Analgesia Ointments & Suppositories
Speak with your doctor or pharmacist about appropriate pain relieving medication.
Avoid taking oral codeine-based analgesics where possible as these can cause constipation and straining.
Immediate relief can often be obtained by using hemorrhoid ointments/suppositories.
Some ointments contain local anaesthetic and/or hydrocortisone which can alleviate pain and itching. Glycerine suppositories can help lubricate the anal canal and relieve internal hemorrhoids.
Causes And Risk Factors Of Hemorrhoids
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:
- Pushing during bowel movements
- Anal sex
People who stand or sit for long stretches of time are at greater risk, too.
You may get them when you have constipation or diarrhea that doesn’t clear up. Coughing, sneezing, and vomiting could make them worse.
What Are Hemorrhoids Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment And Prevention
Hemorrhoids are enlarged and swollen veins around the outside of the anus or in the lower rectum. The rectum is the last part of the bowel and leads to the anus, the opening at the end of the bowel where fecal matter leaves the body.
Everyone has hemorrhoidal tissue in this area thats made up of blood vessels, connective tissue, and some muscle. These cushions dont always become enlarged or distended, but as we age, this phenomenon becomes more common causing what we call hemorrhoids, also known as piles.
Hemorrhoids can be caused in a number of ways, most commonly by straining to make a bowel movement. Lifting heavy objects, along with other activities that may cause straining, can also lead to hemorrhoids. Experiencing increased pressure during pregnancy and being overweight are other contributing factors.
Hemorrhoids may be painful and particularly bothersome if they are recurrent, but they’re not dangerous or life-threatening, and symptoms usually go away within a few days. There are plenty of effective ways to treat them, as well as options for the less common types of hemorrhoids that may be more problematic.
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How Do Foods Influence Hemorrhoids Diet
Diet is believed to have a big impact in causingand preventinghemorrhoids. People who consistently eat a high-fiber diet are less likely to get hemorrhoids, while those people who prefer a diet high in processed foods face a higher hemorrhoid risk.
A low-fiber diet can leave you constipated, which can contribute to hemorrhoids in two way. For one, it promotes straining on the toilet. It also aggravates the hemorrhoids by producing hard stools that further irritate the swollen veins.
How Do Healthcare Providers Treat Hemorrhoids
You should see your healthcare provider if symptoms get worse or interfere with your daily life or sleep. Also seek help if signs dont improve after a week of at-home treatments. Your provider may treat hemorrhoids with:
- Rubber band ligation: A small rubber band placed around the base of a hemorrhoid cuts off blood supply to the vein.
- Electrocoagulation: An electric current stops blood flow to a hemorrhoid.
- Infrared coagulation: A small probe inserted into the rectum transmits heat to get rid of the hemorrhoid.
- Sclerotherapy: A chemical injected into the swollen vein destroys hemorrhoid tissue.
Surgical treatments include:
- Hemorrhoidectomy: Surgery removes large external hemorrhoids or prolapsed internal ones.
- Hemorrhoid stapling: A stapling instrument removes an internal hemorrhoid. Or it pulls a prolapsed internal hemorrhoid back inside the anus and holds it there.
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Be Careful Hemorrhoid Can Burst If Becomes Thrombosed
2 minute read
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins within and around the anal canal. The veins around the anus tend to stretch under the increased pressure and may be swollen. If you have experienced an acute anal pain with per rectal bleeding related to the bowel movements, it is highly recommended to seek for an urgent medical attention. This could be the signs and symptoms of ruptured hemorrhoids.
How Can You Prevent Constipation
To avoid constipation and straining during bowel movements, people are often advised to change their diet, drink plenty of fluids, and get enough exercise. High-fiber foods like fruits, cereals, vegetables and legumes are generally recommended to try to make stools softer.
