Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome is a condition that occurs when a sore (ulcer) develops in the rectum. The rectum is a muscular tube that's connected to the end of your colon. Stool passes through the rectum on its way out of the body.

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome is a rare and poorly understood disorder that occurs in people with chronic constipation. Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome can cause rectal bleeding and straining during bowel movements. Despite its name, sometimes more than one rectal ulcer occurs in solitary rectal ulcer syndrome.

Treatments for solitary rectal ulcer syndrome range from changing your diet and fluid intake to surgery.

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Signs and symptoms of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome include:

• Constipation
• A feeling of incomplete passing of stool
• Pain or a feeling of fullness in your pelvis
• Passing mucus from your rectum
• Fecal incontinence
• Rectal pain or anal sphincter spasms
• Rectal bleeding
• Straining during bowel movements

However, some people with solitary rectal ulcer syndrome may experience no symptoms.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice any signs or symptoms that worry you.

Other diseases and conditions may cause signs and symptoms similar to those of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome. At your appointment, your doctor may recommend tests and procedures to rule out other causes of your signs and symptoms.

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It's not always clear what causes solitary rectal ulcer syndrome. Doctors believe stress or injury to the rectum may cause rectal ulcers to form.

Examples of situations that could injure the rectum include:

• Attempts to manually remove impacted stool
• Constipation or impacted stool
• Anal intercourse
• Intussusception, which occurs when part of the intestine slides inside another part
• Radiation therapy used to treat cancer in the abdomen or pelvis
• Rectal prolapse, which occurs when the rectum protrudes from the anus
• Straining during bowel movements
• Use of ergotamine suppositories, an anti-migraine treatment
• Uncoordinated tightening of the pelvic floor muscles that slows blood flow to the rectum

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Tests and procedures used to diagnose rectal ulcers include:

• Using a scope to examine your rectum. During sigmoidoscopy, your doctor inserts a flexible tube equipped with a lens into your rectum to examine your rectum and part of your colon. If a lesion is found, your doctor may take a tissue sample for laboratory testing.
• Using sound waves to create images of your rectum. Ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses sound waves to create pictures. Your doctor may recommend an ultrasound to help differentiate solitary rectal ulcer syndrome from other conditions.
• An X-ray of your rectum. During a procedure called defecation proctography, your doctor inserts a soft paste made of barium into your rectum. You then pass the barium paste as you would stool. The barium shows up on X-rays and may reveal a prolapse or problems with muscle function and muscle coordination.

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If you experience chronic constipation, you can make changes to your daily life that may help relieve your symptoms. Relieving your constipation may help reduce the signs and symptoms of rectal ulcer.

You may find relief from constipation if you:

• Drink water throughout the day. Drinking enough water and other fluids helps to keep your bowel movements soft and easy to pass. For variety, you may want to add lemon juice to water for flavor. Or try other noncarbonated and caffeine-free beverages. Prune juice can be helpful because it has a natural laxative effect.
• Increase the amount of fiber in your diet. Fiber adds bulk to your stool. The bulk helps push the contents of your intestines along so that they can be eliminated when you have a bowel movement. Try to eat at least 25 to 35 grams of fiber each day. Nutrition labels on food packaging list the amount of fiber in a serving. The best sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Eat fruits and vegetables with the skin on, and choose whole fruits and vegetables over juices. Look for breads and cereals that list whole wheat, oats or bran as the first ingredients.
• Make changes slowly. Add more water and fiber to your diet over the course of a few weeks. This helps your body adjust to the changes gradually. A sudden increase in fiber could make constipation worse.
• Exercise most days of the week. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. If you haven't been active for a while, get your doctor's OK. Then start slowly, with walking or another gentle activity. Gradually work your way up to more activity each day.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com