Eliminating external hemorrhoids requires patience and adherence to all health care instructions and directions, which is a combination of medical treatment as well as lifestyle changes. Follow this article with us as we will shed light on the methods of treating external hemorrhoids at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital and how to prevent them.
What are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are a bulge or swelling of the blood vessels located in the anus or the surrounding area. Hemorrhoids often occur as a result of increased pressure on the blood vessels in situations such as pregnancy or weight gain. Hemorrhoids can be either external, centered outside the anal area, or internal, centered inside the anus.
Learn about: External hemorrhoids causes, symptoms and methods of diagnosis
What are the methods of treating external hemorrhoids, depending on their severity?
Methods for treating external hemorrhoids vary based on the severity of the hemorrhoids and the extent of the aggravation of the condition. Methods of treating external hemorrhoids can be divided according to their severity into the following:-
First: When the external hemorrhoids are not severe
If the external hemorrhoids are not severe and in their initial stages, the external hemorrhoids can be eliminated permanently through some of the following steps:-
- Rely on a diet rich in fiber and drink large amounts of water every day.
- Warm seat baths play an important role in relieving pain and reducing swelling, so they are widely relied upon.
- Avoid using toilet paper and rely on wet wipes instead and clean the area with soap and water.
- Avoid lifting heavy weights, sitting on hard places, standing for long periods, and sitting for long periods on toilets.
- If the condition is somewhat difficult, treatment with medications will be relied upon. This is done by taking a group of anti-inflammatory, anti-swelling, and pain-relieving medications that contain ibuprofen and acetominophen, and using creams that contain cortisone to relieve the itching and feeling of irritation.
Second: When external hemorrhoids get worse
If the condition is delayed and the situation worsens and symptoms appear such as severe bleeding, some hemorrhoids protruding outward, and the inability to push them in again, then in this case the hemorrhoids cannot be completely eliminated except through surgical intervention only.
What are the methods of treating external hemorrhoids?
External hemorrhoids usually go away on their own without the patient needing specific treatment, but home treatments should be followed to reduce the severity of the symptoms until the patient recovers. Here are the treatment methods in detail:
Home treatment
- Use ice bags covered with cloth and place them on the anal area, as it helps reduce pain and swelling in the area.
- Apply topical medications such as creams, solutions or ointments.
- Prepare a warm water bath and soak the anal area for about a quarter of an hour, several times a day.
- Relying on oral pain relievers, including acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Use stool softeners to relieve constipation and avoid straining during defecation.
Medical treatment
- The doctor prescribes topical medications, including nitroglycerin or nifedipine.
- The doctor intervenes surgically to remove the external hemorrhoids, or the blood clot is drained.
- Carrying out the process of cauterizing and burning the tissues of external hemorrhoids, using infrared rays, using a laser, or through electrocoagulation.
- Resorting to sclerotherapy by injecting chemicals into the damaged veins, here the pain and side effects of the damaged veins are alleviated.
- Treatment is by injecting Botox into the anal sphincter.
Treatment of swollen external hemorrhoids
Treatment of swollen external hemorrhoids includes several methods, depending on the severity and extent of the swollen hemorrhoids, including:
- Home remedies to relieve symptoms and reduce swelling: sit in a warm bath, apply ice compresses to the area, eat meals rich in fiber, drink plenty of water, wear loose cotton clothes,.
- Treatment with medications, using analgesic or anti-inflammatory ointments and anti-itch creams.
- Surgical treatment, where excess tissue is surgically removed, is an effective method for treating acute external hemorrhoids. Limited invasive surgery can also be performed through sclerotherapy or electrocoagulation.
What is the treatment for external hemorrhoids in women?
There is no difference in the methods of eliminating external hemorrhoids for men and women, but in the event of pregnancy, you must consult a doctor immediately and follow the doctor’s advice and instructions regarding changing lifestyle and using ointments suitable for pregnancy.
Learn about: What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids during pregnancy?
External hemorrhoids medications
The doctor prescribes some medications for an external hemorrhoid patient to reduce swelling and relieve pain. External hemorrhoid medications include the following:
- Topical creams and ointments, which contain pain-relieving substances, or anti-inflammatory agents to reduce swelling, redness, and itching and reduce bleeding.
- Wet wipes containing soothing and anti-inflammatory agents to clean the area.
- Oral medications, such as pain relievers, laxatives, or corticosteroids to relieve swelling and symptoms.
Can external hemorrhoids be eliminated permanently?
Yes, it is possible to eliminate hemorrhoids permanently, as external hemorrhoids are not a chronic disease that lasts a lifetime. Hemorrhoids can be eliminated permanently through surgical intervention, where the doctor removes the hemorrhoids permanently and the external hemorrhoids are eliminated. The operation is performed under general anesthesia and achieves good and guaranteed results.
How to eliminate external hemorrhoids permanently?
If you are wondering about eliminating hemorrhoids permanently, then you have certainly tried all possible methods to eliminate hemorrhoids, and you will not achieve what you want, as a result of relying on a wrong treatment method or relying on a bad doctor. Therefore, if you want to eliminate hemorrhoids permanently, you must choose a good place where the appropriate treatment for you to get rid of hemorrhoids is determined.
One of the best places to treat hemorrhoids within the Arab world in general and within Saudi Arabia in particular is Al Mousa Specialist Hospital, which provides excellent care with the latest advanced methods and devices and contains a medical staff at the highest level and guarantees guaranteed and excellent results. If you wish to book an appointment, you can contact the following number +966 13 536 9666.
