What Are Hemorrhoids?

Symptoms

Symptoms from internal hemorrhoids can be divided into 2 categories:

• “Inflammatory” symptoms are due to direct irritation of the tissue.
• “Mechanical” symptoms are due to the stretching and downward sliding of the tissue.

Inflammatory Symptoms

Pain – when internal hemorrhoids are subjected to chronic irritation, the tissue becomes raw and can cause discomfort.

Bleeding – the raw internal hemorrhoid tissue bleeds easily with continued irritation.

Itching – inflamed internal hemorrhoids sometimes secrete a mucous material that, when deposited on the external skin, can cause itching and burning externally.

Mechanical Symptoms

Pressure – the enlarged internal hemorrhoids can press on the internal sphincter muscle, causing a sensation that feels like you need to move your bowels.

Prolapse – when internal hemorrhoids have stretched considerably, the internal tissue can protrude out of the anus during bowel movements. Sometimes this tissue needs to be pushed back in.

Difficulty with hygiene – the enlarged internal hemorrhoids can keep the internal sphincter muscle propped open after bowel movements. This can cause the so-called “never-ending wipe” that affects so many patients.

Leakage – if the internal sphincter muscle remains propped open, staining of the undergarments with fecal material can occur.