Does anyone else have anal cramps during their period?

Question

As the years have passed my periods have been getting tougher to deal with. Granted they’re like five days long, but cramps have gotten worse, most importantly the anal cramps. I’m not the type to shout out at internal pain like this, but this pain made me shout out like I was getting my leg sawed off. The closest I’ve found online is something about “proctalgia fugax” which can be brought on from menstruation among other things. (Yes, it had me up until 2:30 AM because of the pain.) does anyone know how to deal with this or eliminate it? I need any tips I can get 😭

Answer

Yes, yes, yes. Usually 1-2xyr. I have had 2 in the last month. 
Throughout the course of my adult life, one to two times a year I'll be woken up out of a dead sleep by pain in external anal sphincter muscle. It builds up over 30-45 min, is excruciating and ends with a soft poop. We are talking 10 out of 10 pain. Previous to the last two months the pain was intensely localized to that muscle. I could sit on the toilet and wait but no position was comfortable. 
Twice in the last month, I have experienced it but much more painful. Once a month ago, in the mid morning, I experienced it with I think a panic attack. I was hyperventilating. The pain was not localized. I sort of fell onto the floor because I couldn't hold myself up. My hands locked and was in a cold sweat, bawling. I made it back to toilet for a soft poop. The symptoms subsided however I was shaking and nauseous for about 30 min. Dad took me to an urgent care but no diagnosis. 
At 4 am this morning, I was woken up with intense pain. I couldn't sit on the toilet, my entire bottom was screaming. I laid on the floor, hyperventilating. No cold sweat, no locked hands, not quite bawling but I was yelping. My dog and cats were freaking out. I pooped while laying on my floor, so embarrassed! I had some gas as well. About 10 min after pooping, most of the pain had resided. My throat and ears were burning or hurt.
I have never thrown up but the feeling was there. There is always a soft poop that slides out and I feel better shortly after.
About 9 am I took my meds with a full glass of water. Made a cup of coffee had a few sips. My stomach started cramping around 1030 and was steady cramping until noon.
Could this be tied to any autonomic nerves stemming from my lower back? My Dr thinks I have a number of potential issues going on in my back. Arthritis for sure, stenosis, ddd, and herniated discs. I'm getting another epidural next month, he thinks a nerve block test may be necessary as well. This is what lead me to think of the nerves.

Answer

That’s definitely proctalgia fugax. It comes on the first full day of my period like clockwork. After that it’s gone until the next month. I’ve been dealing with it since I was a teenager and could never quite describe it to any of my friends of family. They always laughed at the idea of a literal “pain in the ass”, but it’s not a joke. It’s a sharp searing pain that may be temporary but is nearly debilitating until it passes. TMI, but to alleviate it I usually spread my cheeks and try to contract the muscles in my rectum (ex. Passing gas, going to the bathroom). It helps a little.

Answer

Yes I had an extremely bad case of this almost a year ago. Very intense anal spasm that’s extremely hard to cope with aswell as a heavy period. I ended up losing like 35-40 pounds the month I was dealing with this. Till this day I sometimes can feel it during or after my period

Does anyone else have anal cramps during their period?

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