Studies suggest that plant fibers such as psyllium husk can reduce the frequency of bleeding. Whether or not they relieve other symptoms too hasnt been well studied. People who use psyllium husk must make sure that they drink enough fluids. But fiber can also cause diarrhea, which in turn leads to hemorrhoids being irritated even more by frequent bowel movements.
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Can Hemorrhoids Cause Sharp Pain
Most hemorrhoids only cause mild pain or discomfort. In some cases, however, you may experience sharp pain. Sharp pain can be absolutely debilitating and in some cases prevent you from being able to even sit down.
There are a few different causes of sharp rectal pain. Hemorrhoid pain may become severe if your hemorrhoids become thrombosed.
This means that the blood in your hemorrhoid has developed a clot. A thrombosis can result in a stabbing, sharp pain that comes on suddenly.
Other causes of sharp pain with hemorrhoids include infection, tearing, and severe cases.
Is It A Hemorrhoid Or Something Else
Dr. Pickron: Most of the patients we see for anorectal pain don’t have hemorrhoids, but everybody has hemorrhoids to some degree.
Dr. Miller: Most don’t.
Dr. Pickron: Most don’t, but the real causes of pain are more things like fissures, an abscess, and other things that aren’t hemorrhoids.
Dr. Miller: Fissures can be incredibly painful.
Dr. Pickron: They’re horrible.
Dr. Miller: What causes a fissure?
Dr. Pickron: Usually it’s a tear and it happens directly in the front or directly in the back. Most of the time these things heal up just fine, but if they don’t and they get deep enough to where the anal sphincter gets irritated . . .
Dr. Miller: Ouch.
Dr. Pickron: . . . then you get a spasm of that muscle and that prevents the tear from healing and then you just enter this vicious cycle that just won’t quit.
Dr. Miller: So you use different therapies to try to repair that.
Dr. Pickron: Yeah, generally we focus not so much on the tear but on the muscle itself because if we could make the muscle relax and stop the spasm then the tear generally heals just fine on its own.
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Your Internal Hemorrhoid Problem
Visit your doctor to learn more about this issue and discuss the treatment approach that’s right for you. To find a local colorectal specialist, try our Find a Doctor database.
As with all medical issues, your physician is the ultimate source as to what procedure best fits your needs. Discuss all options and get a second opinion if you have any doubts. These articles are intended to be a source of general information only.
How Hemorrhoids Are Treated
Most external hemorrhoids can be treated with home treatments, such as:
- Adding fiber to your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- Drinking more water
- Avoiding straining during bowel movements or sitting on the toilet for long periods
- Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin
- Sitting in a tub of warm water a sitz bath several times a day
Home treatments can also be used for most internal hemorrhoids. But severe internal hemorrhoids may require other treatments.
You should call your doctor if you:
- Still have symptoms after one week of at-home treatment, or
- Have bleeding from your rectum
When home treatments dont heal internal hemorrhoids, your doctor may recommend one of the following treatments performed by a physician:
- Rubber band ligation. This involves placing a special rubber band around the base of a bleeding or prolapsing hemorrhoid. This cuts off the blood supply, causing the hemorrhoid to shrivel and fall off.
- Sclerotherapy. A solution is injected into the hemorrhoid causing scar tissue to form, cutting off the blood supply, often shrinking the hemorrhoid.
- Infrared photocoagulation. The heat of infrared light directed at the hemorrhoid causes scar tissue to form. This cuts off the blood supply, often shrinking the hemorrhoid.
- Electrocoagulation. An electric current is directed into an internal hemorrhoid to form scar tissue, cutting off the blood supply, often shrinking the hemorrhoid.
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Take Steps During The Day
It is wise to follow certain practices during the day to help alleviate the discomfort and pain of hemorrhoids at night.
