Medical Treatment For Your Hemorrhoids
Dr. Rivas develops personalized hemorrhoid treatment plans after completing a thorough examination. The treatments we recommend may depend on the type of hemorrhoids, as well as your symptoms. Initially, we may suggest lifestyle changes to ease your pain, such as increasing your intake of fiber and water to improve bowel movements and sitz baths to alleviate pain and discomfort.
However, when at-home treatments fail, Dr. Rivas may suggest a procedure to destroy or remove your hemorrhoids, such as:
- Rubber band ligation
- Infrared, laser, or bipolar coagulation
- Thrombectomy
Signs Your Hemorrhoids Require Medical Intervention
You may, understandably, not like to talk about it, but hemorrhoids are pretty common. They affect about 10 million adults in the United States annually. Its estimated, in fact, that as many as three in four adults will experience problems with hemorrhoids at some point in their lives.
Take a walk down the pharmacy aisle at your local grocery store and youll likely find plenty of treatments that promise to help. But what do you do when home remedies dont work? Is there a medical treatment that will help heal your hemorrhoids and resolve your pain?
Yes, says Dr. Betsy Clemens. And the good news? Effective hemorrhoid treatment doesnt always mean surgery. In fact, most of the time it does not.
Dr. Clemens leads our team here at Midwest Hemorrhoid Treatment Center in Creve Coeur, Missouri. 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.
How Do You Treat Hemorrhoids
Simple preventive measures can reduce your risk of hemorrhoids in North Carolina. Simple home remedies include the following:
- Exercise regularly. Obesity is a significant risk factor when it comes to hemorrhoid development, and regular exercise can help you stimulate your bowels. Aim to get at least 20 minutes of moderate exercise each day.
- Seek topical treatments. Many drugstores in North Carolina sell hemorrhoid creams that can help soothe pain in the anal area while hemorrhoids heal. Placing an ice pack on the affected area can also reduce swelling in the area.
- Sit on cushions. Sitting on a soft surface rather than a hard surface can help reduce swelling and reduce the pressure.
- Facilitate regular bowel movements. Holding stool in can lead to increased pressure and straining during bowel movements. Scheduling time to go to the bathroom or going to the bathroom immediately can reduce hemorrhoid risk.
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What Kind Of Doctor Do You Go See For Hemorrhoids
They are diagnosed by a physical examination by a doctor. Are there health risks associated with the condition? Not for the most part. However, if you are on blood thinners or have liver cirrhosis, hemorrhoids can bleed significantly. When.
How to Get Rid of Hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids, or “piles,” can occur as a result of pregnancy, poor diet, excessive straining during bowel movements, or repeated bouts.
Should blood pool in an external hemorrhoid, a blood clot referred to as a thrombosed hemorrhoid may develop and cause severe pain. The less common. hemorrhoids. Always consult a physician to determine whether you have the internal or external type. But for many people, hemorrhoids don’t go away. Instead, they.
Excessive Rectal Bleeding Hemorrhoids Why Are Hemorrhoids Called Piles Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen and inflamed veins in the anus and lower rectum. Piles may result from straining during bowel movements or from the. Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen, inflamed veins around the anus or lower rectum. Hemorrhoids are either inside the anus or under the skin
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Do Hemorrhoids Go Away On Their Own
Find a physician near you.
Hemorrhoids are a chronic disease, meaning the symptoms persist for a long time and are constantly recurring. If you have experienced recurring bouts of hemorrhoids, your hemorrhoids likely wont go away on their own. Left untreated, hemorrhoids often get worse over time and therefore harder to treat. This means that a hemorrhoid that could easily be treated today could eventually require surgery.
If youre unsure if you have hemorrhoids, consult with your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and see if you should have a colon cancer screening, or a colonoscopy. Typically, adults over the age of 50 should undergo colonoscopy at least every 10 years, or more frequently if your family has a history of GI issues.
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Can Hemorrhoids Be Prevented Or Avoided
Just about everyone has hemorrhoids at some time. But some things may make you more likely to get them. People whose parents had hemorrhoids may be more likely to get them. Pregnant women often get hemorrhoids because of the strain from carrying the baby and from giving birth. Being very overweight or standing or lifting too much can make hemorrhoids worse.
What Can I Do To Help Prevent Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are prevalent, with up to seventy-five percent of people suffering from a case in their lifetimes. You cant prevent every case of hemorrhoids! But you can take steps to reduce the chances of having hemorrhoids in the first place, and to reduce the severity if you do get them.
There are two main strategies for hemorrhoid prevention: changing your diet and changing your lifestyle.
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Look For Board Certification In Colon And Rectal Surgery
The American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery holds certified surgeons to the highest standards. There are very stringent educational, experiential, and testing requirements they must meet, in addition to passing the written Qualifying examination and the oral Certifying examination from the American Board of Surgery.
