Butt Health in the Pandemic: Fissures

Papercut pain and bleeding

“Doc, it feels like I have a paper cut on my ass.” This is my first clue a patient has an anal fissure. It’s usually a sharp, tearing pain unlike the dull ache of hemorrhoids. They say something like, “My butthole tears with every bowel movement and bleeds.” Sometimes, these symptoms indicate bleeding hemorrhoids, but usually, hemorrhoids that bleed are…