pelvic/rectal/vaginal pain/pressure waking me at night

snogrl · Guest

Hi - Every couple of months I am awoken (usually during a nightmare) with a horrible pain feeling like pressure in my rectal area. It feels like the sensation you get when you need to push for labor. I thought originally it might be constipation, but no. It radiates in to the vaginal area and really does feel like I am about to deliver a baby. The pain/pressure usually lasts about 10 - 15 minutes and then goes away, leaving a lingering feeling of fullness which then goes away after another 1/2 hour or so. Any ideas what is causing this?

Mrs C · Newbie Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 3

I have had this type of pain on and off for years, usually at night. Eventually I asked a doctor about it. I would describe it as having cramp in the rectum/anus but I know what you mean about labour pain. I was told it was called "proctalgia fugax", which literally means something like "fleeting pain in the rectum". He said they don't really know what causes it and it is not usually related to any medical problem. It's obviously sensible to have it checked out, just in case. It can be really painful though. I expect the pain is causing you to have the nightmare, rather than the other way round.

pelvic/rectal/vaginal pain/pressure waking me at night

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