Do You Know Your Treatment Options?
Hemorrhoids – which are also referred to as piles – are swollen blood vessels which are located in or near the rectum. They do not always cause discomfort and are not usually serious, but can be embarrassing for the sufferer. There are two types of hemorrhoid; internal and external. Sometimes, a person may not realize that the internal hemorrhoids are there because they cannot be seen or felt, but they can cause pain if they prolapse and protrude from the anus.In a majority of cases, hemorrhoids will spontaneously improve and recede without any special treatment. However, if your piles are causing discomfort then these are some of the internal hemorrhoids treatment options you can try.
Hemorrhoids Treatments You Can Try At Home
When it comes to treating hemorrhoids at home, most of the measures involve managing the pain and ensuring that the piles are given optimal opportunity to heal. Make sure that you drink plenty of fluids and increase your fiber intake (flax seeds are good), as straining can make hemorrhoids worse. You may also want to try using moist toilet paper or a wet wipe to ease your discomfort after you have passed a stool.
If your hemorrhoids are causing discomfort around the anus, there are topical treatments which you can buy in order to relieve the pain. These creams and ointments will just lessen your symptoms, and will not affect the size of the hemorrhoids. In rare cases, the inflammation around the anus can become severe. If this happens, see your doctor for a prescription for corticosteroid (steroid) cream.
Sclerotherapy
If the hemorrhoids do not disappear spontaneously, your doctor may advise medical treatment. One of the most common internal hemorrhoids treatment is sclerotherapy, which works by injecting a chemical solution into the blood vessels in the anus.
Sceleroptherapy will harden the tissue of the hemorrhoid so that it becomes scar tissue. Over a period of 4 to 8 weeks, the hardened tissue will contract and become smaller in size. Eventually the hemorrhoid will disappear. This type of treatment should cause minimal discomfort. You will need to take a day off work but should be able to resume most of your normal activities after 24 hours.
Banding
Banding is a type of hemorrhoid treatment which gives much faster results than scelerotherapy. A tiny band is secured around the base of the hemorrhoids, which will restrict their blood supply. With the blood supply cut off, the piles will shrivel and fall off. These will pass naturally when you go to the toilet, and you are unlikely to notice them.
Banding is usually a straightforward procedure and you should be discharged the same day. Normally, paracetamol is sufficient to control the pain or discomfort. A little blood or mucus is normal for a few days following the procedure, but you should go to the emergency room if you notice heavy bleeding.
Surgery
As a last resort, internal hemorrhoids may need to be removed by a surgical procedure called a hemorrhoidectomy. This is done under general anesthetic and is considered major surgery, so you will need to take at least one week off work.
If you are concerned about internal hemorrhoids, speak to your doctor about treatment options.
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