Hemorrhoid Therapy
CRH O’Regan Banding—a cutting-edge, non-surgical hemorrhoid treatment designed to eliminate your symptoms once and for all.
What Is CRH Banding?
CRH banding is a highly effective, minimally invasive procedure for treating internal hemorrhoids. Utilizing a small, specialized device, your doctor places a tiny, tight rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid tissue.
By gently cutting off the blood supply, the hemorrhoid naturally shrivels up and falls off within a few days (usually during a normal bowel movement, without you even noticing). The area heals with a small, unnoticeable scar, permanently preventing the tissue from bleeding or swelling again.
What to Expect at Your Appointments
We understand that seeking care for hemorrhoids can feel intimidating. Our clinical team is dedicated to making your experience completely comfortable, private, and stress-free.
1. The Initial Consultation & Exam
Your first visit is primarily about finding the right answers.
The Assessment: Your physician will perform a brief physical evaluation and a limited exam of the lower rectal area using a short scope. This allows us to ensure your symptoms are caused by hemorrhoids and confirm if banding is the best option for you.
No Stress Prep: This visit requires no anesthesia, no fasting, and no unpleasant bowel cleansing preparations.
2. The Treatment Plan
Because internal hemorrhoids typically develop in three separate areas, your doctor will customize a step-by-step treatment plan to ensure maximum safety and comfort:
One at a Time: If banding is recommended, we can safely treat your largest, most symptomatic hemorrhoid during your very first visit. Treating only one area at a time drastically reduces the risk of any post-procedure discomfort.
The Routine: Additional appointments will be scheduled two weeks apart to treat the remaining areas, followed by a final wellness check-up two weeks after your last session.
Unbelievably Fast: The actual banding procedure takes less than two minutes, with the entire office visit lasting only 15 to 30 minutes.
How to Prepare
Because CRH Banding is non-surgical and entirely non-invasive, there is absolutely no preparation needed. You can eat, drink, and take your usual medications normally on the day of your appointment.
Post-Procedure Recovery and Daily Care
Zero Downtime: You can walk out of our office and return to your normal daily activities immediately following your treatment.
What is Normal After Banding?
Sensations: It is incredibly common to feel a sense of dull pressure or a mild urge to have a bowel movement for the first 24 hours after a session.
Comfort: True pain is highly unusual because the band is placed well above the "pain line" inside the rectum. If you do feel mild discomfort, standard over-the-counter pain relievers are perfectly fine to take.
Aftercare Guidelines
Activity: We recommend avoiding heavy lifting or vigorous exercise on the exact day of your treatment. You may resume full, strenuous activities the very next day.
Bowel Movements: You can pass stool normally. For a gentler, more soothing cleanse after a bowel movement, we recommend using a bidet, a warm tub soak, or a sitz bath.
Essential Habits to Prevent Future Hemorrhoids
To keep your digestive tract healthy and prevent new hemorrhoids from forming, our gastroenterologists recommend adopting a few simple bathroom habits:
The "Two-Minute Rule": Never sit on the toilet longer than necessary. Avoid straining or forcing a bowel movement. If it doesn’t happen within two minutes, step away and return later when the urge naturally strikes.
Hydrate Constantly: Drink seven to eight glasses of water every day to keep your stool soft.
Increase Your Fiber: Gradually add about 15 grams of fiber to your daily diet (such as two tablespoons of natural oat or wheat bran). Soluble fiber supplements like Metamucil, Benefiber, Citrocel, or ground flaxseed are excellent options.
Smart Travel Tips: When traveling, prioritize hydration, limit alcohol, maintain your fiber intake, and take regular walking breaks to keep circulation moving.
Understanding Risks & Alternatives
Are There Risks?
CRH Banding boasts a 99% success rate and side effects are exceptionally rare.
If a patient experiences significant pain immediately after a session, it simply means the band was placed slightly too close to the pain-sensitive nerve endings of the lower anal canal. Your doctor can easily adjust it.
Minor bleeding, temporary urinary retention (difficulty urinating), or localized infection are rare but possible. If you experience any unexpected or severe symptoms, contact our office right away.
What Are My Alternatives?
While mild hemorrhoids can sometimes be managed with lifestyle changes, advanced hemorrhoids historically required surgery.
Stapled Hemorrhoidopexy: A more complex surgical procedure that uses a circular stapling device to remove tissue and close the area. While it features a faster recovery than traditional surgery, it carries a higher risk of hemorrhoids returning.
Traditional Hemorrhoidectomy: The complete surgical removal of hemorrhoids. This is an invasive procedure performed under general anesthesia by a general or colorectal surgeon, requiring a significant, often painful recovery period.
Compared to surgery, CRH Banding offers a much safer, virtually painless alternative with no anesthesia risks and zero recovery downtime.