Hemorrhoids. Study Hard. Grades Will Follow.
We love classifications. We love to classify things. By size. By shape. By how common things are. By statistics. We hope to find answers in numbers. Oftentimes we can find answers. And so it is with hemorrhoids. And since we want to know, proctologists, also known as colon and rectal surgeons, or coloproctologists have found a way to grade hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids, those occasionally pesky bundles of nerves, veins, connective tissue and arteries, are described as existing in 4 grades. In cities such as Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Hollywood, indeed across the United States, people silently treat their hemorrhoids based on the grading system. They even try to guess at the grade of their problem and tell this grade to their proctologist when they first meet.
Why Do Grades Matter?
Hemorrhoidal grades actually do matter. Surgeons design treatment plans based upon the patient’s symptoms, the surgeon’s evaluation and the hemorrhoidal grade. Grades matter.
Symptoms are:
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Itching
- Discharge
- Prolapse (falling out)
Proctologists assign one of four grades to hemorrhoids, as follows:
- Grade One: Prominent hemorrhoids which may cause symptoms.
- Grade II: Prolapsing (protruding) hemorrhoids that come out during bowel movements, but reduce (go back in) by themselves (spontaneously).
- Grade III: Hemorrhoids that prolapse with the pressure generated during a hard b.m., especially a hard b.m., and that require the patient to manually reduce (replace) the hemorrhoid(s).
- Grade IV: Prolapsed hemorrhoids which cannot be reduced.
What Is Your Grade?
After listening to your set of complaints and symptoms, your colorectal surgeon will examine you. One of the painless instruments used is called an anoscope, a small, short tube enabling the doctor to actually see the hemorrhoids. An anoscopic exam, also called an anoscopy, combined with a visual exam and the patient’s descriptions, will allow your proctologist to assign a grade to your hemorrhoids.
Depending on your hemorrhoidal grade and symptoms, a treatment plan will be devised. The plan may range from minor treatments with creams or ointments, and stool softeners, through office based remedies such as sclerotherapy (painless hemorrhoidal injections), rubber band treatments, infrared coagulation, and others, to operations such as PPH (Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids), THD (Transarterial Hemorrhoidal Dearterialization), or, an old fashioned, traditional hemorrhoidectomy.
Study Hard. Listen To Your Mother’s Hemorrhoidal Advice. Get Good Grades.
To a certain extent the development of symptomatic hemorrhoids is under your control. Keeping your hemorrhoid grade low may be helped by having soft stools, by not sitting for prolonged periods of time on the hemorrhoidal gravity ring (a toilet seat) and by seeing your doctor at the first sign of trouble (or even just for a check up, before trouble begins).
Los Angeles Colon and Rectal Surgical Associates.
There are many surgeons available to help you. At Los Angeles Colon and Rectal Surgical Associates, board certified physicians will speak with you and help you. The surgeon can advise you on how to head off a problem, or how to treat the problem once it begins. (310)273-2310. Improve your grade.