The condition known as levator syndrome may also be called levator ani syndrome or proctodynia, depending on which term your colorectal surgeon prefers. As there are so many colorectal specialists (proctologists) within Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, it is likely that you may hear all three names for the condition, which can be confusing at times. You may even know someone who has the same medical condition, but has been given one of the other names, as levator syndrome is common in the Los Angeles area.
Prevention Before Treatment of Levator Syndrome
Prevention Before Treatment of Levator Syndrome
As with a wide variety of other medical conditions, it is much easier to prevent the onset of levator syndrome than it is to treat it once it has developed. Although little is known about the condition, there are several factors that are known to contribute to its onset. These can often be due to habits that you are able to change, although you will need to remind yourself on a regular basis, at least to begin with.
Some of the ways in which you can reduce your risk of developing levator syndrome include:
- Be active. One of the major risk factors for the condition is spending too long sitting down, as this causes an increase in the pressure being applied to the levator ani muscle. If you have a desk job and need to spend large periods of time sitting down, then you will need to modify your habits. For example, once an hour, you could try standing up and walking around the office. Alternatively, stand up when you are speaking on the phone, as this will give you a chance to relieve some of the pressure on the lower part of your back.
- Avoid slouching. Many people who develop the symptoms of levator syndrome will often slouch, regardless of whether they are standing or sitting. This leads to the build up of pressure in the lower back and the buttock area, which is where the levator ani muscle is located. An increase in pressure in this muscle can cause aching and muscle spasms, which consist of a sharp, sometimes severe pain.
- Ensure that bowel movements are regular. Levator ani syndrome is one of the few conditions where the symptoms actually improve as a result of a bowel movement, and this is because emptying the stool from the rectum reduces the pressure on the levator ani muscle, leading to a reduction in the pain and severity of the muscle spasms.
Treatment of Levator Syndrome
Levator syndrome is caused by pressure on the levator ani muscle, which leads to it becoming tense and painful. The tense muscle can lead to the onset of aching, which is likely to be a dull, continuous pain that is felt for the majority of the time. The muscle spasms are usually felt in the area around the rectum, approximately two inches above the anus, though the pain may radiate out to surrounding areas. In order to successfully treat levator syndrome, the tension in the muscle needs to be relieved.
Many people will assume that muscle relaxant medications will be effective at treating the symptoms of levator syndrome. These drugs are useful for providing short term relief, perhaps if the spasms are affecting your day to day life severely. However, they are not suitable for a long term solution as they do not remove the tension in the muscle, but mask the symptoms instead.
The treatment for levator syndrome needs to be carried out by a specialist colorectal surgeon, of which there are many in Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills. It involves the use of massaging the levator ani muscle, causing it to relax. This should be performed every week for six consecutive weeks in order to be effective. The massage is effective for approximately half of levator syndrome patients. The rest will be offered another form of treatment.
If massage has not successfully eliminated the muscle spasms, then another form of treatment will be required. This treatment will be carried out by the physician, and involves a small probe being placed in the anus. This probe uses an electric current, which stimulates the muscle for up to thirty minutes, after which it will be fatigued and unable to spasm so much. This method of treatment will normally be performed three times a week, for two consecutive weeks. The majority of patients treated using this method find that it is effective.
In extremely severe cases, where neither of these treatments have been effective, the use of Botox injections may prevent muscle spasms. Botox paralyzes the levator ani muscle and relieves the pain as a result. This will only be carried out for the most severe cases.
