’m going to die!
There are many possible explanations for the discolouration around your anus, that vary from dermatitis, to fungal infections and piles; but the most likely explanation is that you are seeing a prominent vein that normally runs around the anus. Trying to diagnose your condition without seeing the relevant part of your anatomy, is rather like trying to play chess without being able to see the board— very difficult and liable to be wrong!
You are foolish not to consult your GP if this is worrying you so much. It is extremely unlikely to be anything serious, and your doctor can therefore give you a large dose of reassurance, and if necessary, the appropriate medication to cure the problem.
In the unlikely event that it is a significant problem, seeing your doctor sooner rather than later will make the problem far easier to cure. Embarrassment is no excuse, as both male and female doctors are readily available, and both ate very used to examining the most intimate parts of your anatomy without blushing, making sexist remarks or rude jokes.

Treatment of Piles

medicalquestions — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:00:18 +0000

Question: In what way can piles be treated? I suffer terribly from this embarrassing condition.
Initial treatment involves creams or suppositories that soothe and shrink the piles. There are many types of creams available, some from chemists and others on prescription.
If these are not successful, the next step may be a simple incision of a thrombosed pile, injecting a glue like liquid into the pile or clamping a rubber band around the pile under local anaesthetic.
If these measures lead to recurrences, a formal operation to remove the segment of the anus involved may be required. These operations are uncomfortable, but not as painful as gossip and the imagination would have us believe. The most important treatment is prevention—do not get constipated!

Haemorrhoid in anus

medicalquestions — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:01:42 +0000

Question: I have a haemorrhoid that came and was uncomfortable, then after a few days it went away. Is this normal? I thouqht that once they were present, they were there for ever.
Haemorrhoids are swollen veins around the anus that usually start after an episode of passing hard motions when constipated, straining or heavy lifting. Once formed, there will always be a weakness at that point unless the pile is surgically removed. Most piles settle slowly with no treatment, others settle with the help of various creams, ointments and other medications, and some need to be drained or injected, but only a very small number actually need full surgery.
Be grateful that your hemorrhoid has settled quickly and simply, but don’t be surprised if it recurs at the same point next time you become constipated.

Causes & symptoms of internal piles

medicalquestions — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:01:35 +0000

Question: I would be grateful if you could explain the causes and symptoms of internal piles. Can they become cancerous, and do drinks of beer exacerbate the problem?
Piles (or haemorrhoids—which is another name for the same condition) can occur on the outside or inside of the muscle ring that forms the anus. In both situations they are caused by a dilated vein. The blood inside this vein may clot to cause a thrombosed pile. The pressure of the dilated vein or the clotted blood it contains on adjacent nerves causes pain. Twisting of the pile can also cause severe pain. The other main symptom apart from pain is bleeding, which occurs if the pile bursts.
Piles are caused in the first place by excessive stress on the anus. This stress can be in the form of constipation, prolonged diarrhoea, or heavy lifting. Weight-lifters are notorious sufferers of piles. There is no evidence that they become cancerous, and I cannot see why alcohol in any form would cause them to develop. There is certainly a tendency for piles to develop within a family due to a congenital weakness in the area.
Treatment involves creams or suppositories which contain medication to soothe the pile, anesthetics and anti-inflammatory substances. Further treatment involves injecting, banding or excising the pile.