Do I Need Surgery For Hemorrhoids

When Do Hemorrhoids Need Surgery

While hemorrhoids are a pain, the good news is most do not require surgery and can be managed through other treatments, changes in diet, or at home remedies.

Surgery for hemorrhoids is usually only performed for severe cases, such as when home remedies arent working, emergencies , or when they become so bothersome or painful that they impact your lifestyle.

Minimally Invasive Hemorrhoid Treatments

There are several options to treat hemorrhoids that cause very little pain, if any, and have a quick recovery time. In most cases, patients can go back to work within a day.

These hemorrhoids treatments are usually performed in a doctors office or as an outpatient procedure in a hospital.

Rubber Band Ligation, or banding, is a common procedure to treat internal hemorrhoids. A small elastic band is placed around the base of the hemorrhoid cutting off its blood supply, which causes the hemorrhoid to shrink. Most cases require two to four procedures done about two months apart.

Most people dont feel pain during the procedure but may feel some mild discomfort.

Sclerotherapy involves injecting the hemorrhoid with a solution that causes the hemorrhoid to shrink. It is typically performed in a doctors office with patients feeling little pain or discomfort.

While this procedure isnt painful, most people will experience mild discomfort or some cramping.

What About Surgery For Severe Hemorrhoids?

Are You A Candidate For Hemorrhoid Surgery?

When To Seek Help

If you have symptoms of a prolapsed hemorrhoid, see a doctor.

Sometimes the hemorrhoid may retreat away from the skin on its own and not cause any more symptoms.

But if pain, itching and bleeding persist, see a primary care physician, proctologist , or gastroenterologist .

If you feel a lump around your anus, even if there are no other symptoms, you should see a doctor. You want to make sure that lump is actually a hemorrhoid and not a tumor or other health concern.

Experiencing Anal Discomfort Or Irritation

You dont have to live with hemorrhoids symptoms until the pain becomes so severe it disrupts your life. Dr. Paonessa offers several effective, nonsurgical treatments that can resolve your hemorrhoids, including:

• Rubber band ligation
• Sclerosis treatment

During rubber band ligation, Dr. Paonessa blocks blood flow to the hemorrhoidal tissue by wrapping a rubber band around it. Within a few days, the hemorrhoid shrivels, dies, and simply drops off. With sclerosis, Dr. Paonessa injects a chemical solution into your hemorrhoid, causing the vein to collapse and wither away.

You can rely on Dr. Paonessa to focus first on accurately diagnosing your condition. Then she recommends the most conservative and effective hemorrhoid treatment available, along with tips that help prevent hemorrhoids from recurring.

Dont live with hemorrhoid discomfort contact us to schedule your appointment today at Paonessa Colon & Rectal Surgery in Brielle and Manahawkin, New Jersey.

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Diagnosing And Classifying Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are the distal prolapse of the arteriovenous bundle, muscle fibers and surrounding connective tissue as an envelope below the dentate line in the anal canal. They usually present with painless rectal bleeding.2

The diagnosis of hemorrhoids relies on history and physical examination rather than on laboratory testing or imaging studies. Typically, the presenting symptom is painless rectal bleeding associated with bowel movements, usually appearing as bright red blood on the toilet paper or coating the stool. Severe itching and anal discomfort also are common, especially with chronic hemorrhoids.

Do Prolapsed Hemorrhoids Hurt

Prolapsed hemorrhoids tend to be more painful when sitting as opposed to standing or lying down. They may also hurt more during a bowel movement.

Prolapsed hemorrhoids can be especially painful if a blood clot has formed within the hemorrhoid. This is known as a thrombosed hemorrhoid.

A thrombosed hemorrhoid isnt as dangerous as a blood clot in your heart, for example, but it can be very painful. A thrombosed hemorrhoid may need to be lanced and drained to relieve the pain.

A prolapsed hemorrhoid may also be extremely painful if its strangulated, which means the blood supply to the hemorrhoid has been cut off.

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When To See A Doctor About Hemorrhoids

Talking about rectal problems like hemorrhoids can feel embarrassing. But this common problem affects an estimated 3 in 4 Americans sometime during their lifetimes half of them by the time they turn 50.

