NHS Doctor warns 'shooting pain' could be common condition as people urged to see GP

An NHS doctor has warned people that a 'shooting pain' could be a signal of something more serious.

Taking to TikTok, Dr Karan Rangarajan, also known as Dr Karan Rajan - and @dr.karanr on the social media platform - warned that whilst it may seem initially funny to talk about, it is in fact not. And if you get the common symptom, you should seek help from your GP.

Discussing it on his podcast, Dr Karan Explores, with gynecological surgeon, Karen Tang, he said: "Stabbing butthole pain. I've seen an increased amount of patients in colorectal clinics that I've done, who come in with stabbing butthole pain. lightning bum, shooty pain, proctalgia fugax.

"It seems like a funny thing when you see videos on it or when someone describes it. It's a sharp lightning type pain in your crotch or bum hole and it actually ruins the quality of life for a lot of people."

Asking the surgeon if it's something she sees often, stating disproportionately it affects women more, she replies: "Absolutely. It can be a sign of things like endometriosis or pelvic floor spasm.

"Most people have never heard this term proctalgia fugax which is the spasming of the pelvic floor and the rectal muscles. It is a fairly common thing. There can be actual serious medical issues causing that.

"Rectal pain is one of the most common symptoms of endometriosis and because women's pain has sometimes been so normalised, people have been kind of conditioned to 'oh I'm just going to not talk about this'."

However she warns this is the opposite of what people should do, warning: "It's something that people should bring up with their doctor."

According to 29443715 the cause is not exactly understood. They say: "It is believed to be due to spasms of the muscles of the anus. The muscles here are very strong, as these are the muscles you use to hold your poo in, or relax to let the poo out.

"Most of the time it is not obvious what has set it off. In some people, it starts after an operation - for example, an injection for piles, or after a hysterectomy. It seems to be more common in people who have IBS, and in people who have anxiety symptoms."