What Can You Do To Ease Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoid Remedies You Can Try On Your Own At Home

There are several steps you can take at home to ease the discomfort caused by hemorrhoids:

• Take a sitz bath two to three times daily for 15 to 20 minutes. Sit in warm water, covering just your hips and buttocks. This can help reduce itching and irritation. You can take a sitz bath in a few inches of water in a regular tub, but small tubs that fit over toilet seats are also available for this purpose at pharmacies. Following a sitz bath, gently pat the area dry to avoid further irritation.
• Use ice packs on the area to relieve swelling and pain.
• Don’t push too hard or strain while passing a bowel movement.
• Clean your anus after each bowel movement by gently patting with moistened pads, such as baby wipes. Using hard, dry toilet paper, which may contain fragrance, can cause further irritation.
• Keep the area clean by bathing or showering daily with warm water. After bathing, gently pat the area dry. You can even use a hair dryer to dry the area.
• Sit on cushions rather than hard surfaces to help lessen the swelling of hemorrhoids and keep new ones from forming.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin as needed.

RELATED: 6 Easy Ways to Prevent Hemorrhoids

This Post Has 2 Comments

Cold And Hot Compresses

For those with more severe hemorrhoid symptoms, applying a cold and hot compress to the anal area at alternating intervals may provide some much-needed pain relief. An ice pack can help reduce local inflammation and irritation but should never be left directly on the skin for more than 10 minutes. After icing the affected area for 10 minutes, apply a warm compress for an additional 10 minutes.

Don’t Miss: How To Naturally Reduce Hemorrhoids

What Causes Internal And External Hemorrhoids And Simple Ways To Treat Them

Hemorrhoids are usually caused by increased pressure due to pregnancy, being overweight, or straining during bowel movements. By midlife, hemorrhoids often become an ongoing complaint. By age 50, about half the population has experienced one or more of the classic symptoms, which include rectal pain, itching, bleeding, and possibly prolapse . Although hemorrhoids are rarely dangerous, they can be a recurrent and painful intrusion. Fortunately, there’s a lot we can do about hemorrhoids.

Time For Hemorrhoid Removal

Your doctor can tell you about medical procedures to remove or reduce hemorrhoids. You might consider these options if, despite all the ordinary measures, your hemorrhoids continue to bleed, start to bleed or hurt more, or begin to interfere with bowel movements. In the meantime, self-care will get most men through hemorrhoid flare-ups.

Don’t Miss: How To Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids Quickly

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.

Final Thoughts On How To Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids

• Hemorrhoids are a very common anorectal condition that affects millions of people around the world.
• Enlarged hemorrhoids are often associated with symptoms such as itching, mucus discharge or bleeding. Bleeding happens when hard stool damages the thin walls of the blood vessels in hemorrhoids.
• Avoidance of constipation is key when trying to get rid of hemorrhoids. Its important that you dont strain while using the bathroom, dont sit for an excessive period of time and clean yourself thoroughly when finished.
• Foods and herbal supplements that help relieve constipation can alleviate the symptoms of hemorrhoids. A high-fiber diet and drinking plenty of fluids are the most helpful dietary changes that you can make when it comes to how to get rid of hemorrhoids.
• If non-medical treatments dont work, there are relatively painless procedures that can be done to treat hemorrhoids. For extreme cases, an outpatient surgery called a hemorrhoidectomy may be required.

Also Check: Can Hemorrhoids Turn Into Cancer

What Are The Symptoms Of Hemorrhoids

You may have no noticeable symptoms from internal hemorrhoids. Sometimes, a bowel movement may irritate an internal hemorrhoid and cause bleeding.

If the internal hemorrhoid is pushed outside of your anal opening, you may have bleeding during bowel movements and symptoms in the anal area that include:

Why Are Internal Prolapsed Hemorrhoids At A Greater Risk Of Becoming Thrombosed

Whether internal or external, if your hemorrhoid is prolapsed it is at a greater risk of becoming thrombosed. When outside the anus the hemorrhoids blood supply can be cut off or limited by the anal sphincter limiting blood flow.

Since thrombosis occurs as a result of a lack of blood flow, these types of hemorrhoids are particularly susceptible to this painful condition.

Recommended Reading: What Type Of Doctor Deals With Hemorrhoids

What Role Does Hygiene Play

Stool that is left behind after wiping can aggravate enlarged hemorrhoids even more. So its important to carefully cleanse the anus after going to the toilet, for example by wetting toilet paper with water first, and drying the anus afterwards. This can help avoid wiping yourself too roughly and making the symptoms worse.

Exaggerated hygiene can make symptoms worse too, though. Many people use things like liquid soaps and alcohol-based or perfumed wipes. But these often contain substances that can irritate the skin and lead to allergic reactions.

