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Some simple measures you can take to reduce symptoms include: - Taking a warm tub bath several times a day for 10 minutes - Applying a hemorrhoidal cream or suppository to the affected area - Increasing fiber and fluids in your diet to avoid constipation - Avoiding consumption of alcohol - Using a stool softener or fiber supplement like psyllium, methylcellulose or calcium polycarbophil A number of non-surgical procedures can be used to remove or reduce the size of internal hemorrhoids.
These procedures are painless and don't require anesthesia: Rubber band ligation: A rubber band is placed inside the rectum around the base of the hemorrhoid.
The band cuts off circulation and the hemorrhoid withers away in a few days, and finally drops off.
This procedure is used to treat Grade I, II, and III hemorrhoids.
Symptoms usually recur after several years, but can be treated with more ligation.
Sclerotherapy: One of the oldest forms of treatment, during sclerotherapy a chemical solution (phenol or quinine urea) is injected around the blood vessels to shrink the hemorrhoid.
As a result, the area gets inflamed and in due course scarring happens.
You may feel pain after this procedure, but it subsides the following day.
Symptoms of hemorrhoids are likely to return after several years and may require further treatment.
Infrared coagulation: A special device is used to burn hemorrhoidal tissue.
If these procedures fail to produce desired results, surgery is the next option.
But surgery is only necessary if your hemorrhoids are persistent or extremely painful: Hemorrhoidectomy or surgical removal of hemorrhoids is necessary when clots keep forming and the bleeding is persistent.
Hemorrhoidectomy is done under general anesthesia and has a good success rate.
However, the next few days following the operation can be quite painful.
Hemorrhoidal Artery Ligation Operation (HALO) is a new procedure for removing hemorrhoids without any cutting and in some cases even no general anesthesia.
During this procedure, the small arteries that supply blood to the hemorrhoid are tied (ligated), causing the hemorrhoid to shrink.
Since it's usually painless, it is becoming a popular treatment option.
Stapled hemorrhoidectomy is the latest surgical technique for a Grade III hemorrhoid.
Although the name implies that the hemorrhoid is removed, this is not the case.
What happen is, a stapling device is used to cut out a circular section of the anal canal's lining right above the hemorrhoid.
This pulls the hemorrhoid back up into its normal position in the anal canal and reduces blood supply to it.
As a result, it then shrinks.
Since the cutting is done above the hemorrhoid, it's a far less painful procedure than a traditional hemorrhoidectomy operation.
Before you agree to an operation make sure you've exhausted all other options.
Pills, creams, ointments and suppositories provide temporary relief, but they're not a cure.
As for surgery, always keep it as the last option, since it can lead to some health issues later.
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