Bowel movement is important for human beings as it helps eliminate waste that is not needed by the body after absorbing all functional nutrients from food. It also helps a person to not feel bloated throughout the day. Healthy bowel movement does not only help such a process of elimination but provides a feeling of relief. Unfortunately, some people may have bowel movement issues that are surely a great discomfort. One of the issues is tenesmus. In this DoctorOnCall’s article, we will learn more about tenesmus and what you can do to help get rid of it.
Tenesmus is defined as a feeling or urge to pass stools although the bowels are empty and you are aware that your colon is empty yet present of sensation that bowel content did not fully come out. Tenesmus is more than just feeling uncomfortable and the urge to strain in an attempt to pass a little to a non-existent stool. At times, a person may experience some sort of pressure and pain in the abdomen, some even feel a cramping sensation. Other symptoms from the digestive tract such as nausea or vomiting may accompany tenesmus. The Presence of blood in the stool is not a rare occurrence with tenesmus. Tenesmus itself is not a medical diagnosis, but more of a symptom giving clues to medical problems.
There are many causes or medical issues leading to tenesmus. It can be as simple as constipation to complex issues relating to the digestive system such as colorectal tumour, intestinal movement disorder, infection to the colon, anal fissures, anorectal abscess and inflamed rectum. It is worth noting that most common causes for tenesmus are inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Due to the many causes of tenesmus, a person experiencing it should make an appointment with doctors to have discussion about it and to get to the roots of the problem. This is especially true when there are persistent changes to the bowel habits and relating symptoms or when home treatments in attempt to get rid of the tenesmus as mentioned below does not help alleviate symptoms:
1) Over-the-counter (OTC) fibre supplements
2) OTC laxative
3) OTC painkillers
4) Antidiarrheal medications
5) Daily meals packed with fibres from fruits and vegetables
Getting rid of tenesmus is no easy matter as there are many health issues or causes underlying it. Fret not, most cases of tenesmus are treatable once the definite cause is known. Physicians will need to run a series of tests to investigate tenesmus if a person’s patient history is inconclusive. These series of tests may include full blood count, abdominal x-ray, CT scan, colonoscopy, stool cultures and other laboratory test screening for possible infections.
Once a diagnosis is established by a physician, a treatment plan will be laid as according to the cause of tenesmus. There are many treatments available apart from dietary restrictions to help improve the bowel movement. For instance, if a person is diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, medication such as anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant is provided to help reduce inflammation inside the gut. If the cause found is infection, antibiotics will be prescribed to help curb the infection In cases of cancer causing tenesmus, cancer treatments may include chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Surgery may be considered in some cases such as in women with bowel endometriosis or those with thrombosed haemorrhoids.
In essence, tenesmus is no laughing matter as it can greatly affect a person’s quality of life. Tenesmus that does not go away with treatment at homes alone should cause a concern and the need to get immediate medical advice. It is best to speak to a doctor whenever you are experiencing tenesmus.
