Proctalgia fugax
Background
- Cramp of pubococcygeus or levator ani muscles
- Should be considered a diagnosis of exclusion
Clinical Features
- Spasm-like, sometimes excruciating, pain in the anus, often misinterpreted as a need to defecate
- Episodic pain (women, patients < 45yo)
- Incontinence
- Urgency
Differential Diagnosis
- Levator ani
- External hemorrhoid
- Anal fissure
- Rectal prolapse
- Constipation
- Fecal impaction
- Prostatitis
- Proctitis
- Prolapsed internal hemorrhoid
- Anorectal abscess
- Coccydynia