With hemorrhoids being such a widespread problem, its no surprise that local drugstores have plenty of treatments promising to help. But what if over-the-counter treatments dont help? Can medical care solve your problem and relieve your discomfort?

At Paonessa Colon & Rectal Surgery, we say, Yes. And the good news? Getting medical hemorrhoid treatment doesnt always mean you need surgery. In fact, you can rest easy knowing that most of the time, it doesnt.

Board-certified general surgeon and proctologist Nina J. Paonessa, DO, leads our team. Shes a specialist who is well-known for her medical expertise as well as her passion for making her patients feel comfortable when addressing this sometimes embarrassing condition. Dr. Paonessa is also the only female colorectal surgeon in Ocean and Monmouth counties, New Jersey.

Patients With Compounding Conditions

Pregnant patients often develop hemorrhoids as intra-abdominal pressure increases, particularly during the third trimester.36 Also, acute episodes of pain and bleeding are common in pregnant women with preexisting hemorrhoids.

Conservative treatment is the main approach in pregnant patients because most hemorrhoids regress after childbirth. This includes increased dietary fiber, stool softeners and sitz baths, which are safe to use for external hemorrhoids. Any office-based or surgical intervention should be postponed until after childbirth, if possible. Kegel exercises and lying on the left side are also recommended to relieve symptoms. In cases of severe bleeding, anal packing appears to be useful.

Immunosuppressed patients and those on anticoagulant therapy are more prone to serious complications such as sepsis and profuse bleeding. Thus, conservative management should be used in these patients as well. Injection sclerotherapy may be beneficial, as it has been shown to decrease bleeding. Of note, patients on immunosuppressive agents should stop taking them and start taking an antibiotic, and patients on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications should be instructed to stop them one week before any intervention.

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Relief For Rectal Pain

You can usually treat an anal tear with a cream, but it sometimes requires surgery. Antibiotics can treat abscesses, which usually need to be drained when they dont pop on their own.

You can treat most hemorrhoids by:

• Applying hemorrhoid cream from your local drugstore
• Sitting in warm water for 10-15 minutes a few times a day

• Not straining while going to the bathroom

• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Eating lots of fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables

How Do I Know If I Have External Hemorrhoids

Depending on the severity of your external hemorrhoids, symptoms are more obvious than that of internal hemorrhoids.

If you have hemorrhoid itching and burning, or pain around the anus, lumps near the anus, or blood in your stool, these are indications that you may have external hemorrhoids.

Another sign of external hemorrhoids is a feeling of pressure on the bowel. If you suspect you have external hemorrhoids, a hemorrhoid doctor can perform a rectal exam to verify your diagnosis.

If you have internal hemorrhoids, check out our internal hemorrhoids guide for more information.

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When Is Hemorrhoid Surgery Necessary

Hemorrhoid surgery may be necessary for internal hemorrhoids that have prolapsed if this prolapse is significant, such as when the protruding tissue cannot be pushed back in. If your hemorrhoids are painful, bleeding, or long-lasting, or youre experiencing anal leakage, you should check with your physician to see if you require a hemorrhoidectomy to treat your hemorrhoid symptoms.

Other Treatments Are Just as Effective as Hemorrhoid Surgery

Surgery is not the preferred option to treat most hemorrhoids, as patients may experience postoperative pain, bleeding, or incontinence. There are other hemorrhoid treatments, such as rubber band ligation, that offer relief through less-invasive measures.

The CRH ORegan System is fast and painless, and in most cases provides a permanent solution. The treatment technology involves placing a band around the base of the affected area to cut off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid, causing it to shrink and fall off within a few days. The painless treatment takes thirty seconds to a minute requires no preparation or surgical sedation NPO orders and less than 1% of patients experience post-procedure complications. Hemorrhoid surgery is frequently a last resort, but with the CRH ORegan System, 99% of patients find relief from their hemorrhoid symptoms without surgery.

Hemorrhoids usually dont go away on their own, and to avoid unnecessary, prolonged discomfort, check with your physician to find the right treatment for your situation.

When Is More Invasive Treatment Necessary

Usually hemorrhoids can be managed with conservative treatment. In some case, however, more invasive treatment may be necessary. The most common reason internal hemorrhoids call for more invasive treatment is because symptoms persist despite conservative treatment.

