The principal rule for hemorrhoid treatment, either internal of external, is to leave them alone if they are asymptomatic or producing minimal symptoms. Conservative management, most especially avoidance of both constipation and diarrhea, is appropriate to all.
Read more about hemorrhoid prevention
The most important thing to remember and do is to avoid straining. This is just about the best way to get rid of hemorrhoids and shrink them.
Remember, a warm sitz bath can help to ease your hemorrhoid symptoms and fairly rapidly too. It really is very easy to do and costs nothing.
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Medicines can help relieve the symptoms of hemorrhoids. You might want to try one or more of the following medications…
To reduce inflammation and bleeding, you have the option to choose from a wide variety of ointments with or without hydrocortisone that are out in the market, or salicylate containing suppositories for internal hemorrhoids to lubricate the anal canal during bowel movements.
Hydrocortisone, a type or steroid, can also relieve itching. However, this should not be used for more than two weeks because hydrocortisone can thin out the skin.
There are also ointments that protect the skin such as zinc oxide or petroleum jelly. Ointments also can prevent further injury and reduce itching by forming a barrier over hemorrhoids.
For the pain, take non-prescription pain relievers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs such as naproxen and ibuprofen can help with the pain and the swelling.
Surgery is rarely needed in hemorrhoid treatment. Surgery may be an option for you if other treatments, including home treatments, have failed. You can also consider surgery if your hemorrhoid creates a medical emergency, such as uncontrolled bleeding and pus at the anus along with severe rectal pain.
The most common surgical procedure done is called hemorrhoidectomy. This is done for severe cases of piles such as those that are large and or prolapsed. Basically, this is done under general or spinal anesthesia. Then hemorrhoid removal is possible.
Usually, the wounds heal up within a week or two. In most cases, one can resume normal activities after a few days and be fit for work. The first bowel motion usually happens on the second day and should not cause any great discomfort.
Other surgical procedures include:
- injection sclerotherapy
- infrared coagulation
- photocoagulation
- diathermy
- electrotherapy
- hemorrhoidal artery ligation
Aside from surgery, there are nonsurgical procedures called fixative procedures to choose from to treat your haemorrhoid. The goal of fixative procedures is to reduce the blood supply to the hemorrhoid so it shrinks or goes away. A scar tissue is left in place. Consequently, this scar tissue helps support the anal tissue and helps prevent more hemorrhoids from developing. Fixative procedures include:
- rubber band ligation
- heat
- lasers
- electric current
All the above procedures help to create beneficial scar tissue.
In most cases, external hemorrhoids are usually not removed via surgery except if they are very large and uncomfortable or if you are having surgery on the anal area for another reason such as internal hemorrhoids or a tear. While for internal hemorrhoids that are small, surgery is the last resort, but for large ones, it is considered the most successful way to treat them. This is especially true for those that are still a problem after fixative procedures have been tried but failed.
Hemorrhoid treatment need not be daunting. As you can see, there are many options and solutions.