A board certified specialist will have at least four years of medical school in addition to at least five years of extensive general surgery training. In addition to all that, they will also undergo an additional year or more of supervised colon and rectal specialty training in an accredited fellowship program under the supervision of a certified specialist. This translates into a much higher level of operative and treatment experience than a general practitioner.
How A Doctor Can Help
Doctors can recommend medical treatments and procedures that can reduce or get rid of hemorrhoids. Some of these procedures can be done right in a doctors office and involve very little discomfort.
- Medicated creams/ointments. If an OTC hemorrhoid cream isnt enough, doctors can prescribe stronger creams and ointments.
- Minimally-invasive procedures. There are some minimally-invasive procedures that a doctor can do in their office or in an ambulatory surgery center that typically doesnt require anesthesia or long recovery times. Some of these procedures include rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy injections, and laser/infrared coagulation treatments.
- Thrombectomy. For severe cases that develop blood clots and cause a lot of pain, your doctor can perform an external hemorrhoid thrombectomy to remove the hemorrhoid. Thrombectomies are most effective when performed no more than 72 hours after severe symptoms emerge.
- Surgery. There are several surgical options available when other treatments and procedures havent worked or if you have very large hemorrhoids. If youve struggled to find relief, talk to your doctor to learn if surgery is right for you.
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How Does A Colorectal Surgeon Treat Hemorrhoids
With the assistance of nurses and other highly-trained medical professionals, colorectal surgeons are able to treat hemorrhoids through a myriad of techniques and specialties. If these traditional hemorrhoid treatments are unsuccessful, your colorectal surgeon may perform hemorrhoidectomy or hemorrhoid laser treatment to further treat this medical issue.
Seek An Experienced Specialist
While you want a specialist who works with the most cutting-edge treatments, you also want someone who has the experience to know what will work based on the details of your specific case. According to the American Board of Surgery, this is not a general practitioner. General practitioners may only see a few cases a year, and general surgeons may only see a few hemorrhoidectomies, fistulotomies, and other similar procedures each year. Without regularly handling these conditions, the rate of misdiagnosis or improper treatment is much higher.
This again highlights the benefits of choosing a specialist, and one who has extensive colorectal surgical experience such as that required to obtain board certification. This experience improves the outcome every step of the way, from routine screenings, to prescribing the right medical treatments, to performing surgery when necessary.
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There Are 2 Types Of Hemorrhoids
Not all hemorrhoids are the same. You can have internal hemorrhoids which are largely painless due to their location unless straining on the toilet causes them to move through your anus to the outside. External hemorrhoids are found around the anal opening and theyre usually swollen, painful, and cause you to have difficulty pooping.
Sometimes external hemorrhoids can have their blood supply blocked by clotting, and they become incredibly painful external thrombosed hemorrhoids which have an added risk of bursting and bleeding. Internal hemorrhoids are largely symptom free, though they may cause a little bleeding. However, external hemorrhoids can involve chronic pain, a struggle to pass stools, and lumps and swellings around the anus.
How Are They Treated
For most external hemorrhoids, home treatment is all you need. This includes slowly adding fibre to your meals, drinking more water, and using over-the-counter ointments for a limited time to stop itching. You also may use stool softeners. The same home treatment can be used for most internal hemorrhoids.
If your internal hemorrhoids are severe, you may need other treatment. The doctor may tie off the hemorrhoids with rubber bands or scar the tissue around the hemorrhoids. These treatments reduce the blood supply to the hemorrhoids so that they shrink or go away.
Surgery to remove hemorrhoids may be done if other treatments don’t work.
Healthy habits can help you prevent hemorrhoids or keep them from getting worse. Eat foods that have lots of fibre, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, drink plenty of water, and get plenty of exercise.
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How Are They Diagnosed
Your doctor may perform one or more tests to examine the anal or rectal area for hemorrhoids:
- Looking at the anus or rectum for visible signs of hemorrhoids. A doctor should be able to easily diagnose an external or prolapsed internal hemorrhoid through a visual examination.
- Doing a digital rectal exam. The doctor will insert a finger covered with a lubricated glove into the anus or rectum to feel for signs of hemorrhoids with the fingers.
- Using an imaging scope to look at the inside of your rectum to examine for internal hemorrhoids. This usually consists of inserting a thin tube with the light on the end into your rectum. Tools used for this diagnosis may include an anoscope or sigmoidoscope.
Treatment may vary by type, degree of prolapse, or severity of your symptoms.
Here are some home remedies to try if your symptoms arent too severe:
- Use an over-the-counter hemorrhoid cream or witch hazel solution to relieve swelling and pain.
- Take pain medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen , to reduce pain.
- Use a cold compress to relive pain and swelling.
- Sit in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes. You can either fill a bathtub with warm water or use a sitz bath.