Some patients also have severe enough symptoms to require medical intervention at the time of diagnosis. This includes patients with:

• Excessive bleeding, especially bleeding that leads to anemia
• Prolapsed hemorrhoids that cannot be manually reduced
• Strangulated hemorrhoids

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What Are The Symptoms Of Hemorrhoids That Havent Prolapsed

If you have an internal hemorrhoid, you may have no noticeable symptoms. In some cases, there may be some bleeding. If you have bleeding, it will likely show up as bright red blood on a tissue when you wipe following a bowel movement.

External hemorrhoids, even if they havent prolapsed, may feel uncomfortable and itchy.

How Can You Postoperative Care For Yourself At Home

Activity

• Rest when you feel tired.
• Be active. Walking is a good choice.
• Allow your body to heal. Dont move quickly or lift anything heavy until you are feeling better.
• You may take showers and baths as usual. Pat your anal area dry when you are done.
• You will probably need to take 1 to 2 weeks off work. It depends on the type of work you do and how you feel.

Diet

• Follow your doctors instructions about eating after surgery.
• Start adding high-fibre foods to your diet 2 or 3 days after your surgery. This will make bowel movements easier. And it lowers the chance that you will get hemorrhoids again.
• If your bowel movements are not regular right after surgery, try to avoid constipation and straining. Drink plenty of water. Your doctor may suggest fibre, a stool softener, or a mild laxative.

Medications

Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. He or she will also give you instructionsabout taking any new medicines.

Other instructions

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How Long Do Hemorrhoids Last

When you have hemorrhoids, its vital to treat them right away. In their early stages, most hemorrhoids can be treated with creams or other over-the-counter treatments. However, if your hemorrhoids last more than a few days even after over-the-counter treatment you should seek medical assistance from a hemorrhoid specialist.

If left untreated, most and become more severe, often rendering surgery necessary.

Internal hemorrhoids can become prolapsed, where they protrude from the anus. This condition is extremely painful and may be difficult to treat with creams. Often, is used to treat internal hemorrhoids once they become prolapsed.

Likewise, an external hemorrhoid that is left untreated can cause blood clotting, which can then lead to a thrombosed hemorrhoid. The symptoms of a thrombosed external hemorrhoid include a bluish-purple discoloring and severe pain. If you are experiencing these symptoms, please dont hesitate to contact one of our hemorrhoid specialists right away to determine the correct method of treatment.

A Range Of Treatments

In choosing the treatment for hemorrhoids, one should consider the disease grade and severity, its impact on the quality of life, the degree of pain it causes, the patients likelihood of adhering to treatment and the patients personal preference.

Regardless of severity, treatment almost always starts with a high-fiber diet and other lifestyle modifications that include bowel movement behaviors. This requires practitioners to spend significant time on patient education, regardless of the type or severity of the disease.

Treatments can be grouped in three categories: conservative, office-based and surgical. Practitioners should thoroughly discuss the options with the patient, emphasizing the pros and cons of each.

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How Is It Done

Hemorrhoid banding is usually an outpatient procedure, meaning you wont need to stay in a hospital. Your doctor might even be able to do it in their usual office.

Before the procedure, youll be given anesthesia or have a topical anesthetic applied to your rectum. If your hemorrhoids are very painful, or you need to have a lot of them banded, you may need general anesthesia.

Next, your doctor will insert an anoscope into your rectum until it reaches the hemorrhoid. An anoscope is a small tube with a light at the end of it. Theyll then insert a small tool called a ligator through the anoscope.

Your doctor will use the ligator to place one or two rubber bands at the base of the hemorrhoid to constrict blood flow. Theyll repeat this process for any other hemorrhoids.

If your doctor finds any blood clots, theyll remove them during the banding process. In general, hemorrhoid banding only takes a few minutes, but it could take longer if you have multiple hemorrhoids.

How Are Internal Hemorrhoids Treated

Even if you require medical treatment for your symptomatic internal hemorrhoids, there are often other treatments to try before resorting to surgery. The most common of these methods is known as rubber band ligation.

