Sharp pain during bowel movements
Usually worst at the start, and with firm stool or straining.
Hemorrhoid pain can be sharp during a bowel movement, then throbbing or burning for hours afterward. Sitting often makes it worse. Pain in this area is a symptom with more than one possible source, and the hemorrhoid isn’t always the whole story.
Commonly, the muscles around the outlet are involved. Pain makes the pelvic floor and anal sphincter tighten to protect the area. That tension raises pressure during bowel movements, which leads to more straining and more irritation. Breath holding, bracing and firm stool add to the cycle.
I treat tension in the pelvic floor, anal sphincter and hip muscles with dry needling, a form of acupuncture, to ease that tension and the pain around it. The inferior rectal nerve, a small branch of the pudendal nerve, runs past the levator ani and obturator internus. If those muscles stay clenched, I needle them so the nerve isn’t crowded. The hemorrhoid itself stays with your doctor or colorectal surgeon.
Most people have used creams, stool softeners and sometimes a procedure. These can calm the hemorrhoid and are often the right first step. They don’t change how tight the surrounding muscles are, or how you strain. Routine exams usually don’t check pelvic floor tension or trigger points that send pain to this area. So pain can keep returning even after the hemorrhoid has been treated.
I start by asking what has already been checked medically, when the pain comes on, how long you can sit, and how you strain. Then the exam:
I work alongside primary care, gastroenterology and colorectal surgery, and the hemorrhoid itself is theirs to manage. If my exam turns up something they should look at, I’ll say so and send them what I found.
No. Hemorrhoids can be part of it, but tight pelvic floor muscles, nerve sensitivity and fissures can cause pain here too. Other medical conditions can as well, which is why a doctor’s exam matters. I focus on the muscle tension and the pain around it.
See a doctor promptly for significant or repeated rectal bleeding, black or tarry stools, or severe pain that won’t let up. The same goes for fever or chills, drainage or signs of infection, dizziness or fainting. Unexplained weight loss or a lasting change in bowel habits also needs a medical exam. If you have inflammatory bowel disease or a weakened immune system, check with your doctor first.
Your doctor manages the hemorrhoid itself. I treat the tight muscles and trigger points that raise pressure and keep the area irritated. Relaxing the sphincter and levator ani can also take pressure off the small nerve that supplies the anal area. It works alongside your medical care, not instead of it.
That depends on how irritated the area is and how long the pain has been cycling. Most people begin with a short run of visits, and I recheck at each one before deciding on spacing.
No, neither one. Everything I do for hemorrhoid pain is external, working through the pelvic floor, sphincter and hip muscles from the surface. If you’d benefit from internal work, I’ll point you to a pelvic floor physical therapist who offers it.
Use a footstool to raise your knees, and breathe out steadily instead of holding your breath. Limit time on the toilet and avoid repeated attempts to check. Fiber and water can help stool consistency, but if constipation persists, talk with your doctor about safe options.
Adults with pelvic floor, nerve and orthopedic pain, along with neurological conditions. Most of my patients come to me after other care hasn't fully settled things. If you're looking for general wellness acupuncture, I'm not the right fit.
We review your history and what you've already tried. I assess the muscles and nerves involved, and you're treated the same day.
It depends on the condition. Pelvic and orthopedic plans usually run 4 to 6 weeks. Neurological plans are usually 2 visits a week for 6 weeks or 3 a week for 4. After that, visits space out so the changes hold. These are typical timelines, not promises.
Yes. I work alongside doctors, physical therapists and specialists. If something I find needs a closer look from one of them, I'll tell you.
I'm an out-of-network provider. You pay at the time of your visit, and my office submits the claim so any reimbursement comes to you. Free benefit checks are available before your first visit through the verification form, and HSA and FSA cards work. I don't take Medicare or Medicaid, though some Medicare Advantage plans reimburse out-of-network care. Full insurance details
Yes. I treat adults, teens and children, though I don't specialize in infants or toddlers.
Yes. Book a free discovery call to ask your questions and see whether we're a good fit.
Dry needling is a form of acupuncture. Fine needles go into tight bands of muscle and trigger points to lower muscle tension and change how the area is signaling.
You may feel a brief twitch or a deep ache as the needle reaches tight muscle. It passes quickly, and any soreness afterward usually fades within a day or two.
It's generally safe with a properly trained practitioner. Needles are sterile and single-use, and I check your health history first, including blood thinners. In New York, dry needling can only be performed by licensed acupuncturists, MDs and DOs. Physical therapists and chiropractors aren't permitted to perform it.
Eat something light beforehand and wear loose clothing that lets me reach the area being treated.
Usually not. Ultrasound helps in a few specific cases, but it hasn't been shown to improve results for common trigger points. A careful hands-on exam is what guides the needle. More on ultrasound-guided dry needling
Dry needling aimed at the pelvic floor and the hip and abdominal muscles around it, for pain, tension and urinary symptoms driven by those muscles and their nerves. More on pelvic floor dry needling
Sometimes, depending on the muscles involved, and you'll be draped throughout. Treatment always follows your consent and comfort. I don't do internal exams or internal treatment.
No, though it helps if you've already seen a doctor or pelvic floor physical therapist. Bring any notes or imaging you have.
Completely. I've heard it all, and there's no judgment here, just a straightforward conversation so we can treat what's going on.
Yes, I treat adults of every gender and identity. After gender-affirming surgery involving the pelvis, bring your surgical notes and we'll decide together what fits.
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Evidence-based acupuncture and dry needling on the Upper West Side. From chronic pain and headaches to pelvic floor dysfunction, Dr. Jordan Barber pairs the highest level of training with care that actually listens.
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