Do I Need Surgery for My Hemorrhoids?

It’s little consolation to know that hemorrhoids are a common problem when you’re dealing with active symptoms. In many cases, hemorrhoids are minor, and you can resolve them with conservative care. Sometimes, painful clots can form externally. The minor inconvenience becomes a medical issue that can dominate your days. You could require surgery to heal. 

At Colorado Colon & Rectal Specialists in Parker, Colorado, we’ve got the expertise needed to treat your hemorrhoid flare-up. Offering a range of surgical and non-surgical procedures, our proctologist, Dr. Lisa Perryman, FACS, FASCRS, will match your condition with the optimal treatment. 

What happens when I have hemorrhoids?

When tissue in the lower rectum and anus become inflamed and fails, you may develop hemorrhoids. When in the lower rectum, these are called internal hemorrhoids. The external version starts under the skin of the anus and can become thrombosed and suddenly quite painful.

Internal hemorrhoids often have no symptoms, unless they prolapse, or protrude out of the rectum. Rectal bleeding can indicate you have internal hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids usually aren’t a medical crisis. You may live with these for years without knowing they’re there. Prolapsed internal hemorrhoids, however, can be painful and understandably alarming.

External hemorrhoids produce symptoms more frequently. Common symptoms include: 

• Hard lumps around the anus that are tender to the touch or sore
• Itchiness around the anus
• Aching or pain when you sit

Home care for hemorrhoids

When you have mild symptoms, you may find relief with home care steps like topical creams formulated for hemorrhoids and over-the-counter pain relievers. Soaking in a warm bath twice a day may also help. Adding high-fiber foods to your diet helps to soften stools, making them easier to pass without irritating sensitive hemorrhoid tissue. 

Do I need surgery for my hemorrhoids? 

If you have bleeding during bowel movements, or if home care doesn’t produce positive results in about a week, make an appointment with the hemorrhoid specialists at Colorado Colon & Rectal Specialists for an exam, diagnosis, and treatment recommendation. 

We offer minimally invasive procedures that are suitable for many hemorrhoid cases. These techniques include: 

Infrared coagulation (IRC)

Using heat energy from an infrared source, we can cut off the supply of blood to small-sized internal hemorrhoids. Treated tissue shrinks and eventually detaches naturally. This is a quick, painless non-surgical office procedure. 

Rubber band ligation

Also suitable for internal hemorrhoids, rubber band ligation places a medical band over the base of the hemorrhoid and strangulates the enlarged internal hemorrhoid by blocking blood flow to it so it shrinks. It is often considered the gold-seal hemorrhoid treatment because of its effectiveness. This, too, is a painless office procedure with no pain block or anesthesia and you can return to most normal activities the next day. 

Excision

Used for painful external hemorrhoids, excision is a fast in-office procedure that produces instant relief. It is important to seek medical attention when the hemorrhoid first appears for best results.

Surgery 

Usually reserved for very large or very painful hemorrhoids, surgery works for both internal and external types. Because recovery is more involved, the more conservative non-surgical options are always considered first. Dr. Perryman matches her surgical approach to the needs of your condition. 

When you experience rectal bleeding or your hemorrhoids resist home care remedies, contact Colorado Colon & Rectal Specialists by phone or online to schedule your consultation. Relief starts today, so book your appointment now.