Hemorrhoid Treatment in Plainville, CT

If you are suffering from hemorrhoids, you are not alone, hemorrhoids have afflicted humankind as long as history has recorded and continues to affect millions of Americans every year, and most people suffer from their symptoms for a long time before seeking medical help. The symptoms vary and may present with pain, bleeding, anal discharge, physical discomfort when using the bathroom, poor hygiene, and a lifelong intolerance of their presence.

The team at Connecticut Colon & Rectal Surgery, LLC offers treatment for hemorrhoids to ease your discomfort.

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are enlarged, bulging blood vessels in and around the anus and lower rectum that help with stool control. The rectum is the bottom section of your colon (large intestine). As the tissues supporting the vessels stretch and expand, the wall becomes thin and bleeding occurs, resulting in symptomatic hemorrhoids. There are two types of hemorrhoids, external and internal, each refer to their location.

• External Hemorrhoids: External hemorrhoids, also referred to as outside hemorrhoids, form near the anus and are covered by sensitive skin. They are usually painless unless a blood clot (thrombosis) forms or become very swollen. This is one of the most common conditions requiring an urgent appointment, severe rectal pain, or developing a new lump. See below.
  • Thrombosed External Hemorrhoids: These are blood clots that form in an outer hemorrhoid in the anal skin. If the clots are large, they can cause significant pain. A painful anal mass may appear suddenly and get worse within the first 48 hours. The pain generally lessens over the next few days and you may notice bleeding if the skin on top opens. We will have urgent availability to assist and treat this condition.
• Internal Hemorrhoids: Internal hemorrhoids, also known as the hemorrhoids inside the rectum, form within the anus beneath the lining. Painless bleeding and protrusion during bowel movements are the most common symptoms. However, a completely prolapsed hemorrhoid, which slides out of the anal opening and cannot be pushed back inside, may cause severe pain.

What Causes Hemorrhoids?

Although the exact cause of hemorrhoids is unknown, there are contributing factors such as:

• Aging
• Chronic constipation or diarrhea
• Pregnancy
• Straining during bowel movements
• Certain athletic activities such as powerlifting
• Faulty bowel function due to the overuse of laxatives and enemas
• Prolonged periods of time spent on the toilet (such as using your phone while sitting on the toilet)

What are the Symptoms of Hemorrhoids?

Any of the following may be a sign of hemorrhoids:

• Bleeding during bowel movements
• Protrusion of tissue during bowel movements
• Itching in the anal area
• Pain in the anal area
• Sensitive lump(s)
• Extreme swelling

Due to the symptoms being similar, what may seem to be a case of hemorrhoids may actually be fissures, fistulas, abscesses, colorectal cancer, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and diverticular disease.

How are Hemorrhoids Treated?

It is important that symptoms be evaluated by a colon-rectal surgeon before you try self-treatment. A colon-rectal surgeon will perform a thorough examination and recommend treatment. The physicians at Connecticut Colon & Rectal Surgery, LLC develop an individualized treatment plan based on where your hemorrhoids are and the kind of symptoms you are experiencing. If your symptoms are mild, a nonsurgical approach may be advised. However, if your symptoms are severe, surgical intervention may be recommended.

• Non-Surgical Treatment: With nonsurgical treatment, pain and swelling usually decrease in two to seven days. The firm lump should recede within four to six weeks.
  Treatment includes:
  • Topical creams / Selective suppositories 
  • Eating a high-fiber diet
  • Taking over-the-counter fiber supplements to make stools soft, formed, and bulky
  • Avoiding excessive straining to reduce the pressure on hemorrhoids and to prevent protrusion
  • Shortening time spent on the toilet to 1-2 minutes to help prevent protrusion
  • Drinking more water to help prevent hard stool and aid in healing
• Rubber Band Ligation: This treatment often works well on internal hemorrhoids and often avoids surgery for hemorrhoids. It is an office treatment/procedure.
  • Banding involves placing an elastic band at the base of an inside hemorrhoid (internal) with a special instrument, which diminishes the blood supply, obliterating the hemorrhoid. The hemorrhoid and the band fall off within 7 days of the procedure. The wound usually heals in one to two weeks. After this procedure, you may feel a mild discomfort, a sensation of fullness in the lower abdomen, a sensation of having a bowel movement, and bleeding may occur. Depending on the size of the hemorrhoids or if they return, this procedure may need to be repeated for complete treatment.
• Surgical Treatment: If your hemorrhoid symptoms are severe, surgical treatment may be advised. If you are suffering from an external thrombosed hemorrhoid, your physician may decide to remove (excise) the hemorrhoid and/or clot with a small incision. This procedure can typically be done at the physician’s office but in some circumstances, it may have to be performed outpatient at an ambulatory surgical center or hospital.
  • Hemorrhoidectomy: This is the most complete surgical method for removing extra tissue that causes bleeding and protrusion. It is done for both external and internal hemorrhoids under anesthesia using sutures or a special surgical device. Hemorrhoidectomy is considered when:
    • Repeated external thrombosed hemorrhoids form
    • Ligation is not effective in treating internal hemorrhoids
    • The protruding hemorrhoid cannot be reduced
    • There is chronic bleeding