Some of the best practices include:
- Drinking water throughout the day and making sure you stay hydrated
- Do not wear tight-fitting clothes, which can aggravate the irritation caused by hemorrhoids
- Do not move or walk too much in ways that can be overly strenuous or cause strain to the anal region, including intense workouts this will irritate the skin around the hemorrhoids due to sweating. However, routine exercise is fine
- Do not lift any heavy weights which might make you strain your lower regions
- Keep track of what you are eating and take enough soluble and insoluble fibre. Avoid overly spicy food, especially within a few hours of going to bed. Spicy and oily foods might make you want to frequently visit the toilet, which is, clearly, not good for your hemorrhoids
- If possible, sit in bathwater at least four times during the day to help soothe and relax the affected areas
- Do not scratch or touch the hemorrhoids as this will cause irritation and more discomfort and pain.
What Should I Eat With Hemorrhoids
Eating whole grains and other foods that are high in fiber can help ease symptoms of hemorrhoids, such as discomfort and swelling. These foods can also help prevent hemorrhoids from forming by making the stool bulky and softening it. This helps you avoid straining, which can lead to hemorrhoids. When you increase your fiber intake, you should do so gradually to lower your risk of having gas.
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Thrombosed Hemorrhoid Pain Overview
Thrombosed hemorrhoids form under the skin around the anus and are caused by clotting. Blood clots, or thrombosis, can be extremely painful.
Here are three ways to get thrombosed hemorrhoid pain relief:
Supplements: herbal supplements like HemRid work great for immediate pain relief and help aid in shrinking the clots. For best pain relief, pair a hemorrhoid supplement with wipes or creams.
Creams and wipes: both of these treatement options can be used for powerful and immediate relief of a thrombosed hemorrhoid. Many creams and wipes will help the clot disappear as well as acting as pain relievers.
Baths: a warm bath can help reduce the swelling of thrombosed hemorrhoids and offer relief of the pain associated with them.
How To Treat Hemorrhoids And When You Should See Your Doctor
Hemorrhoids are an irritating, often painful condition that occurs when the veins around the anus or lower part of the rectum become swollen and inflamed as a result of too much pressure. External hemorrhoids develop underneath the skin around the anus, while internal hemorrhoids develop in the lining of the tissues.
Hemorrhoids affect about 1 in 20 Americans, and about half of adults over age 50 have them. Age is one factor as we get older, the supporting tissues in the rectum and anus become weaker and more vulnerable to pressure.
Pregnancy also can weaken these tissues, which is why pregnant women often experience hemorrhoids. Other potential causes include chronic constipation or diarrhea, straining during bowel movements and sitting on the toilet for extended periods. Also, frequently lifting heavy objects may increase the likelihood of hemorrhoids.
What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoid symptoms vary depending on whether the inflamed veins are external or internal.
External hemorrhoids may cause itching and pain, especially while seated. Also, you may feel one or more tender lumps around the anal area. Scratching, rubbing or excessively cleaning the area can make symptoms worse.
With internal hemorrhoids, you may notice bright red blood when you have a bowel movement. Internal hemorrhoids are not usually painful unless they fall through the anal opening, called prolapsing.
How are hemorrhoids treated at home?
When to see the doctor
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When Do I Need To See A Health Care Provider For Hemorrhoids
You should see your health care provider if you
- Still have symptoms after 1 week of at-home treatment
- Have bleeding from your rectum. Hemorrhoids are a common cause of bleeding, but other conditions can also cause bleeding. They include Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, colorectal cancer, and anal cancer. So its important to see your provider to find the cause of the bleeding.
Signs Of Internal Hemorrhoids
Internal hemorrhoids are the most common type of hemorrhoid. These swellings develop inside the anal canal.
Small hemorrhoids stay inside the anal canal and cannot be seen or felt by the person affected by them. Larger hemorrhoids may fall outside the anus in a process called prolapse, often during a bowel movement or while the buttocks are being wiped. Hemorrhoids which prolapse may go back inside the anal canal on their own or may be pushed back in by the affected person.
