Q: I am 33 years old male and suffering from bleeding piles for last 5 years. The bleeding does not occur frequently but pain occurs while passing stool. I am using laxatives and ointments over the counter. Should I go for surgery?

A:Check with a senior surgeon. You may have a fissure, not piles. 75% of fissures can be treated without an operation, by just giving medicines. 25% of fissures need a small operation. If you do have piles, the first option is usually injection treatment. This procedure takes a few minutes, and works well if combined with a proper diet and stool softeners. If pile injection does not work, or if your piles are very big, consider haemorrhoidectomy. These days stapled haemorrhoidectomy is available, and causes less pain than does a conventional haemorrhoidectomy.