The difference between clotted and non-clotted external hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are one of the problems that affect many women and men and cause them a lot of distress, pain, and inconvenience. However, some may not know the difference between clotted and non-clotted external hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids occur when blood accumulates in the veins, causing these veins to swell and thus feeling pain upon any contact with them. This is what happens in either internal or external hemorrhoids.
Clotted hemorrhoids are hemorrhoids in which the owner suffers from pain in the anal area when sitting or defecating, or the appearance of bleeding from the anus and the occurrence of swelling and lumps around the anus. Non-clotted hemorrhoids are skin growths, but without pain because they are not inflamed and therefore do not cause pain and discomfort, and they are lighter than clotted hemorrhoids.
The best sitting and sleeping positions for patients with hemorrhoids
If hemorrhoids appear, people suffer from difficulty sleeping due to the pain that accompanies hemorrhoids. Therefore, one of the best positions in which one can sleep to avoid pain is the following:
- Lying down helps reduce pain, improves sleep quality, reduces pressure on the anus, and provides a feeling of comfort.
- Lying on one side with a pillow between the legs reduces pain.
- Avoid lying on your back to avoid feeling pain.
- Wear comfortable, loose clothing and avoid wearing tight underwear that causes pain.
- Sleeping on one side or sleeping on the stomach is a good solution for sleeping after hemorrhoid surgery to reduce pain in the hemorrhoid area and provide a feeling of comfort.
- During defecation, it is recommended to sit on the toilet and raise your feet slightly above the ground for easy defecation.
- Do not sit for long periods and change sitting positions.
- When sitting, it is preferable not to put pressure on the anus and sit sideways to prevent feeling pain.
Duration of treatment for external hemorrhoids
The duration of treatment for external hemorrhoids depends on several factors, such as the size of the hemorrhoids, the severity of symptoms, the presence of accompanying complications, the patient’s general health condition, and the treatment method used.
Home treatment for hemorrhoids may take several months, and the duration of treatment for hemorrhoids with medications is shortened to several weeks, while surgical intervention for treatment is an immediate solution and takes a few days to heal.
What are the best foods rich in fiber to treat hemorrhoids?
Below we list the best foods that contain fiber:
- Plum.
- Apples.
- Broccoli.
- maize.
- Kiwi.
- Berries.
- Lentils.
- Acidic fruits.
My experience with treating external hemorrhoids
The problem of hemorrhoids is one of the annoying problems that many people suffer from. My experience with hemorrhoids is that I used to suffer from external hemorrhoids, so I used some home methods to get rid of the pain, including the following:
- Take a warm bath and sit in warm water with a little salt because it helps enhance blood circulation and reduces the feeling of pain.
- Pushing hemorrhoids back into the body if they protrude outside during defecation, because their presence inside the anus protects against blood clots or rectal obstruction.
- Use some medicated ointments and creams that soothe the feeling of pain and do not require a prescription.
- Make sure to take pain relievers that are placed on the affected area, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Follow a healthy eating pattern and eat foods that contain dietary fiber to avoid constipation, which increases the pain of hemorrhoids.
- Keeping the anus clean.
- تجنب رفع الأشياء الثقيلة.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get rid of swollen external hemorrhoids?
You can follow some home methods to relieve the swelling and swelling of hemorrhoids by sitting in a warm bath for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day. This will relieve pain and reduce swelling.
Ice compresses can also be applied for 10 minutes several times a day on the swollen area, and some common analgesic ointments and anti-inflammatory creams can be applied.
Can external hemorrhoids be inserted with the finger?
Doctors do not recommend inserting external hemorrhoids with the finger, due to the risk of infection in the anal area, the risk of irritation of the hemorrhoids, and the exacerbation of pain and bleeding.
Do external hemorrhoids disappear on their own?
In some people, hemorrhoids disappear on their own, especially when following home treatment methods if the hemorrhoids are small, but in cases of large, swollen hemorrhoids, the hemorrhoids do not disappear on their own.
What does a hemorrhoid pimple look like?
Hemorrhoids appear as a fleshy mass around the anus or a small, reddish bump that varies in size. It is usually soft to the touch, or may be hard if there is a blood clot inside it.
Can hemorrhoids be cured?
Yes, the treatment of external hemorrhoids depends on their type and severity, as it is possible for most cases of external hemorrhoids to heal on their own without the need for treatment, by changing lifestyle and diet.
What are the ways to get rid of swollen hemorrhoids?
Methods that may contribute to getting rid of swollen external hemorrhoids include the following: –
1-) Sitz bath: –
It is one of the treatments that contribute to treating hemorrhoids quickly, by sitting in a warm water bath for 15 minutes several times a day.
2-) Eating psyllium husks: –
It contributes to reducing constipation and relieving hemorrhoid pain.
3-) Use cold compresses, which may contribute to relieving pain and swelling.
4-) Topical ointments, as these ointments can help reduce swelling and discomfort resulting from hemorrhoids.
5-) Take painkillers, such as ibuprofen, to help relieve hemorrhoid pain.
6-) Wear loose clothing, to prevent further irritation.
Can hemorrhoids be cured without treatment?
Yes, mild cases of external hemorrhoids can disappear on their own without the need for treatment, or through home remedies.
Medical sources
This information was based on:
