I had an anal fissure. Felt like pooping glass!! It mustn't. Have been that bad though as there was never talk of surgery! I got some numbing cream in prescription from Gp and I think I even used a lot of nappy rash cream as well. Horrible horrible thing to have! I also seem to remember they said not to use Metamucil cause it bulks the stool up and the bulkier it is the more it hurts. Do lots of water and natural fibers. It took months to heal as well.