4 Treatment Options For Severe Hemorrhoids

Do you suffer from painful and uncomfortable hemorrhoids? Do you have regular bleeding during bowel movements? Hemorrhoids are an extremely irritating condition that many people experience. For mild hemorrhoids, a combination of better diet and exercise along with over-the-counter topical creams can relieve most of the irritation. However, in some cases, those common treatments aren't effective. You may find that even with more fiber in your diet and the use of topical cream, your irritation and bleeding persists. If that's the case, it may be time to consider help from a doctor. Here are a few options the doctor may recommend:

Injection. In this treatment, the doctor will inject a solution directly into the hemorrhoid. The solution will then cause the hemorrhoid to shrivel up and hopefully disappear. There is some pain associated with this treatment, but it's no more extreme than the pain associated with any other type of shot or injection. You'll also see a very quick recovery time. However, there's no guarantee that will injections will work, and if you don't change your diet and lifestyle, you could see the hemorrhoids return.

Coagulation. Similar to injections, this is designed to cause the hemorrhoid to harden and shrivel. The doctor will use a laser or infrared light to shine directly on the hemorrhoid. The great thing about this treatment is that it has little pain and very quick recovery. However, much like injections, there is a chance that coagulation may not work for you. Again, you may need to make lifestyle changes after the procedure to reduce the likelihood that the hemorrhoids return.

Rubber band litigation. In this procedure, the doctor places tiny rubber bands around the base of your hemorrhoids. That reduces blood flow to the hemorrhoid and causes it to harden and shrink. Rubber band litigation often has a very high success rate. However, you may find that the procedure is painful and that you experience discomfort while the rubber bands are in place.

Surgery. In the most severe situations, your doctor may recommend surgery. During surgery, the doctor will use a variety of tools to physically remove the hemorrhoids from your body. You may receive local anesthetic or be completely sedated, depending on how invasive the surgery is. While surgery is the only way to ensure that hemorrhoids are completely removed, it can also lead to pain, discomfort, and side effects. For example, if your doctor removes internal hemorrhoids, you may have temporary issues emptying your bladder after the surgery. You may wish to try other options before you elect to have surgery.

For more information, contact Pilipshen Colon and Rectal Surgical Services or a similar organization.