Procedures For Hemorrhoids Treatment

Some hemorrhoids can’t be managed with conservative treatments alone, either because symptoms persist or because an internal hemorrhoid has prolapsed. Fortunately, a number of minimally invasive hemorrhoid treatments are available that are less painful than traditional hemorrhoid removal and allow a quicker recovery. These procedures are generally performed in a surgeon’s office or as outpatient surgery in a hospital.

Band it. The most commonly used hemorrhoid treatment in the United States is rubber band ligation, in which a small elastic band is placed around the base of a hemorrhoid . The band causes the hemorrhoid to shrink and the surrounding tissue to scar as it heals, holding the hemorrhoid in place. It takes two to four procedures, done six to eight weeks apart, to completely eliminate the hemorrhoid. Complications, which are rare, include mild pain or tightness , bleeding, and infection. Other office procedures include laser or infrared coagulation, sclerotherapy, and cryosurgery. They all work on the same principle as rubber band ligation but are not quite as effective in preventing recurrence. Side effects and recurrence vary with the procedure, so consult your physician about what’s best for your situation.

Recommended Reading: What Type Of Doctor Takes Care Of Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoid Banding As A Definitive Solution For Hemorrhoids

While natural home remedies for hemorrhoids can provide temporary relief from symptoms, they are not a permanent fix. For long-term hemorrhoid relief, consider a treatment like hemorrhoid banding. Also known as rubber band ligation, hemorrhoid banding is a long-lasting technique for alleviating discomfort caused by hemorrhoids.

Specifically, the CRH ORegan System is the leading hemorrhoid banding treatment available. During the CRH ORegan System procedure, a small band is wrapped around the base of the hemorrhoid to restrict the blood flow to the hemorrhoidal mass. After a few days without a blood supply, the hemorrhoid shrinks and eventually falls off, along with the band. Typically, the hemorrhoid and band fall off during a regular bowel movement without the patient even noticing.

Talk to a doctor for more information on the right treatment and relief options for you. To get rid of your hemorrhoids once and for all, find a physician that offers the pain-free CRH ORegan banding procedure and get on the path toward the hemorrhoid-free life you deserve.

Heal Your Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoid Home Remedies: Warm Sitz Bath

A sitz bath refers to sitting in a few inches of warm water three times a day for 15 to 20 minutes. A sitz bath may help decrease the inflammation of hemorrhoids. Drying off the anal area completely after each sitz bath is important for minimizing moisture that irritates the skin surrounding your rectal area.

You May Like: What To Do For Hemorrhoids That Itch

What Creams Can Be Used

Anti-inflammatory creams and pastes containing ingredients like zinc and panthenol, or herbal substances like witch hazel and aloe vera, are often recommended for the treatment of hemorrhoids. These aim to relieve skin irritations and itching.

Some doctors also prescribe ointments to numb the skin locally, for example with the drug lidocaine. Steroid creams are sometimes used to reduce the inflammation too. These should only be used for a limited amount of time.

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.

Don’t Miss: Do Warm Baths Help Hemorrhoids

How To Ease Hemorrhoid Pain While Pooping

Constipation is one of the leading causes of hemorrhoid pain. For those with external hemorrhoids, bowel movements can be particularly painful.

To ease the pain associated with hemorrhoids, include more fiber in your diet to ensure your stool is soft. Drink plenty of fluids and exercise regularly. Avoid laxatives, as they can make your hemorrhoids worse.

Dont wait too long to use the bathroom. If you need to have a bowel movement, waiting to go will cause your stool to become drier and harder.

Practice proper hygiene, especially after your bowel movement. Rinsing in the shower can be helpful to both hygiene practices and easing the pain of wiping.

Avoid straining during your bowel movements. Elevating your feet can also be very helpful.

Place a step stool at the base of your toilet to change the position of the rectum and allow easier stool passage.

Dealing with hemorrhoids after pregnancy can be very trying. Be sure to take a ganders at our full guide on dealing with hemorrhoids when pregnant.

Are External Hemorrhoids Always Painful

While external hemorrhoids arent always painful, they generally get worse over time.

An external hemorrhoid that develops a clot is called a thrombosed hemorrhoid. Thrombosed hemorrhoids can be very painful and at times require hemorrhoid surgery.

Painless hemorrhoids often go undetected.

Painless hemorrhoids are mostly associated with internal hemorrhoids, but small external hemorrhoids can present with no pain as well.

Internal hemorrhoids can become very painful when they protrude from the anus. These prolapsed internal hemorrhoids can cause big problems if they do not retract back into the anus.

Also Check: Can You Have Hemorrhoids And Not Know It

What If A Hemorrhoid Won’t Go Away

Most people will get relief from at-home treatments. However, sometimes these remedies do not work, or don’t work well enough. In that case, there are treatments that the doctor can provide. These can range from pills to prescription creams to minimally invasive procedures, and even to hemorrhoid removal surgery.

