Levator Ani Syndrome – Treatment, Symptoms, Causes

What is Levator Ani Syndrome?

Levator Ani Syndrome is one of the very common and painful syndrome observed. It is basically severe pain, pressure and extreme discomfort at the region of the rectum, sacrum and coccyx. The syndrome is known by many names, but the impact, and the characteristics remain the same. The syndrome is also known as Coccygodynia, Levator Ani Spasm Syndrome, Proctalgia Fugax, and Proctodynia. The disease is a form of Chronic Proctalgia. It causes severe rectal pain and discomfort. Generally the pain has association with the Levator muscles of the pelvis. It has been observed that nearly 7% of women and 6% of men suffer from the Levator Ani Syndrome.

Symptoms of Levator Ani Syndrome

The symptoms of the Levator Ani Syndrome are very common to observe. The pain in the rectum is the best way to describe the symptom of the Levator Ani Syndrome. However, the symptoms of the syndrome vary and that help in identifying the syndrome. The disease is very common, so it is very important to understand the symptoms of the syndrome.

The pain in the rectum is normally chronic and prolonged. It may feel like; you are suffering from the pain from many years.

Postures become a key factor in deciding the pain and its severity. Normally when a person sits, or eases down or lying down then the pain becomes extreme for them. The severity might be different for individuals.

The patient often complains about the “Ball” theory in the Levator Ani Syndrome. It feels like that there is a ball on top of the rectum, and the person is actually sitting on the ball.

The high rectum pressure and pain at the higher end is also very common in Levator Ani Syndrome. However, if by any chance Levator Ani muscles get exposed or contacted by other parts then the pain might be very severe. It normally happens in the bowel movement.

Some patients also complaint about extreme pain at the night and the patients might wake up from sleep due to the pain.

If you are suffering from all such symptoms then, it may very well indicate Levator Ani Syndrome. It is very important to bring all the symptoms in the notice of the doctor so that the situation can be medically addressed.

Causes of Levator Ani Syndrome

The cause of the Levator Ani Syndrome is widely debated topic in the medical world. The pain causes due to anal canal and the surrounding organs. The anal canal is surrounded by Prostate in men and uterus in women. It is supported by Pelvic Floor Muscle or Levator Ani Muscle. The spasm in the muscle tends to create the Levator Ani Syndrome. However, it has been noticed that even without any trigger the muscle can actually lead to the problem of Levator Ani Syndrome. The medical experts are still not sure about the cause of it. Apart from it any damage in the muscle or in the nerve may also trigger Levator Ani Syndrome. The women are more victimized in Levator Ani Syndrome than men. But most importantly nobody is sure that what exactly is the reason behind Levator Ani Syndrome; it can be anything among the discussed reasons, and it can be something else as well.

Treatment of Levator Ani Syndrome

The treatment of the Levator Ani Syndrome is the most difficult part for the doctors. As nobody knows what is triggering the syndrome, so treatment is very difficult. Previously there was no treatment available for Levator Ani Syndrome; however, message remained helpful.

With the advancement in medical science various other options are now available which can actually give comfort in Levator Ani Syndrome. The most common methods are Biofeedback procedure, Digital massage of the levator ani muscles and Electro galvanic stimulation.

Apart from it medicines like muscle relaxants are also used in order to get some relief. The treatment in medicines is not highly followed though as it is not much beneficiary for the syndrome.