Hemorrhoids are an uncomfortable but common issue. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), hemorrhoids affect about 1 in 20 Americans, and about half of adults over age 50 have this condition. The good news is that hemorrhoid treatment in Georgia can offer relief.
Hemorrhoids can develop internally or externally. While both types of hemorrhoids can trigger symptoms, external hemorrhoids typically cause more severe pain and discomfort. While most symptomatic hemorrhoids improve without treatment, some can cause bleeding or intense pain. In these cases, either hemorrhoid surgery or non-surgical interventions can help.
Georgia Endovascular offers non-surgical hemorrhoid treatment for internal hemorrhoids in the form of hemorrhoid artery embolization (HAE). Read on to learn more about HAE and other types of hemorrhoid treatment in Georgia.
When should I seek medical attention for hemorrhoids?
Lifestyle changes can help prevent and improve hemorrhoids in many cases. However, we recommend seeing a specialist for hemorrhoids if you have chronic or severe symptoms, including the following:
- Excessive bleeding
- Intense pain
- A protrusion of tissue from the anus
- Recurrent hemorrhoids
You should also see a specialist if you are not sure whether your symptoms are due to hemorrhoids or another condition. A doctor can evaluate your symptoms to make an accurate diagnosis. They can then recommend the best treatment for you.
Pregnant women who develop hemorrhoids should also consult a doctor. Hemorrhoids are common during pregnancy due to increased pressure on the pelvic region. Often, hemorrhoids go away on their own after childbirth. However, a doctor can explain how to alleviate symptoms and manage the condition during pregnancy.
How do you diagnose hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are diagnosed by a qualified healthcare provider, such as a primary care physician, gastroenterologist, or colorectal specialist. Georgia Endovascular does not diagnose hemorrhoids.
A hemorrhoid diagnosis typically involves a physical exam of the anus and rectum. This may include a visual inspection and digital rectal exam to look for swelling, tenderness, or lumps. In some cases, a doctor may order other tests like a sigmoidoscopy or anoscopy.
In addition to confirming a hemorrhoid diagnosis, these tests can determine whether the hemorrhoids are external or internal.
Internal hemorrhoids
Internal hemorrhoids occur inside the rectum, just before the anal canal. Internal hemorrhoids are typically not visible or felt unless they prolapse or bulge from the anus. Prolapsed internal hemorrhoids can cause bleeding, itching, a feeling of fullness, and sometimes severe pain.
While symptomatic hemorrhoids do not necessarily require surgical intervention, a doctor should address internal hemorrhoids that bleed profusely or cause discomfort. Patients taking blood thinners for other health concerns are especially vulnerable to potential medical complications from excessive bleeding.
While there are numerous internal hemorrhoid treatments in Georgia, hemorrhoid artery embolization has emerged as the most promising.
External hemorrhoids
External hemorrhoids develop underneath the skin of the anus. They tend to be more painful than internal hemorrhoids because they can irritate the surrounding skin. Occasionally, external hemorrhoids can develop a blood clot within the vein, causing severe discomfort.
At-home treatments like using a sitz bath or hemorrhoid cream can help alleviate discomfort and pain. For severe external hemorrhoids, a surgical procedure called hemorrhoidectomy might be the best option.
Georgia Endovascular does not treat external hemorrhoids. This information is provided for educational purposes only.
Types of hemorrhoid treatment in Georgia
The best hemorrhoid treatment for you depends on the severity and type of hemorrhoids you have. It is also important to consider your overall health and risk of complications.
Please note: Georgia Endovascular provides minimally invasive treatment for qualifying internal hemorrhoids only. External and thrombosed hemorrhoids are not treated.
Non-surgical hemorrhoid treatment
Non-surgical treatments are often best for symptomatic yet low-grade hemorrhoids. Additionally, patients with hemorrhoids that have not improved through at-home management might qualify for non-surgical treatment in some cases.
Hemorrhoid Artery Embolization
Hemorrhoid artery embolization (HAE) is a minimally invasive approach that offers exceptional outcomes for patients with symptomatic internal hemorrhoids. This interventional radiology hemorrhoid procedure is an outpatient procedure with no significant discomfort after the procedure.
Surgical hemorrhoid treatment
Hemorrhoid surgery is often recommended when conservative treatments fail to provide relief. Specifically, hemorrhoid surgery might be recommended under the following conditions:
- A prolapsed internal hemorrhoid that cannot be manually repositioned.
- Bleeding can only be managed through a surgical approach.
- Hemorrhoids are abnormally large.
- A history of symptomatic hemorrhoid recurrence.
Additionally, hemorrhoid surgery may be necessary when hemorrhoids lead to complications. Surgical intervention is needed to address the core issue and prevent further complications.
Surgical hemorrhoid treatments include the following:
- Hemorrhoids stapled hemorrhoidopexy
- Hemorrhoidectomy
A closer look at minimally invasive HAE for hemorrhoids
Those interested in minimally invasive hemorrhoid care often turn to HAE. Hemorrhoid artery embolization is a form of interventional radiology that involves several steps:
- An interventional radiologist makes a minor incision in the wrist or groin to access the rectal artery supplying blood to the internal hemorrhoids.
- The radiologist then uses fluoroscopic imaging to guide a catheter to the targeted network of blood vessels. There, embolic agents are released.
- The embolic agents – materials that block the transfer of blood – effectively starve the hemorrhoids of their blood supply. This causes the hemorrhoids to shrink, stop bleeding, and stop causing symptoms.
HAE is an outpatient procedure that does not involve general anesthesia. The treatment takes approximately 45 minutes and does not require significant recovery time. Most patients require less than one week of downtime before returning to normal activities and experience no significant post-procedure discomfort.
Georgia Endovascular offers effective non-surgical hemorrhoid treatment
When home treatments fail, hemorrhoid treatment in Georgia can offer relief.
Our team at Georgia Endovascular specializes in minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment for qualifying internal hemorrhoids following diagnosis and referral.
If you are experiencing symptomatic internal hemorrhoids and are seeking a minimally invasive treatment option, please contact us to schedule a consultation at one of our convenient locations today. We can help you determine if HAE is right for you.
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