Hemorrhoids, When Is Action Necessary?

Hemorrhoids consist of inflamed veins in the anus region. These rectal veins swell and become tender or painful, sometimes with bleeding, bright red or darker like a black stool. Piles occur because veins near the rectum and anus stretch under pressure; this happens more frequently during pregnancy, among overweight people, and after age 50 (because of less elasticity in tissues). Although they typically do not cause serious problems, some may bleed. If you suddenly notice blood on toilet paper or in your stools, this could indicate hemorrhoid disease.

What are hemorrhoid symptoms?

But if symptoms occur or they become inflamed, this may indicate an underlying problem that requires medical attention. Here are some symptoms:

Pain during a bowel movement can be intense and shoot in the rectum or anus area. It usually lasts for less than three minutes after a bowel movement.  

Burning sensation during or after defecation – Piles get irritated when passing stool, so there is a burning sensation around the anus. However, they may not cause these symptoms because they usually don’t produce any burning sensation. 

Blood on stool or into the toilet bowl – Blood clotting is common during bowel movement. If you see the bright red blood and it doesn’t go away after five minutes of wiping, it means your piles are bleeding.  

Fecal leakage – There are times when hemorrhoids rub against nearby tissues or nearby veins, which create symptoms like anal itching, soiling underwear with mucus or stool.

When Should You See a Doctor About Your Hemorrhoids?

The hemorrhoids may not be hemorrhoids. There could be other anal problems like fissures, fistula, or abscesses. Symptoms, though common, are also caused by more severe diseases like colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). If you experience one or more symptoms for two weeks, you must visit a doctor.

If your symptoms persist, and the piles become prominent and inflamed, creating skin ulceration around the anus. It is essential to treat them early before they lead to complications because hemorrhoidal tissues can prolapse when they stick out of the anus. 

They may not require immediate surgery if you notice rectal bleeding or anemia. Bleeding hemorrhoids can be treated with topical medications, rubber band ligation, and hemorrhoidectomy. If these treatments fail to reduce your piles, surgical relief is the option.

What Types of Surgical Procedures Are Available?

They can be dealt with in different ways depending on their severity and internal or external hemorrhoids. The most common hemorrhoid surgeries are:

Rubber band ligation – Rubber Band Ligation treats internal piles that aren’t thrombosed (inflamed). This surgery uses a tiny rubber band placed around the base of the hemorrhoid, which cuts off the blood supply that causes it to shrink down. During this procedure, bleeding is treated with a chemical injection to stop the bleeding. This surgery method doesn’t require anesthesia and can be done in your doctor’s office.

Infrared coagulation – This treatment uses infrared light, which goes through the pile and shrinks them. It is done by inserting an instrument into the anus and using heat energy to treat hemorrhoids. There is no pain or discomfort during this surgery procedure since it doesn’t cut off hemorrhoids’ blood supply like rubber band ligation does.

Sclerotherapy – Sclerotherapy treats prolapsed hemorrhoids (that sticks out). This surgery method uses a chemical solution to shrink hemorrhoids. The hemorrhage is treated by injecting saline solution into the hemorrhoid bulge area, which causes it to go back inside and heal without any pain or discomfort.

Hemorrhoidectomy – Hemorrhoidectomy treats internal, external, and prolapsed piles, even those that are thrombosed (inflamed). During this treatment procedure, swollen tissues around the rectum are cut off using surgical instruments after applying the anesthetic. This surgery method is done in an operating room, and the bleeding is treated by applying pressure on the anus opening for some time. After cutting away the rectal tissues, stitches may be required to close off the anus opening resulting from hemorrhage.

Remember that piles get removed through hemorrhoidectomy, but new ones can develop again due to straining during bowel movement and pregnancy. You may need another surgery when you experience these two conditions. They are more common during pregnancy because of increased uterus pressure that causes strain in defecation.

Are Hemorrhoid Surgeries Permanent?

Unfortunately, they are not permanent because piles return in most cases when you experience any of these two factors: straining during bowel movement and sitting for long periods of time. These surgeries are only temporary solutions for piles which is why you need to prevent them from reoccurring.

To avoid hemorrhoids, take long, warm baths that help relax the anal muscles or symptom relief. Avoid straining during bowel movement and sitting on the toilet for more than 20 minutes because you risk pushing them back inside the anus leading to bleeding, and pain. Managing your diet will also help improve your condition by providing more nutrients that keep rectal tissues healthy and less likely to bleed or protrude out through the anus opening.

Remember that they must be treated early before they get worse and develop complications like skin ulceration, anal abscess, and thrombosis. Treatment is simple symptom relief, but it’s essential to identify them early because bleeding can be severe, which may require blood transfusion or surgery for hemorrhoids that are large, prolapsed, or internal.

Ask your doctor about HemWell, an FDA-approved, pain-free treatment that’s permanent. If your provider doesn’t offer HemWell, we can assist you in finding one that does. Please visit our website to learn more about this life-changing treatment. Learn more about hemorrhoids.