Hemorrhoids often get better without surgery or even procedures your doctor can do in the office. Start with over-the-counter products and lifestyle changes. (If you're pregnant, you should talk to your doctor before you try any medicine or change your diet.) Try these tips to soothe the pain and itching of hemorrhoids. Even if your doctor prescribes
medication or suggests surgery, you'll probably need to change your diet. Introduce new foods slowly to avoid gas. Pain relievers, including acetaminophen,
ibuprofen, and aspirin, may help with your hemorrhoid symptoms. You can also choose from a variety of over-the-counter creams, ointments,
suppositories, and medicated pads. They contain medicines like lidocaine to numb the area, or hydrocortisone or witch hazel, to reduce swelling and itching. If your symptoms are severe or aren't getting better after a couple of weeks, your doctor may suggest a procedure to
shrink or remove the hemorrhoids. Many can be performed in their office. Injection. Your doctor can inject an internal hemorrhoid with a solution to create a scar and close off the hemorrhoid. The shot hurts only a little. Rubber band ligation. This procedure is often done on prolapsed hemorrhoids, internal hemorrhoids that can be seen or felt outside. Using a special tool, the doctor puts a tiny rubber band around the hemorrhoid, which shuts off its
blood supply almost instantly. Within a week, the hemorrhoid will dry up, shrink, and fall off. Coagulation or cauterization. With an electric probe, a laser beam, or an infrared light, your doctor will make a tiny burn to remove tissue and painlessly seal the end of the hemorrhoid, causing it to close off and shrink. This works best for prolapsed hemorrhoids. Surgery. For large internal hemorrhoids or extremely uncomfortable
external hemorrhoids, your doctor may recommend surgery. Newer procedures use less invasive
techniques to identify and cut off the blood supply to the problem tissues. Medical treatments are effective, but unless you change your diet and lifestyle, hemorrhoids may come back. Hemorrhoids Treatment
Hemorrhoid Home Care
Hemorrhoid Medications
Medical Procedures for Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lowest part of your rectum and anus. Sometimes, the walls of these blood vessels stretch so thin that the veins bulge and get irritated, especially when
you poop. Hemorrhoids are also called piles. Hemorrhoids are one of the most common causes of rectal bleeding. They often go away on their own. Treatments can also help. Internal
hemorrhoids Internal hemorrhoids are so far inside your rectum that you can't usually see or feel them. They don't generally hurt because you have few pain-sensing nerves there. Symptoms of internal hemorrhoids include:What Are Hemorrhoids?
Symptoms of Hemorrhoids
- Blood on your poop, on toilet paper after you wipe, or in the toilet bowl
- Tissue that bulges outside your anal opening (prolapse). This may hurt, often when you poop. You might be able to see prolapsed hemorrhoids as moist bumps that are pinker than the surrounding area. These usually go back inside on their own. Even if they don't, they can often be gently pushed back into place.
External hemorrhoids
External hemorrhoids are under the skin around your anus, where there are many more pain-sensing nerves. Symptoms of external hemorrhoids include:
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Itching
- Swelling
Thrombosed hemorrhoids
A blood clot can turn an external hemorrhoid purple or blue. This is called a thrombosis or a thrombosed hemorrhoid. You may notice symptoms like:
- Severe pain
- Itching
- Bleeding
When to call your doctor
Hemorrhoids are rarely dangerous. If the symptoms don’t go away in a week or if you have bleeding, see your doctor to make sure you don’t have a more serious condition.
You may be more likely to get hemorrhoids if other family members, like your
parents, had them. Pressure building up in your lower rectum can affect blood flow and make the veins there swell. That may happen from: People who stand or sit for long stretches of time are at
greater risk, too.Causes and Risk Factors of Hemorrhoids
You may get them when you have constipation or diarrhea that doesn't clear up. Coughing, sneezing, and vomiting could make them worse.
Hemorrhoids Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask about your medical history and symptoms. They’ll probably need to do one or both of these examinations:
- Physical exam. Your doctor will look at your anus and rectum to check for lumps, swelling, irritation, or other problems.
- Digital rectal exam. Your doctor will put on gloves, apply lubrication, and insert a finger into your rectum to check muscle tone and feel for tenderness, lumps, or other problems.
To diagnose internal hemorrhoids or rule out other conditions, you might need a more thorough test, including:
- Anoscopy. Your doctor uses a short plastic tube called an anoscope to look into your anal canal.
- Sigmoidoscopy. Your doctor looks into your lower colon with a flexible lighted tube called a sigmoidoscope. They can also use the tube to take a bit of tissue for tests.
- Colonoscopy. Your doctor looks at all of your large intestine with a long, flexible tube called a colonoscope. They can also take tissue samples or treat other problems they find.
Hemorrhoids Treatment
Hemorrhoid symptoms usually go away on their own. Your doctor’s treatment plan will depend on how severe your symptoms are.
- Home remedies. Simple lifestyle changes can often relieve mild hemorrhoid symptoms within 2 to 7 days. Add fiber to your diet with over-the counter supplements and foods like fruit, vegetables, and grains. Try not to strain during bowel movements; drinking more water can make it easier to go. Warm sitz baths for 20 minutes several times a day may also make you feel better. Ice packs can ease pain and swelling.
- Nonsurgical treatments. Over-the-counter creams and other medications ease pain, swelling, and itching.
- Surgical treatments. If you have large hemorrhoids, or if other treatments haven’t helped, you might need surgery. Your doctor can use chemicals, lasers, infrared light, or tiny rubber bands to get rid of them. If they’re especially large or keep coming back, your doctor might need to remove them with a sharp tool called a scalpel.
Rarely, hemorrhoids could lead to problems such as: To prevent hemorrhoid flare-ups, try these steps:Hemorrhoids
Complications
Hemorrhoids Prevention