Most colon and rectal specialists perform this procedure in the office, and it only take a few minutes. The doctor places a tiny band at the base of the hemorrhoid, reducing blood flow. This will shrink the inflamed tissue, stopping symptoms. Some patients require as many as four band placements to completely eliminate symptoms. This process causes only mild pain, requires no anesthesia, and you can return to work immediately.

Some doctors may prefer other procedures that work in a similar way, including sclerotherapy , infrared or laser coagulation and cryosurgery.

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What Should I Expect? Hemorrhoids After Hysterectomy Surgery

Before the Surgery: Your doctor will give you a regimen of things to do to prepare for the surgery. This will probably include directions about what and how late you can eat the day before. Your bowels will need to be emptied prior to the surgery, so you will be instructed on how to do this. Because you will be placed under anesthesia during the surgery, you will also need to have someone drive you home later. You will be asked to arrive at the outpatient center by a certain time to be prepped for surgery.

During the Surgery: This depends on the type of surgery you receive. In any type, you will be placed under anesthesia to eliminate pain during the procedure. You may or may not be awake during the procedure.

If you have the stapled hemorrhoidectomy, the doctor will lift the hemorrhoid tissue back in place and then use a circular stapling tool to staple it.

If you have a conventional hemorrhoidectomy, the doctor will

• Make an incision in the hemorrhoid tissue.
• Remove any blood clots.
• Remove the hemorrhoid blood vessels.
• Remove the hemorrhoid.

Some doctors use sutures to close the area. Others think healing is more successful when the wound is left open. The doctor will pack the wound with gauze to absorb bleeding.

You may experience bleeding with your first few bowel movements. This is not a cause for worry.

What Are Internal Hemorrhoids

While external hemorrhoids occur just outside the anus, internal hemorrhoids are swollen areas of tissue just inside the rectum. Although they typically lack the pain often associated with their external counterparts, they are more likely to bleed. In fact, blood on the toilet paper during a bowel movement is sometimes the only symptom of internal hemorrhoids.

Unfortunately, though, they can also become so inflamed that they prolapse out through the anus causing more serious symptoms. When protrusion occurs, an intense itching often follows thanks to a condition known as pruritus ani. Scratching, scrubbing or wiping to relieve the itching usually just leads to further irritation, making the situation worse.

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The Real Truth About Hemorrhoid Treatment

Almost all cases of hemorrhoids and fissures can be cured without surgery. Many misconceptions exist about the treatment of and cure of hemorrhoids. You can get the relief you deserve without surgery by visiting HCA today. Our non-surgical office hemorrhoid treatment is the new gold standard. We can help you get relief today by starting you on one of our custom hemorrhoid compounds and if needed plan your office treatment using the safest and most effective hemorrhoid ligation device available. Do not agree to possibly unnecessary surgery without first trying our non-surgical office hemorrhoid treatment.

Hemorrhoids After Hysterectomy Surgery

Benefits to the patient of the procedure include less pain, shorter recovery times, and fewer complaints of post-surgery complications.

Drawbacks to the procedure include a higher incidence of recurring hemorrhoids. Also, some patients complain of pain during bowel movements and internal itching from the staple.

Hemorrhoidectomy: A hemorrhoidectomy actually removes the hemorrhoid, including blood clots and blood vessels that feed the hemorrhoid. Its usually performed as an outpatient procedure.

Hemorrhoidectomies offer the most success in preventing the return of hemorrhoids, but patients who have them also experience the most significant complications. Complications include incontinence, frequent gas and bloating, and leaking fecal matter.

Other Minimally Invasive Procedures for Hemorrhoid Removal

If you are a candidate for a less serious form of surgery, your doctor may perform what is known as a minimally invasive, or fixative, procedure. These procedures focus on cutting off the blood flow to the hemorrhoid rather than removing the hemorrhoid. The most common forms include:

Excision: In which the blood clot of a thrombosed hemorrhoid is removed Hemorrhoids After Hysterectomy Surgery

Rubber band ligation: In which rubber bands are placed around internal hemorrhoids, cutting off their blood supply

Sclerotherapy: In which a solution is injected into the hemorrhoid, shutting down entry paths for blood to feed the hemorrhoid

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