Q: I went for a piles check up and the following was found: chronic fissure in ano and sentinel pile at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock, proctalgia fugax. I was given tab cifran 500 mg (bd) and tab tinidazole 3 times for 5 days. My question is what is proctalgia fugax? My surgeon says piles operation is not required but sometimes I find it a hindrance in my normal life. Is removal of piles not required?

A:Proctalgia fugax only means pain in the rectal area. A fissure-in-ano is a tear of the lining of the anal canal probably due to passage of hard stools. A sentinel pile is a skin tag at the lower end of the fissure and is not a true pile mass. A fissure can heal with laxatives and relief of constipation and occasionally other drugs to help the sphincter to relax. It normally does not require surgery.