all i can say is water water water!! after you have sorted it out with the creams etc and it has healed get the water into you everyday! as well as metamucil. i had an anal fissure as well (which i couldn;t understand how i got it- no constipation and developed a month or two after birth) anyway... it took about 2 months to clear up fully (started making progress when i actually found/ saw where the actual fissure was and was able to put the cream directly on it. but if i go a day or 2 without metamucil or water now the pain comes back slightly (nothing like when it was at its peak) and yes i reckon the razor blade analogy is correct!