Hemorrhoids Specialist

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your lower rectum and anus. These veins enlarge because of pressure in the rectum from straining during bowel movements or sitting for long periods on the toilet.

You might also be at risk for hemorrhoids due to:

• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Chronic constipation
• Chronic diarrhea
• Frequent heavy lifting
• Low-fiber diet

You’re also more likely to develop hemorrhoids as you get older and the veins in your rectum and anus weaken.

What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids symptoms depend on where and how severe they are. If you have external hemorrhoids under the skin around your anus, you can experience pain, itching, or irritation in your anus. You might also notice blood on the toilet paper after using the bathroom.

If you have internal hemorrhoids inside your rectum, you might notice bleeding during bowel movements or feel the vein protruding through your rectum.

Blood that pools in an external hemorrhoid can form a thrombus, a clot. This can lead to:

• Severe pain
• Swelling
• Inflammation
• Hard lump near your anus

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation for any of these symptoms with the team. They offer on-site rectal exams and other diagnostic tests to identify the kind of hemorrhoids you have and determine how to treat them.

How are hemorrhoids treated?

You could find relief from anal itching and irritation with over-the-counter topical or suppository medications. If these medications don’t work well or if your pain gets worse, you might need a minimally invasive procedure like:

Rubber band ligation

Rubber band ligation is a noninvasive procedure that uses small rubber bands to cut off blood flow to the enlarged vein. The vein eventually collapses and is absorbed by your body.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy uses injections of a chemical solution into the vein to irritate and collapse it.

Thrombectomy

Thrombectomy is a procedure done under a local anesthetic to surgically remove an external hemorrhoid that has a blood clot.

Hemorrhoidectomy

A hemorrhoidectomy involves the surgical removal of a hemorrhoid under a local or general anesthetic. This is the most effective way to treat recurrent hemorrhoids or severe hemorrhoids that don’t respond to other therapies.

Call The Gastroenterology Group today or go online to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for painful hemorrhoids.