Less Strain More Gain

Prolonged sitting or straining, often associated with constipation or diarrhea, may lead to hemorrhoids. “By straining you are causing more hemorrhoids and creating more symptoms,” Dr. Wolf says.

Don’t delay bowel movements during hemorrhoid flare-ups. Go when you need to go, because putting off bowel movements can worsen constipation, which then aggravates the hemorrhoids.

Also, elevating your feet a bit with a step stool as you sit on the toilet changes the position of the rectum in a way that could allow for easier passage of stools.

Read Also: How To Know If You Have External Hemorrhoids

How Can I Treat My Hemorrhoids

You can most often treat your hemorrhoids at home by

• taking a stool softener or a fiber supplement such as psyllium or methylcellulose
• drinking water or other nonalcoholic liquids each day as recommended by your health care professional
• not straining during bowel movements
• not sitting on the toilet for long periods of time
• taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin
• sitting in a tub of warm water, called a sitz bath, several times a day to help relieve pain

Applying over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams or ointments or using suppositoriesa medicine you insert into your rectummay relieve mild pain, swelling, and itching of external hemorrhoids. Most often, doctors recommend using over-the-counter products for 1 week. You should follow up with your doctor if the products

• do not relieve your symptoms after 1 week
• cause side effects such dry skin around your anus or a rash

Most prolapsed internal hemorrhoids go away without at-home treatment. However, severely prolapsed or bleeding internal hemorrhoids may need medical treatment.

What Can You Do For Relief

If you have hemorrhoids, lifestyle changes may help them heal faster. One cause of hemorrhoids is straining during bowel movements. Adding more high-fiber foods to your diet, such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, can help soften your stool and make it easier to pass.

You should also drink plenty of water to help relieve constipation and reduce straining during bowel movements.

Here are some additional things that may help relieve symptoms:

• Minimize the time you sit on the toilet.
• When you feel the urge to move your bowels, go as soon as possible.
• Put your feet on a small stool during bowel movements to change the position of your rectum.
• If youre pregnant, sleep on your side. This will help relieve some of the pressure around your anus.
• Ask your doctor about taking a stool softener or a fiber supplement, such as psyllium or methylcellulose . A tablespoon of mineral oil added to food can also help soften stools.
• Keep the anal area clean. Take regular showers, and use moist wipes to clean the area around your anus after you pass a bowel movement.
• Use a sitz bath or sit in a warm tub for a few minutes to bathe the anal area.

You may also try using over-the-counter topical medications to ease discomfort, such as phenylephrine hemorrhoidal gel . These products are used if the hemorrhoids are bulging and inflamed.

Also Check: How Do You Fix Hemorrhoids

What Can I Use For Hemorrhoid Pain

Topical treatments such as hemorrhoid cream or suppositories can be used to reduce the pain associated with hemorrhoids.

Our OTC hemorrhoid medicine guide can help you pick out the right OTC treatment for you.

We put together a list of the best hemorrhoid products of 2018.

Some over-the-counter options include pads that contain numbing agents to temporarily reduce the feeling of pain.

Applying ice packs or cold compresses can also help with pain and possibly even reduce and eliminate strangulated prolapsed hemorrhoids .

For more severe pain, you can use over-the-counter acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen products.

If these options do not relieve your pain, contact your doctor.

Check out our hemorrhoid cream reviews guide for more information on creams that can help.

Enlarged Hemorrhoids: How Can You Relieve The Symptoms Yourself

Theres a lot of advice out there about how to relieve the symptoms of enlarged hemorrhoids yourself including things like avoiding constipation, using special creams or taking warm baths. Even if some of these things can relieve the symptoms, they wont make enlarged hemorrhoids go away again.

If someone has enlarged hemorrhoids , trying to prevent constipation and changing their toilet habits can make an important difference. Various medications and other measures can also be tried out to relieve the symptoms.

Recommended Reading: Where To Buy Witch Hazel For Hemorrhoids

Can Hemorrhoid Pain Radiate

In rare cases, hemorrhoids can create pressure on nerves and cause pain elsewhere.

Except in rare cases, radiating pain is not generally linked to hemorrhoids.

Anal fissures, which are tears in the lining of the anal canal, are more likely to cause radiating pain.

While many cases of external or thrombosed hemorrhoids are accompanied by pain, there are many ways to control the pain associated with hemorrhoids.

If the at-home hemorrhoid remedies dont work to relieve your pain, contact your doctor. We have a full guide on how to get rid of external hemorrhoids.

How To Stop Hemorrhoid Pain

There are many different methods that can be used to stop hemorrhoid pain. A few effective methods for pain management and immediate relief are:

Also Check: How Did I Get Hemorrhoids