External Hemorrhoid Treatment Options

Hemorrhoids are a sort of varicose vein found in the rectum or anus, and are caused when the veins in these parts of the body are place under constant pressure, as in straining during bowel movements.

External hemorrhoid treatment can take many forms, from exercise to regular warm baths, to soothing ointments and creams to surgery. Eating a high fiber diet can also be one of the natural home remedies for hemorrhoids.

External hemorrhoids tend to be more painful than internal hemorrhoids, as the area where internal hemorrhoids are found lacks nerves that can perceive pain. Surgery can be the last resort if the hemorrhoids have become too uncomfortable or if they contain blood clots.

Hemorrhoid banding is one way to treat both external and internal hemorrhoids. This operation is performed by an expert who has specialized in the lower digestive tract, including the rectum and anus.

Blood tests from the patient are taken before and after the operation. Before the operation, spinal, local, or general anesthesia is given. In the operation, the surgeon grabs tightly the hemorrhoid using forceps. Then an elastic band is place around it in order to prevent blood flow into the hemorrhoid. In this way, the hemorrhoid will disappear within a week.

The surgery, which is also called rubber band ligation, is successful in the overwhelming majority of cases and takes about two weeks to heal from. In the meantime, the patient should take warm baths about every four hours or after bowel movements, and avoid heavy lifting or other strenuous work. They may also need pain relievers and stool softeners.

A chemical version of rubber band ligation is to inject a drug into the hemorrhoid that will cause the dilated veins to shrink, thus also constricting the blood supply and causing the hemorrhoid to eventually slough off. This is called sclerotherapy. It’s often guided using ultrasound, so the doctor can precisely target the vein that he or she wishes to treat.

One external hemorrhoid treatment is hemorrhoidectomy, or the outright removal of the hemorrhoid. In this surgery the hemorrhoids are cut away, either with a scalpel or a laser.

Care is taken not to hurt the nearby nerves or muscles, as this might cause complications like the patient being unable to easily pass urine. The surgical area can be left open or sutured, and is covered with gauze.

Other treatments are electrocautery, where the hemorrhoid is burned off, and cryosurgery, where the hemorrhoid is frozen and therefore ruined. The hemorrhoid can also be stapled, which is less painful than surgical removal, but is usually done for more severe cases of hemorrhoids.

If you want to learn what causes hemorrhoids, visit Home-Remedies-for-Hemorrhoids.net/what-causes-hemorrhoids.