A doctor has revealed that if you suffer with pain that you describe as a ‘lightning bolt’, then you need to start eating more of certain foods. Taking to TikTok, Dr Karan Raj aka @dr.karanr said that you don’t need to take medication if you don’t want to, but the option is there.
The doctor is a UK-based NHS surgeon, university lecturer and author who has amassed over 5.3 million followers on TikTok, where he shares health-related content and addresses common misconceptions. The expert said that if, for example, you are “on your period and you’re ruthlessly ambushed by stabbing butt hole pain, there are a few things which may help.”
Listing three items, he says things like seeds and nuts will help. Spinach is also a great food to include in your diet to help with the pain and at night, have a few squares of dark chocolate, he says.
Kiwi is a great fruit to eat if you want to increase fibre levels
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Speaking about proctalgia fugax, the condition happens when pain or cramping is felt around your buttocks and rectum. According to WebMD, “because proctalgia fugax is unpredictable, it is difficult for doctors to diagnose or researchers to study.”
The doctor explains: “The most common culprit is an involuntary spasm of the pelvic floor muscles and the anal sphincters brought on by elevated prostaglandin levels. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen and naproxen are basically anti-prostaglandins which can help to control or limit that contraction pain.”
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If you are keen on staying away from medication, the expert explains that another cause of proctagia fugax – also known as butt cramps – is “constipation and straining”. He says that the “hormonal fluctuations experienced during a menstrual cycle can lead to period related to constipation.”
The way to deal with this is simple he says – eat more fibre. He explained: “One way to offset this is by increasing fibre intake. Not just because it helps with regular bowel motions, but fibre can stop the absorption of oestrogen and progesterone which can cause pain and poop related dysfunction during a menstrual cycle.
“So less of both of these hormones can potentially limit periods and reduce pain as a bonus. If you increase your intake of certain foods like spinach, nuts and seeds and dark chocolate these are not only high fibre but also magnesium which is a muscle relaxant and can alleviate pelvic floor spasm.”
Concluding his advice, the GP says that a “very quick fix for that lightning bolt” pain is buying “agents like lidocaine gel or GTN cream. These are fast acting and providing anesthetic effect to relax and desensitise your derrière.”