Internal hemorrhoids generally cause no pain. Noticeable signs and symptoms of internal hemorrhoids include:
- Bright red blood in feces, on toilet paper after wiping, or in the toilet bowl
- Bodily tissue falling outside the anus, i.e., prolapse
- Mucal or fecal discharge
- A feeling of not having fully evacuated the bowels
Additional signs of a prolapsed internal hemorrhoid include:
- Itching around the anus, i.e.,pruritus ani
- A lump felt outside the anus
An internal hemorrhoid cannot be seen unless it prolapses. A prolapsed internal hemorrhoid has the following characteristics:
- Approximately the size of a grape
- A rubbery texture
- Skin colored or of reddish appearance
- Can usually be pushed inside the anus
- There may be more than one
If an internal hemorrhoid cannot be pushed back into the anus, it may become trapped by the sphincter muscle. This is called a strangulated hemorrhoid and can cause severe pain.
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Hemorrhoids Can Bleed A Lot
There are two types of hemorrhoids: inside and outside. The outside ones on the anus cause the discomfort, pain, and itching. The internal ones don’t typically cause pain .
Still, the internal ones can cause bleeding. They sometimes slip outside the anus . They can occasionally cause so much blood loss, Hedrick says, that people become anemic and need blood transfusions.
Bleeding typically happens during a bowel movement. But people can also bleed through their pants while shopping or going about their day.
Surgeons can remove small internal hemorrhoids with an office-based banding procedure that cuts off the blood supply. But a hemorrhoidectomy is needed to remove large internal hemorrhoids that cause lots of bleeding.
Cancer or polyps can also cause bleeding. So, if you have rectal bleeding, you should get a colonoscopy. That way, if you do have polyps, surgeons can take them out before they turn into cancer.
Hemorrhoid Banding Is Virtually Painless
Your doctor will use a special scope to see the hemorrhoids and a special tool to put a tiny rubber band on the base of the hemorrhoid. There are no nerves at the base of a hemorrhoid, so banding does not cause you any pain. The rubber band will cut off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid, causing it to shrink and fall off within one to two weeks. You probably wonât even notice it happening.
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Prevention Of Ruptured Hemorrhoids
- Avoid the excessive strain during the motion.
- Avoid prolonged sitting in the toilet.
- Drink plenty of water of at least 8-10 glasses per day.
- Consume high-fiber diet fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
- Seek for medical attention whenever needed.
A ruptured hemorrhoid may lead to severe blood loss, resulting in serious complications which require an emergency. Accurate and timely diagnosis to role out other conditions is the key enabling an effective treatment. Due to advances in the surgical techniques and technologies, the new treatments have continuously emerged, allowing the patients to achieve the best possible treatment outcomes with minimal discomfort, less post-operative complications, rapid recovery, quickly return to the normal daily activities and less recurrences.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Hemorrhoids
Seeing blood in your toilet bowl after a bowel movement is no doubt alarming, but its one of the main symptoms of hemorrhoids. Other symptoms include:
- Bright red blood on toilet paper or in your stool after a bowel movement
- Itching in the anal area
- Pain in the anal area, especially when sitting
- Pain during bowel movements
- One or more hard, painful lumps around the anus
If you experience any of these hemorrhoid symptoms, avoid excess straining, rubbing, or cleaning around the anus, which can make irritation and itching worse, and can even lead to bleeding. In addition, try to pat the area dry instead of wiping it.
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How To Relieve Pain After Hemorrhoid Surgery
You can expect rectal and anal pain after having pile surgery. Your doctor will probably recommend a pain reliever to alleviate the discomfort.
You can aid in your own recovery by:
- remaining hydrated by drinking eight to 10 glasses of water each day
- utilizing a stool softener so you wont need to strain during bowel movements
Avoid any activities that involve heavy lifting or pulling.
Some people discover that sitz baths help ease postsurgical pain. A sitz bath includes soaking the anal area in a couple of inches of warm water a number of times a day.
Although individual recovery times differ, many individuals can expect to make a complete recovery within about 10 to 14 days.
When you follow up with your doctor, theyll most likely suggest: