Rectal tenesmus

Lore & Background

Rectal tenesmus is a feeling of inability or difficulty to empty the bowel at defecation, even if the bowel contents have already been evacuated. It indicates the feeling of a residue and is not always correlated with the actual presence of residual fecal matter in the rectum. The condition is frequently painful and may be accompanied by involuntary straining and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Tenesmus has both a nociceptive and a neuropathic component.

Reader's Guide

Rectal tenesmus is often simply called tenesmus, with the term 'rectal tenesmus' serving as a retronym to distinguish it from vesical tenesmus, a similar condition involving the bladder. Tenesmus is closely related to obstructed defecation. It is generally associated with inflammatory diseases of the bowel, which may be caused by either infectious or noninfectious conditions. The condition is also associated with the installation of either a reversible or non-reversible stoma, where rectal disease may or may not be present. Patients who experience tenesmus as a result of stoma installation can experience symptoms for the duration of the stoma presence, and long-term pain management may need to be considered. Treatment involves pain relief administered concomitantly to the treatment of the primary disease causing tenesmus.

Did You Know?

• The term 'rectal tenesmus' is a retronym to distinguish defecation-related tenesmus from vesical tenesmus.
• The word tenesmus comes from Ancient Greek τεινεσμός (teinesmos), from τείνω (teínō) 'to stretch, strain'.