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Hemorrhoids services offered in The Woodlands, Shenandoah and Spring, TX
Hemorrhoids affect around half of adults over age 50, and you can get them much younger as well. At Premier General and Colorectal Surgery, leading colorectal and robotic surgeon Junuk Kim, MD, FACS, and the skilled team provide personalized boutique care, including early hemorrhoid diagnosis and treatment, in the Shenandoah, Texas, office. With early detection, nonsurgical hemorrhoid treatments are highly effective, so there’s no reason to continue suffering from rectal bleeding and pain any longer. Call the office or book your consultation through online scheduling today.
Hemorrhoids Q&A
What are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are dilated veins in and around your rectum and anus. Internal hemorrhoids occur in the rectum and aren’t visible from the outside. External hemorrhoids occur in the skin surrounding your anus and appear as bumps in the skin.
Hemorrhoids are extremely common as you age. Some of the most common risk factors for hemorrhoids include bowel movement straining, sitting on the toilet for long periods, carrying extra weight, pregnancy, and chronic diarrhea or constipation.
What symptoms do hemorrhoids cause?
Internal hemorrhoids don’t tend to cause symptoms; however, you could experience painless bleeding during bowel movements. Occasionally, an internal hemorrhoid can protrude through the anal opening (prolapse), which can cause significant discomfort.
External hemorrhoids are far more symptomatic, frequently causing issues such as:
- Itching
- Anal pain, particularly when sitting
- Swelling around your anus
- Bleeding
If blood pools and clots within an external hemorrhoid (a thrombosed hemorrhoid), it can cause more intense pain, with a rock-hard bump outside your anus.
How are hemorrhoids diagnosed?
Other issues can cause symptoms like hemorrhoids. For example, rectal bleeding can happen with anal cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, fissures, and abscesses. External hemorrhoids can resemble anal warts.
If you have issues like anal pain and bleeding, Dr. Kim can determine the underlying cause and diagnose your problem with an external exam of your anus and, possibly, a digital rectal exam.
He may also perform an internal exam using a visualization tool like an anoscope or proctoscope. In some cases, Dr. Kim may diagnose hemorrhoids during colonoscopy (a colon cancer screening test).
Do hemorrhoids require treatment?
Dr. Kim and the team recommend treating hemorrhoids only if they’re painful or causing complications.
When discovered early, hemorrhoids are often treatable with a simple in-office procedure, such as banding. With banding, Dr. Kim attaches tiny rubber bands to the hemorrhoids to cut their blood supply. The hemorrhoids then wither over time and fall off.
Many other hemorrhoid treatment options exist, including sclerotherapy, laser treatment, and surgical removal. Dr. Kim can evaluate your needs and recommend the best option for symptom relief.
If anal bleeding, pain, and itchiness are driving you crazy, call Premier General & Colorectal Surgery or click the online scheduling tool for help today.