An NHS doctor has revealed that a strange sensation known as ‘lightning bum’ could be a symptom of a more serious health issue.
The body is a strange thing and it has its own unique way of letting us know that something isn't quite right... with some instances leading to pretty scary diagnoses.
For example, one woman’s ‘fake tan’ look turned out to be jaundice due to cancer, and another’s tiny lump on her bottom turned out to be a form of soft tissue cancer.
This means that while symptoms may seem odd at first, they can go on to have life-changing consequences.
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And an oddity known as 'lightening bum' is no exception, with it potentially being a sign of conditions that mostly impact women, according to NHS doctor Karan Rajan.
What is ‘lightning bum’?
The doctor, who is known as Dr Karan Raj on TikTok, recently took to the video platform to share a warning about the ‘lightning bum’ phenomenon, which he shared is a ‘stabbing butthole pain’.
He explained that the symptom is something he has 'seen an increased number of patients in colorectal clinics’.
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In the clip from his podcast, Dr Karan Explores, he explained the strange symptom with gynaecological surgeon Dr Karen Tang, adding that it’s sharp and can be in your bottom or ‘crotch’.
He said: "It seems like a funny thing when you see videos on it or when someone describes it. You know, like a sharp, lightning-type pain in your crotch or butthole.
"And it actually ruins the quality of life for a lot of people."
What can it be a sign of?
Per the NHS, anal discomfort can be due to common ailments like constipation, haemorrhoids (piles), anal fissures or abscesses.
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Or, it could be a sexually transmitted infection, or even anal cancer.
However, in women, it could be something related to their reproductive system.
According to the doctor, the shooting pain can be a sign of something called proctalgia fugax or endometriosis.
What are proctalgia fugax and endometriosis?
According to Bowel Research UK, proctalgia fugax is categorised by anal pain that has no known cause. As there are many organs and muscles around the area, it can be caused by muscle spasms and is fairly common for people to experience.
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“Most people have never heard this term proctalgia fugax, which is this spasming of the pelvic floor or the rectal muscles, and it is a fairly common thing,” said Dr Tang.
But he explained that ‘there can be serious medical issues causing that’... endometriosis.
Endometriosis ‘is where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other parts of the body’, the NHS explains on its website, with one in ten women being diagnosed with it.
While treatment options are available, it’s a condition that can have a big impact on your life and many suffer daily from the side effects.
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Symptoms of endometriosis can range from mild to severe, with things like abdominal cramps, heavy menstrual cycles, pain when you go to the toilet, pain in your pelvis and back, and more.
The condition can cause infertility in some, but there are surgical options available to remove the tissue from the outside of the uterus to improve your chances.
Per Dr Tang, because women’s pain has become so normalised when it comes to reproductive health, they explained that people can easily be like 'oh god I'm not gonna talk about this', but 'it's something that people should bring up with their doctor'.
If you have been affected by the contents of this article, please find more information and support via Endometriosis UK on their website, or call 0808 808 2227.
Britt Jones