Rectal pain may occur from the anus to inside the rectum. This pain can be very severe due to the numerous nerves within the area. The pain can relate to a thrombosed hemorrhoid, a small tear in the lining of the anal canal known as a fissure, fecal impaction or mass of hard stool in the rectum, an abnormal channel between the anus or rectum known as a fistula, inflammation caused by inflammatory bowel disease and anal or colon cancer.
See also Chronic Rectal Pain.