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Tenesmus
Pain - passing stool; Painful stools; Difficulty passing stool
Tenesmus is the feeling that you need to pass stools, even though your bowels are already empty. It may involve straining, pain, and cramping.
Considerations
Tenesmus most often occurs with inflammatory diseases of the bowels. These diseases may be caused by an infection or other conditions.
It can also occur with diseases that affect the normal movements of the intestines. These diseases are known as motility disorders.
People with tenesmus may push very hard (strain) to try to empty their bowels. However, they will only pass a small amount of stool.
Causes
The condition may be caused by:
-
Anorectal abscess
Anorectal abscess
An anorectal abscess is a collection of pus in the area of the anus and rectum.
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Colorectal cancer
or tumors
Colorectal cancer
Colon, or colorectal cancer, is cancer that starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). Other types of cancer can affect ...
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Crohn disease
Crohn disease
Crohn disease is a disease where parts of the digestive tract become inflamed. It most often involves the lower end of the small intestine and the be...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Infection of the colon (infectious colitis)
- Inflammation of the colon or rectum from radiation (radiation proctitis or colitis)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Movement (motility) disorder of the intestines
-
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a condition in which the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum become inflamed. It is a form of inflammatory bowel ...
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Home Care
Increasing the amount of fiber and fluid in your diet can help ease constipation.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your health care provider if you continue to have symptoms of tenesmus that are constant or come and go.
Also call if you have:
- Abdominal pain
- Blood in the stool
- Chills
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
These symptoms could be a sign of a disease that might be causing the problem.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
The provider will examine you and ask questions such as:
- When did this problem occur? Have you had it before?
- What symptoms are you having?
- Have you eaten any raw, new, or unfamiliar foods? Have you eaten at a picnic or large gathering?
- Do any others in your household have similar problems?
- What other health problems do you have or have had in the past?
The physical exam may include a detailed abdominal exam. A rectal exam is performed in most cases.
Tests that may be done include:
-
Colonoscopy
to look at the colon and rectum
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is an exam that views the inside of the colon (large intestine) and rectum, using a tool called a colonoscope. The colonoscope has a sm...
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Complete blood count (
CBC
)
CBC
A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The tota...
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CT scan of the abdomen
(in rare cases)
CT scan of the abdomen
An abdominal CT scan is an imaging method. This test uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomog...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Proctosigmoidoscopy (an examination of the lower bowel)
-
Stool cultures
Stool cultures
A fecal culture is a lab test to find organisms in the stool (feces) that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - X-rays of the abdomen
References
Camilleri M. Disorders of gastrointestinal motility. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 136.
Dinning PG, Costa M, Brookes SJH. Colonic motor and sensory function and dysfunction. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 100.
Lichtenstein GP. Inflammatory bowel disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 141.
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Lower digestive anatomy - illustration
Food passes from the stomach into the small intestine. In the small intestine all nutrient absorption occurs. Whatever has not been absorbed by the small intestine passes into the colon. In the colon most of the water is absorbed from the food residue. The residue is then eliminated from the body as feces.
Lower digestive anatomy
illustration
-
Lower digestive anatomy - illustration
Food passes from the stomach into the small intestine. In the small intestine all nutrient absorption occurs. Whatever has not been absorbed by the small intestine passes into the colon. In the colon most of the water is absorbed from the food residue. The residue is then eliminated from the body as feces.
Lower digestive anatomy
illustration
Review Date: 7/22/2016
Reviewed By: Subodh K. Lal, MD, gastroenterologist at Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia, Austell, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
