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Hemorrhoid Treatment
Hemorrhoid relief is focused on alleviating painful symptoms and often includes taking tub baths and increasing fiber and fluids in the diet. Your doctor may also recommend taking stool softeners or fiber supplements. In rare cases, a healthcare provider may recommend surgery as a treatment for hemorrhoids. This can include rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, hemorrhoidectomy, or infrared coagulation.
While hemorrhoids are a source of misery for a lot of people, they are not dangerous or life-threatening and will usually go away within a few days. Therefore, in most cases, treatment for hemorrhoids is focused on:
- Relieving hemorrhoid symptoms
- Relieving pressure by increasing fiber and fluids
- Modifying bowel habits.
In rare cases, when these conservative treatment options are not successful, a hemorrhoid surgery or procedure may be recommended.
Hemorrhoid treatment usually begins with conservative medical treatment. Medical treatment is initially aimed at relieving symptoms, such as pain or itching. Measures to reduce pain include:
- A cold pack applied to the affected area when hemorrhoid symptoms first appear
- Tub baths three or four times a day in plain, hot water for about 20 to 30 minutes.
Several hemorrhoidal medicines (creams or suppositories) are available without a prescription. Application of these medicines to the affected area for a limited time may provide relief of itching and inflammation. Some of these medicines also have an anesthetic that can provide some pain relief.
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD