What’s that Pain in My Butt?

Hemorrhoids are a common culprit. They can be either inside or outside your rectum, and they really hurt when they’re angry!

Some say Napoleon Bonaparte was forced to ride side saddle because of hemorrhoids.

Most don’t know that hemorrhoids are normal, and that we have them from birth. They exist to provide anal tone and cushion the anal sphincter muscle. During bowel movements, the hemorrhoidal veins pad and protect our anal openings. It’s only when hemorrhoids become swollen—itch, hurt, and bleed—that they become a problem. The most common symptom is bright red blood—on your stool, toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl. Hemorrhoids aren’t usually life threatening and can go away. Most of the time they return, and the symptoms are often worse than before. It’s important to see your doctor to rule out conditions that have similar symptoms, such as colon cancer. That pain might be more than just your hemorrhoids.

About 89% of us will be bothered by hemorrhoids at some time in our lives. Runners, cyclists, weight lifters, construction workers, people who sit for prolonged times, people with diabetes, wheelchair bound individuals, and women who are pregnant or have given birth, are likely to suffer the irritation and pain of hemorrhoids…almost all of us are prone to hemorrhoids.

Fortunately, hemorrhoids are most often easy to treat.

Today there’s painless hemorrhoid removal that’s done in our office.

Rubber banding is a widely used, cost effective technique for eliminating internal hemorrhoids. Dr. Perryman uses a special instrument that simply fits a rubber band over the hemorrhoid tissue, which cuts off blood flow to it. About a week later it easily falls off and is eliminated during a bowel movement. The procedure itself takes less than 5 minutes.

Hemorrhoids can also be external.

External thrombosed hemorrhoids can be extremely painful. They are best examined by a proctologist or board-certified colon & rectal surgeon within the first few days symptoms appear. Symptoms often include painful swelling and a lump outside the anus. This is caused by a blood clot that forms inside the external hemorrhoid.

Dr. Perryman will carefully examine the area, and make medical determination whether to remove it through simple excision in the office. Most often this relieves pain from swelling instantly. Other recommendations may include: increasing dietary fiber, soothing sitz baths, and no straining or prolonged sitting on the toilet. Removing a thrombosed external hemorrhoid in the office only takes 10 minutes.

Tailbone pain can also be associated with hemorrhoids. That’s because muscles and bones are full of pain nerves down there. When you’re suffering from the pain of hemorrhoids, it can translate into pain and spasms throughout that area of your body. Be sure to be evaluated by a colon & rectal surgeon to be sure that nothing else is causing the pain.

Board certified colon & rectal surgeons are highly specialized and have many years of extensive training. They are experts in diagnosing and treating all problems related to the colon, rectum and anus.

Contact Dr. Lisa A. Perryman, FACS, FASCRS, board certified colon & rectal surgeon in Denver,
at (303)840-8822, or request a confidential appointment at www.ColoradoColon.com.