Pain in the lower rectum or anus, caused by neuralgia.
Pain in the rectum or emus. In proctalgia fugax severe pain suddenly affects the rectum and may last for minutes or hours; attacks may be days or months apart. There is no structural disease and the pain is probably due to muscle spasm. Relief is sometimes obtained from a bowel movement, inserting a finger into the rectum, or from a hot bath.
‘Nerve pain’ in the anus or rectum, without any local disease to account for it. Proctalgia fugax is a condition more common in men, characterized by sudden, fleeting cramp-like pains in the rectum occasionally accompanied by a feeling of faintness. Occurring at night and lasting up to 15 minutes, the cause is unknown, but is probably due to muscle spasm. Rapid relief may be achieved by taking food or drink, exerting perineal pressure (including inserting a finger into the rectum), or, if severe, sucking a 1 mg tablet of glyceryl trinitate.