frequently asked questions

In the vast majority of cases, treatment is covered by insurance. Call our Denver-Boulder Metro office at 720-897-5400 and our staff will verify your insurance coverage for our services free of charge and prior to your appointment. If you are in Southern Colorado/Colorado Springs please call 719-634-6700.

You can continue with your usual activities, even on the day of treatment, however, it is always recommended that you add high-fiber foods and/or fiber supplements to your diet along with proper fluid intake. High impact or straining activities would be better to avoid for the first week after treatment.

In most cases yes, but you must inform the physician of the medication you are taking. He will advise you accordingly. Some procedures will require you to stop blood-thinners and if you cannot stop a particular medication please inform the doctor and you may have an alternative treatment that can be done even while taking your medication or blood thinner.

Hemorrhoid symptoms include rectal bleeding, pain, itching, constipation, and sometimes protrusion or prolapse of the hemorrhoid. Rectal bleeding may be a symptom of other anal-rectal disorders and it is important to bring these symptoms to your physician’s attention when they occur. Now there are established and effective, non-surgical, hemorrhoid treatments available with a procedures called Sclero-injection (Sclero), Rubberband Ligation (RBL) or Infrared Coagulation (IRC). There are usually well tolerated (producing little, if any, discomfort) and requires no anesthesia the day of treatment. For those with much pain or anxiety, topical anesthesia can be applied for optimal patient comfort.

A hemorrhoid is a group of blood vessels within the rectal canal which have become swollen or inflamed due to an increase in venous pressure (see picture). The picture below demonstrates two types of hemorrhoids; internal hemorrhoids and external hemorrhoids. Most long-term hemorrhoid symptoms include burning, itching, bleeding and pain. External hemorrhoids can cause bleeding and itching when irritated but can also be asymptomatic except when they have just recently occurred – when a blood clot forms within an external hemorrhoid, the pain is acute and significant.

Non-surgical hemorrhoid or office-based proctology procedures are typically painless, safe, and effective. Before treatment, your physician will conduct a routine external and internal examination to chart the hemorrhoid or anorectal disorders and to ensure that there is no other disease responsible for your symptoms. This examination takes only a few minutes. Once this is completed, a discussion of the best treatment options and many times treatment itself can quickly be completed.

The treatment itself will not interfere with bowel movements. Typically, a diet with increased fiber and fiber supplements are recommended to help bulk the stool and give pressure to signal your rectum to evacuate regularly. As hemorrhoids are reduced by treatment, many times mechanical constipation or obstruction is reduced or eliminated, when caused by hemorrhoids themselves.

At your first appointment, you should allow 60-75 minutes. This appointment cannot be rushed if we are to complete your new patient registration, review of insurance or financial obligation, medical history and examination, and lastly, your initiation of medical treatment and/or procedure.

Generally, our treatments require only about ten minutes, however, treatment time depends on the severity of the hemorrhoid or disease being treated and your comfort level. Please allow 60 to 75 minutes for your initial appointment and follow-up appointments are generally completed by 30 minutes in most cases.

Patients are evaluated on a case by case basis. Your physician will determine how many visits are required based on your examination findings and the disease severity.

Yes! In many cases the first treatment will begin reducing your symptoms that day.