sitz baths: for healing - or for comfort?

I'm not sure that sitz baths would help a fistula heal faster. But I'm assuming they'll make you more comfortable while the healing is progressing. I hope your fistula heals as quickly as possible.

kathy

I used a sitz bath after I had my fistula surgery. The fistula wasn't deep, but he still cut right through my sphincter muscle, so I had an open gash on my rear end, so I used a sitz bath with epsom salt multiple times a day to keep it clean, so in that way I think it helped me heal faster by keeping the incision clean and it never got infected.

Thanks, Kathy and Subsky: I'm going to continue taking the sitz baths, but won't be so anal about taking them as often as possible. Was getting tired of spending the time with them in the evenings, but didn't want to quit if they actually helped the healing process.

Sitz baths do make you feel more comfortable. As for speeding healing, it doesn't per se, but epsom salts will help keep the area clean and therefore reduce risk of infection, which can prolong healing.

Thanks Spooky - I read somewhere that they also increase blood flow to the area, which speeds healing. That sounds reasonable for BB, but I couldn't visualize exactly how that would help a fistula.

Will sitting on a heating pad promote healing of a fissure?

Actually, it can be beneficial for both comfort AND healing. Moist heat is commonly used as a healing aid in various parts of the body.

Heat increases blood flow, which speeds up healing. Moist heat penetrates deeper than dry heat, even if the water does not reach the area of infection/inflammation.

However, what is unique about a fistula is the type of problem it is. Since a fistula is lined with epithelial tissue, the body does not necessarily view it as something that needs healing, but more like a new organ. So even with antibiotics, sitz baths, surgery, etc., your brain's and body's idea of healing may not be the same thing. While sitz baths may speed up fistula healing, they probably do nothing to close it.

Hope that doesn't make it more confusing.

Jan

So interesting, Jan. Thanks! I think I was associating fistula "healing" with "closing", thinking they were one and the same. Since they are apparently not the same thing, what does "healing" in terms of a fistula mean?