Hemorrhoids are a common — and often uncomfortable — condition that develops when veins in your lower rectum or anus swell. But because of where the hemorrhoids are, many people deal with the pain, itching, and discomfort of hemorrhoids in silence.
While over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams and lifestyle changes can help in mild cases, there comes a time when professional treatment is the best option. Knowing when to seek medical help for hemorrhoids keeps you from unnecessary discomfort, and Elvira Klause, MD, FACS, is here to help.
Dr. Klause and our team specialize in nonsurgical and minimally invasive hemorrhoid treatment in Laguna Hills, California. Here are four signs it’s time to schedule an appointment to discuss your symptoms.
Mild hemorrhoids can cause temporary discomfort, but they should fade in a few days to weeks with at-home care. If you're dealing with ongoing pain, itching, or swelling that doesn't improve with home remedies, it might be time to see a specialist.
Hemorrhoids can become inflamed or thrombosed, causing sharp pain during bowel movements or while sitting. If you find that your quality of life is affected or the pain keeps returning, don’t suffer in silence.
Seeing blood in the toilet or on your toilet paper is alarming. Small amounts of bright red blood are a common symptom of hemorrhoids, but you should never ignore repeated or significant bleeding.
That’s because bleeding with bowel movements can also be a sign of other gastrointestinal issues, including anal fissures or colorectal conditions. Seeking help is the first step to get a clear diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
If you notice a lump near your anus, it could be a prolapsed hemorrhoid. Prolapsed hemorrhoids happen when internal hemorrhoids push through the anal opening. This is a good sign that it’s time to seek professional care.
We can push some prolapsed hemorrhoids back in, or they may retract on their own. But a persistent prolapse or a lump that’s painful, hard, or bleeding typically requires medical intervention.
Left untreated, prolapsed hemorrhoids can worsen over time and become more difficult to manage.
If you’ve made all the right lifestyle changes — like increasing fiber, drinking more water, and avoiding straining — but you still get hemorrhoids regularly, it’s time to consider professional treatment.
Chronic or recurrent hemorrhoids often require more targeted approaches to truly resolve the issue, stop bothersome symptoms, and prevent flare-ups in the future.
It’s normal to be embarrassed about hemorrhoids, but we’re here to help. We offer advanced, effective hemorrhoid solutions to manage symptoms and improve comfort.
For mild to moderate hemorrhoids, we often use rubber band ligation, a quick, in-office procedure that cuts off blood flow to the hemorrhoid, causing it to shrink and fall off naturally.
Sclerotherapy is another option for small or internal hemorrhoids, and it involves injecting a solution into the hemorrhoid to shrink it over time.
For more advanced or persistent cases, we may recommend transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization. This minimally invasive surgical technique reduces blood flow to the hemorrhoids and helps restore normal tissue without major incisions or long recovery times. And in some cases, hemorrhoidectomy may be the best permanent solution.
You don’t have to live with the discomfort of hemorrhoids. With a proper diagnosis and expert treatment, relief is closer than you think. Reach out to our team today to learn more about your options, and take the first step toward feeling better.
