One of the most common questions I hear as a hemorrhoid doctor in Los Angeles concerns the seemingly endless varieties of hemorrhoids: what’s the difference between different kinds of hemorrhoids?
My permanent page on hemorrhoid treatment and care goes into some depth about this question, but I thought it might be valuable to reiterate some of the main points here, as a sort of hemorrhoid primer.
Hemorrhoids come in two major kingdoms – internal and external. But the line between these is porous, and can be crossed under certain circumstances. When hemorrhoids protrude through the anal opening, they are said to be “prolapsed.” Further variants include thrombosed hemorrhoids, strangulated hemorrhoids, and ulcerated hemorrhoids.
Here’s the Merck Manual on some of the technical details:
External hemorrhoids may become thrombosed, resulting in a painful, purplish swelling. Rarely, they ulcerate and cause minor bleeding. . . .Internal hemorrhoids may be uncomfortable but are not as painful as thrombosed external hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids sometimes cause mucus discharge and a sensation of incomplete evacuation.
It’s important to know what you have, because an accurate diagnosis will help determine the proper course of treatment.
The Proctology Institute of Los Angeles Newport Beach, and Huntington Beach offers effective treatment and surgical care for hemorrhoids of every variety. Click here to learn more.