Less Pain, Faster Recovery and Other Benefits of Minimally Invasive Hemorrhoid Surgery

If you suffer from hemorrhoids, you could be living with daily pain and discomfort. In the old days, surgery to remove hemorrhoids was your best option. Today, however, there’s minimally-invasive surgery that treats hemorrhoids with little downtime. Dr. Elvira Klause, in San Clemente, California, is a board-certified general surgeon who specializes in treating hemorrhoids in a minimally invasive way. Here’s how she can help you.

What are hemorrhoids?

You have blood vessels in the wall of your rectum and anus. When the blood vessel walls stretch thin, bulge, and become irritated, you’ve developed hemorrhoids, which can be very uncomfortable and painful, especially when you have a bowel movement.

You can have internal hemorrhoids located deep within your rectum, which you typically can’t feel or see. The only way you know you have internal hemorrhoids is that they may bleed.

External hemorrhoids are located around the anus, under your skin, which has more nerves. External hemorrhoids hurt as well as bleed.

External hemorrhoids can prolapse, grow and bulge outside the anal sphincter, appearing as pinkish, moist bumps. Prolapsed hemorrhoids can recede on their own or be pushed back into place.

What causes hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids happen when there’s a pressure buildup in the lower part of your rectum, which affects blood flow and can make your veins swell. That pressure buildup can happen if you’re overweight or pregnant, or if you strain during bowel movements or when lifting something heavy.

Sitting too long, constipation, or diarrhea also can cause hemorrhoids. And, if your parents have hemorrhoids, you’re more likely to suffer from them,, too.

How to treat hemorrhoids

Here are some easy ways to treat hemorrhoids:

• Eat high-fiber foods, which softens stools and increases bulk.
• Apply topical treatments like hemorrhoid creams or suppositories with hydrocortisone.
• Soak in a warm tub or sitz bath.
• Swallow oral painkillers like Tylenol or Advil.

If home remedies don't work, call Dr. Klause to talk about minimally invasive treatments for hemorrhoids.

Transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD)

It’s a mouthful, but THD is a relatively simple and noninvasive technique to treat your hemorrhoids.

During the THD procedure, Dr. Klause restricts the blood vessels that nourish your hemorrhoids using doppler-guided technology and suture. There’s no tissue cutting or hemorrhoid removal, so there’s far less pain.

THD downtime is typically about two to four days.

If you’re suffering from hemorrhoids, contact Dr. Klause to discuss which treatment is best for you. Call the office at 949-393-2595, or request an appointment online.