Non-Surgical Hemorrhoid Treatments

Surgery Vs. Non-Surgical Hemorrhoid Treatments

The treatment for hemorrhoids depends on their location and severity of the hemorrhoids. External hemorrhoids are usually a result of blood clots and can resolve on their own. In the event that they persist, doctors offers a variety of treatment options, including:

• Prescription-strength creams
• Numbing gels
• Medicated baths to help reduce pain and swelling
• Surgical removal

Treatment for Internal Hemorrhoids

For internal hemorrhoids, treatment methods vary from those of external hemorrhoids. Treatment alternatives include:

• Sclerotherapy involves injecting the vein with a solution causing it to collapse. It is common to have recurrences of hemorrhoids with this procedure.
• Surgical hemorrhoidectomy, which is the surgical removal of the hemorrhoid. It is extremely effective but has a painful recovery period that typically lasts two to three weeks after the surgery.
• Hemorrhoid band ligation, a non-surgical procedure where the hemorrhoid is suctioned with a small device, and a rubber band is placed at the end of the hemorrhoid.

Why Banding is the Preferred Method?

This minimally invasive procedure is very effective – with minimal to no pain. With hemorrhoid banding, a small rubber band is gently placed at the base of the hemorrhoid, cutting off the blood flow to the hemorrhoid. In two to three days, the banded hemorrhoid will spontaneously fall off without the patient noticing this event. As opposed to surgery, hemorrhoid band ligation is performed above the nerve line where there are little to no pain nerve sensors. Hemorrhoid band ligation can often eliminate the need for surgery and give adequate relief of hemorrhoidal symptoms. While only one column of hemorrhoids can be treated per visit, sometimes leading to multiple visits, banding is cheaper and less painful than surgery.

Banding has a high success rate, reduced rate of complications, and the reduced rate of hemorrhoid reoccurrence among patients. This technique is safer for a number of reasons:

• The instruments used are smaller – making the procedure more comfortable for patients.
• The instruments used are single use and 100% disposable – nearly eliminating the risk of contamination and infection.
• Patients do not undergo anesthesia.

Some additional benefits of the procedure include very minimal recovery time and little to no pain.

What nonsurgical treatment is available?

The Surgery Clinic at North Valley Hospital uses the patented and proprietary CRH O’Regan System for the treatment of hemorrhoids. This highly effective (99.1 percent), minimally invasive procedure is performed in our office in less than a minute. We make recommendations to reduce the chance of recurrence later (currently 5 percent in two years). If there are multiple hemorrhoids, we treat them one at a time in separate visits.

During the brief and painless procedure, the physician places a small rubber band around the tissue just above the internal hemorrhoid where there are few pain-sensitive nerve endings. Unlike traditional banding techniques that use a metal-toothed clamp to grasp the tissue, we use a gentle suction device, reducing the risk of pain and bleeding. Advanced cases where the diagnosis is both internal and external hemorrhoids may require additional therapy as rubber banding alone may not be suitable.

The banding procedure works by cutting off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid. This causes the hemorrhoid to shrink and fall off, typically within a day or so. You probably won’t even notice when this happens or be able to spot the rubber band in the toilet. Once the hemorrhoid is gone, the wound usually heals within one to five days.

During the first 24 hours, some patients may experience a feeling of fullness or a dull ache in the rectum. This typically can be relieved with an over-the-counter pain medication. However, a remarkable 99.1 percent of patients treated with the method have no post-procedure pain.

Disposable Hemorrhoid Ligation System

Our doctors offer a better hemorrhoid treatment alternative using the latest in hemorrhoid banding systems, a non-surgical office hemorrhoid treatment. Our banders are a remarkable improvement over the old painful hemorrhoid banding system that used metal graspers. Our patients are so very thankful to have avoided painful surgery and finally get the comfortable bottom they deserve.

Finally I can sit without pain. Thank you.

Our ligation system uses a sterile, disposable device to apply gentle suction to the problem area, with the physician then placing a small rubber band over one internal hemorrhoid. The rubber band cuts off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid, reducing its size and pressure. The band may fall off as soon as 48 hours after the banding. There are usually three banding sessions required at two week intervals.

I don’t know why anyone would have surgery when this treatment is so easy.

The procedure is relatively painless, since the banding of the area involved does not have the type of nerves that sense sharp pain. Topical lidocaine is used to help the procedure go quickly and smoothly. Placement of the band is done in a matter of seconds. You may experience a feeling of fullness or pressure in the rectum for the first 24 hours, but over-the-counter pain medication can usually relieve this feeling. Our patients frequently remark how amazed they are the treatment can be so quick and so helpful.

I cannot begin to thank you enough for your help. I only wish I would have done this a year ago.

Many of the symptoms related to the external tags may go away with banding. Less than 10% of patients require removal of the tags. Bothersome external hemorrhoids or skin tags can be removed in the office under local anesthesia.

Occasionally, more bleeding than usual can occur after the banding procedure. This is often from the untreated hemorrhoids rather that the treated one. Do not be concerned if there is a tablespoon or so of blood. If here is more bleeding than this please call your doctor. Lie down, drink water, and apply an ice pack to the area. If bleeding does not stop within a few minutes or you feel feint call your doctor and either come to his/her office or head to the nearest Hospital emergency room. Rarely the bleeding is due to an ulcer that occurs after the band falls off. This area may need to be cauterized. For passage of a large amount of blood or if you feel feint call your physician or head to the nearest Hospital emergency room.

Post-Banding Instructions

Following the procedure, rest at home in the evening and resume full activity the next day. Avoid air travel and exercise for 24 hours. You may experience a feeling of fullness or pressure in the rectum for the first 24 hours, but over-the-counter pain medication may be taken if needed.

• Do not spend more than a few minutes on the toilet bearing down if you cannot empty your bowel; instead re-visit the toilet at a later time.
• A sitz bath (soaking in a warm tub) or bidet is useful for cleansing the area after every bowel movement until the area heals. This is especially helpful if you have had a minor surgical procedure such as removing an anal tag in addition to the banding procedure.
• To avoid constipation, take two tablespoons of natural wheat bran, natural oat bran, flax, Benefiber or any over the counter fiber supplement with 7-8 glasses of water.
• Unless prescribed a rectal medication, do not put anything inside your rectum for two weeks: No suppositories, enemas, fingers or other devices.
• Do not stay seated for more than 2-3 hours. Tighten your buttock muscles 10-15 times every two hours and take 10-15 deep breaths every 1-2 hours.
• If you are traveling out of the country or by airplane, take your fiber supplement with you. Avoid alcohol and drink plenty of water. Walk for a few minutes of every hour.
• Problems are not common. However, if there is a substantial amount of bleeding, severe pain, chills, fever or difficulty passing urine (very rare), you should call your doctor’s office or report to the nearest Hospital Emergency Room.

Occasionally, more bleeding than usual can occur after the banding procedure. This is often from the untreated hemorrhoids rather than the treated one. Do not be concerned if there is a tablespoon or so of blood. If there is more blood than this, lie flat with your bottom higher than your head and apply an ice pack to the area. If the bleeding does not stop promptly or you feel faint, call your doctor’s office or go to the nearest emergency room.