In some cases, your hemorrhoids may need to be removed to prevent pain and long-term complications. Some procedures for removal include:
What Additional Qualifications Are Required By Hemorrhoid Specialists
After finishing medical school, a hemorrhoid specialist will complete a four-year residency in order to train in a major discipline, such as the vascular field or in gastroenterology. Once licensed to practice in one of these fields, a hemorrhoid specialist must then undertake a two-year fellowship to acquire the skills and specialist knowledge this area of medicine demands.
The Leading Medicine Guide’s quality assurance is ensured by the following acceptance prerequisites.
- At least 10 years of experience in medical treatment
- Mastery of modern diagnostic and surgical procedures
- Representative number of annual surgeries, treatments and therapies
- Outstanding focus of treatment in their special field
- Active member of a leading national medical society
- Managerial position
- Active participation in medical conferences, symposia etc.
- Research and teaching
- Quality management
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When Should You Visit A Doctor For Hemorrhoid Treatment
Hemorrhoids may be managed by lifestyle modifications, such as drinking plenty of fluids, having a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and maintaining a healthy weight. This is especially true in the case of small and uncomplicated hemorrhoids in people with good general health. Sitz baths with warm water and potassium permanganate will also help. If you have the following symptoms you must take the doctorâs help right away:
- Hard, tender lumps felt at the bottom
- Anal pain, especially while sitting
- Bleeding from the rectum observed as bright red blood in the stool, on toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl after a bowel movement
- A bulging or swelling may be felt through the anus in case of a prolapsed hemorrhoid
- You have tried over the counter medications for more than a week, but there is no relief of symptoms
What Are Possible Complications Of Hemorrhoids
Complications of hemorrhoids are rare. If they do happen, they may include:
- Strangulation. Arteries feeding fresh blood to the hemorrhoid can become blocked, preventing blood supply from reaching the hemorrhoid. This can cause extremely intense and unbearable pain.
- Anemia. If hemorrhoids bleed too much, they can deprive your red blood cells of oxygen. This can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, and dizziness as the blood supply carries less oxygen around your body.
- Prolapse. Prolapsed hemorrhoids can cause pain or discomfort when you sit or pass a bowel movement.
- Blood clots. Thrombosis is more likely to be a complication of an external hemorrhoid. Blood clots can cause increasingly unbearable pain and itching.
- Infection. Bacteria can get into hemorrhoids that are bleeding and infect the tissue. Untreated infections can sometimes cause serious complications, such as tissue death, abscesses, and fever.
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When Should I Worry About My Hemorrhoids And See A Doctor
You should see a doctor when youre suffering from any of the following symptoms:
- Bleeding from the anus, reddish or tar-colored stools, or spots of blood on your toilet paper.
- Pain in your rectum or anus.
- Milder symptoms like itching that dont stop after a week.
- A feeling of being full in your rectum even after youve had a bowel movement.
- Leaking stool.
- Any tissue coming out of your anus .
While hemorrhoids are generally mild, you should see a doctor to at least rule out anything more serious.
When Should I See My Doctor
See your doctor if you start to notice pain and discomfort around your anus, especially when you sit or have a bowel movement.
Seek emergency medical attention if you notice any drastic worsening of your symptoms or any of these other symptoms, especially if theyre interfering with your daily activities:
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When Do Hemorrhoids Require Medical Intervention
Your hemorrhoids can be an embarrassing topic to discuss with anyone, even your doctor. But hemorrhoids are common and affect 5% of adults in the United States every year, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Its estimated, in fact, that as many as three in four adults will experience problems with hemorrhoids at some point in their lives.
Though you can find many treatments for hemorrhoids at your local pharmacy, home remedies dont help everyone. At Rivas Digestive Center, located in Hollywood, Florida, our expert gastroenterologist, Dr. John Rivas, wants you to know when its time to get medical help for your hemorrhoids.
Permanent Hemorrhoid Treatment Options
Do you really need to treat your hemorrhoids? If your symptoms have persisted or come back over a period of time, the answer is usually yes.
Home remedies for hemorrhoids may provide hemorrhoid relief for a period of time, but if symptoms come back or never completely go away, you may require help from a medical professional to get rid of your hemorrhoids for good.
Hemorrhoidectomy
Hemorrhoidectomy is a form of surgery usually performed by a general surgeon or colorectal surgeon. Surgical hemorrhoidectomy is the most effective treatment for hemorrhoids. However, because it also has the highest complication rate and results in significant pain and downtime, it is often a last resort for those suffering from hemorrhoids.
Physicians typically reserve hemorrhoid surgery for more advanced cases and will recommend less invasive therapies and/or lifestyle changes, like adding a fibre supplement to your diet, before resorting to hemorrhoid surgery.
Non-Invasive Permanent Treatment
While there are several forms of non-invasive treatment that can provide temporary hemorrhoid relief, very few are permanent. After hemorrhoid surgery, the rubber band ligation technique has the lowest recurrence rate, meaning hemorrhoids are the least likely to return.
Heal Your Hemorrhoids
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