Crohn's Disease Fissure Help?

Crohn's for 10yrs +, been on many meds over the years, disease now well controlled on IV Remicade every 8 weeks (next dose due 3/3/08). Minimal pain, no real diarrhea, activity of disease seemed quiet until 3 days ago when fissure activity started. It is in the crease of my buttocks, not near the rectal opening but higher. Very sore to sit, stand, crouch, etc. Hard for me to look at myself, but appears as a red line in the crease with 3 separate tiny openings. No real drainage, but if you touch the area with a tissure you can see some pink serous drainage.
Any help or ideas for relief would be greatly appreciated!!!!
THANKS!

hi x, i am a female crohn's survivor like yourself. do you have a fissure, which is a tiny crack near the rectum, or a fistula which is an abnormal opening from the colon leading anywhere to the vagina, stomach, urinary tract, etc.

For anal fissures, try Tucks medicated pads, Alovesta ointment by Convatec (you get this at a surgical supply store that sells wound care or ostomy products, a sitz bath, rinse with saline then pat dry & apply an NSAID cream prescribed by the GI. This happened to me yrs. ago. I truly understand the pain you are in. I never had drainage, just redness and it was PAINFUL to sit. It looked like a papercut on my butt.

Remicade (I've been on that myself) is used to close up active fistulas. Flagyl is also given (side effects are nasty) for 7-14 days until the opening closes up. Humira injections 2x can be used if Remicade fails. I am on that now.

For more information, check out the crohn's & colitis foundation website. They have tons of up to date things from newer treatments, women's issues, surgery, and even locating a local support chapter near you. They have a hotline as well as a live chat during the week run by healthcare professionals well versed in ibd.

feel free to email me if you have questions. good luck and feel better.