Piles & Anal Fissure — Symptoms & Treatment in Lucknow
Piles and fissures are extremely common and, although distressing, almost always treatable — frequently without surgery. The most important thing is not to ignore symptoms or assume the worst, because the same symptoms can occasionally signal something more serious.
Dr Sandeep Kumar Verma treats piles and fissures in Lucknow with a calm, modern approach, reserving minimally invasive day-care surgery for cases that need it.
What are piles and fissures?
Piles (haemorrhoids) are swollen blood vessels in and around the anus that can bleed, itch or prolapse. An anal fissure is a small tear in the lining of the anal canal that causes sharp pain and bleeding when passing stool.
Both are often linked to constipation, straining and a low-fibre diet, and both usually improve when these are addressed.
Symptoms to watch for
- Bright-red bleeding when passing stool
- Pain or sharp stinging during and after defecation (fissure)
- Itching, irritation or a lump around the anus (piles)
- A sensation of incomplete emptying or prolapse
- Mucus discharge
Causes & risk factors
- Chronic constipation and straining
- A low-fibre diet and inadequate fluids
- Prolonged sitting and a sedentary lifestyle
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Ageing and heavy lifting
How it is diagnosed
- Clinical examination and proctoscopy
- Colonoscopy if bleeding needs fuller assessment or to exclude other causes
How piles and fissures are treated
Most cases respond to a high-fibre diet, more fluids, stool softeners and topical treatments. When symptoms persist, modern options include banding for piles and minimally invasive day-care surgery for both piles and fissures, designed for minimal pain and a quick recovery.
Crucially, persistent rectal bleeding is always properly assessed — not simply assumed to be piles — so that more serious causes are never missed.
When to see a GI surgeon
- Rectal bleeding — always have it assessed, never assume it is just piles
- Persistent anal pain or a non-healing fissure
- Prolapsing piles that don't improve with measures
- Any change in bowel habit accompanying the symptoms
Piles & Fissure: common questions
Do piles always need surgery?
No. The majority of piles improve with dietary changes, fluids and simple treatments. Surgery or banding is reserved for piles that keep bleeding, prolapse or fail to settle, and modern techniques make this far less painful than in the past.
How do I know my bleeding is just piles and not cancer?
You can't know for certain without assessment — which is exactly why rectal bleeding should always be checked by a specialist. In many people it is piles, but the only safe approach is to confirm it and rule out colon or rectal cancer.
Concerned about piles & fissure?
Dr Sandeep Kumar Verma offers clear assessment and expert treatment. Book a consultation for personalised advice.