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Anal Fissure Center - Dothan, AL

Dothan Gastroenterologist Doctors for Anal Fissure

Type of Physician: Gastroenterologist

What is a Gastroenterologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated.

Specialty: Gastroenterology

Common Name: GI Doctor

Gastroenterologist Doctors in Dothan *

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Robert P Albares
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Jeffrey J Crittenden
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Stavros A Diavolitsis
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
James L Griffith
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Daniel F Jackson
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
William D McLaughlin
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Travis Rutland
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Samuel J Tarwater
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Robert R Brinson MD
Robert R Brinson
451 St Lukes Dr
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 271-1205

Thomas D Bianchi MD
Thomas D Bianchi
80 Herren Hill Rd
STE E
Tallassee, AL 36078
(334) 283-3862

Comm Med Arts Center
Alexander Robbins
875 Friendship Rd
STE F
Tallassee, AL 36078
(334) 283-6460

Internal Medicine Associates PC
George G Gilbert
121 N 20th St
STE 6
Opelika, AL 36801
(334) 749-3385

Internal Medicine Associates PC
W P McGehee
121 N 20th St
STE 6
Opelika, AL 36801
(334) 749-3385

Montgomery Gastroenterology Specialists
Richard E Ginsburg
4146 B Carmichael Rd
Montgomery, AL 36107
(334) 262-3737

Dothan, Alabama

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Anal Fissure

What are anal fissures?

An anal fissure is a cut or tear occuring in the anus (the opening through which stool passes out of the body) that extends upwards into the anal canal. Fissures are a common condition of the anus and anal canal and are responsible for 6-15% of the visits to a colonic and rectal (colorectal) surgeon. They affect men and women equally and both the young and the old. Fissures usually cause pain during bowel movements that often is severe. Anal fissure is the most common cause of rectal bleeding in infancy.

Anal fissures occur in the specialized tissue that lines the anus and anal canal, called anoderm. At a line just inside the anus--referred to as the anal verge or intersphincteric groove--the skin (dermis) of the inner buttocks changes to anoderm. Unlike skin, anoderm has no hairs, sweat glands, or sebaceous (oil) glands and contains a larger number of somatic sensory nerves that sense light touch and pain. (The abundance of nerves explains why anal fissures are so painful.) The hairless, gland-less, extremely sensitive anoderm continues for the entire length of the anal canal until it meets the demarcating line for the rectum, called the dentate line. (The rectum is the distal 15 cm of the colon that lies just above the anus and rectum and just below the sigmoid colon.)

What causes anal fissures?

Anal fissures are caused by trauma to the anus and anal canal. The cause of the trauma usually is a bowel movement, and many patients can remember the exact bowel movement during which their pain began. The fissure may be caused by a hard stool or repeated episodes of diarrhea. Occasionally, the insertion of a rectal thermometer, enema tip, endoscope, or ultrasound probe (for examining the prostate gland) can result in sufficient trauma to produce a fissure. During childbirth, trauma to the perineum (the skin between t...

Recommended Reading Related to Anal Fissure

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy »

What is flexible sigmoidoscopy?

Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to examine the rectum and the lower (sigmoid) colon. The flexible sigmoidoscope is a flexible tube 60 cm long and about the thickness of your little finger. It is inserted gently into the anus and advanced slowly into the rectum and the lower colon. It is an accurate and simple method of investigating the cause of rectal bleeding, change in bowel habit, and rectal symptoms such as pain and diarrhea. Flexible sigmoidoscopy also is a part of colon screening and surveillance for colon cancer.

What is the preparation for flexible sigmoidoscopy?

In order to obtain accurate results, the rectum and the lower colon must be completely clean of stool. Your doctor will give you detailed instructions on how to cleanse your colon. In general, this requires the use of one or two enemas prior to the procedure and may also call for a laxative and some dietar...

Emergency Contact for Dothan

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Dothan Hospitals *

Southeast Alabama Medical Center
1108 Ross Clark Cir
Dothan, AL 36301
(334)793-8111

HEALTHSOUTH Rehab Hospital of Dothan
1736 E Main St
Dothan, AL 36301
(334)712-6333

Flowers Hospital
4370 W Main St
Dothan, AL 36305
(334)793-5000

Campbellton-Graceville Hospital
5429 College Dr
Graceville, FL 32440
(850)263-4431

Dale Medical Center
126 Hospital Ave
Ozark, AL 36360
(334)774-2601

Medical Center Enterprise
400 N Edwards St
Enterprise, AL 36330
(334)347-0584

Early Memorial Hospital
11740 Columbia St
Blakely, GA 39823
(229)723-4241

Jackson Hospital
4250 Hospital Dr
Marianna, FL 32446
(850)526-2200

Wiregrass Medical Center
1200 W Maple Ave
Geneva, AL 36340
(334)684-3655

Donalsonville Hospital
102 Hospital Cir
Donalsonville, GA 39845
(229)524-5217

Northwest Florida Community Hospital
1360 Brickyard Rd
Chipley, FL 32428
(850)638-1610

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