Hemorrhoids refer to swollen veins that surround your anus or lower back.
Sometimes, hemorrhoids can be itchy or painful. They may also bleed during bowel movements.
Hemorrhoids can be very common. 75% of people will experience hemorrhoids at one time or another. Hemorrhoids are more prevalent among people between the ages of 45 and 65.
How Long Can Hemorrhoids Last?
The duration of hemorrhoids will vary from one person to the next.
Small hemorrhoids will usually disappear on their own within a few days. Hemorrhoids that are more severe, such as those that cause pain, swelling, itching, or itchiness, won’t disappear on their own. They will need to be treated by a doctor. Hemorrhoids may not disappear in pregnant women.
Hemorrhoids can return after treatment. If you have hemorrhoids that persist or don’t despair, a gastroenterologist will be able to recommend treatment.
Temporary vs. Permanent Treatment Options
There are many home remedies for hemorrhoids that you can choose from. These will temporarily mask your symptoms, but they won’t provide permanent relief.
A qualified physician can provide permanent hemorrhoid relief, such as the CRH O’Regan System. You should consider permanent treatment if you are determined to eliminate your hemorrhoids and not just treat the symptoms.
Temporary Hemorrhoid Treatment Options
Hemorrhoid Creams for Relief
Hemorrhoid creams, such as the ones made by Tucks or Preparation H, are a popular choice for people with hemorrhoids.
They can be bought from a drugstore without requiring a prescription and can be used at home. These creams often contain hydrocortisone, a soothing agent, and a medicinal ingredient to quickly relieve hemorrhoid symptoms such as itching and burning.
No matter which hemorrhoid cream is chosen, you will need to apply it several times per day, particularly in the morning and at night.
For external use:
Apply a small amount to your finger. Use a disposable glove, a finger or warm soap to thoroughly wash your hands after applying the cream.
Use it for internal use:
Some creams can be used inside the anus if you don’t see any relief from external applications. Before applying hemorrhoid creams in this way, it is best to perform a bowel movement.
After thoroughly washing your hands, attach a round applicator tip to the cream tube. To test how much ointment is coming out of the tube, gently squeeze it. The amount you want should be approximately the same length as your index finger’s tip.
Lubricate the applicator with KY jelly, the ointment, or any other safe lubricant before you insert it. It may be easier to insert the applicator if you lie on your back with your top knee bent towards your chest. The applicator can be lifted up to your upper buttock.
Use the same pressure to squeeze the tube as you did when you tested it. To ensure that the medicine is kept in its best form, it is recommended that you lie down for at least 30 minutes after applying the medicine.
Although hemorrhoid creams can provide some relief (either externally or internally), this relief is temporary. To get long-lasting relief, multiple applications must be made throughout the day and over several days. Some creams and medicated wipes contain ingredients that are initially soothing but can cause hemorrhoids to worsen over time.
You may have experienced hemorrhoids before with creams. However, after a while, they disappear, sometimes returning weeks or months later. The reason is that creams mask the problem but do not treat the root cause. Hemorrhoids are treated with a system such as the CRH O’Regan System, or hemorrhoids surgery, which is the only way to get rid of hemorrhoids permanently.
Here are some things you should know about hemorrhoid creams, such as preparation H.
Preparation H is one of the most popular hemorrhoid medications. You can buy it in many forms, including creams, suppositories, and wipes.
Preparation H products should be used 4-6 times daily, especially in the mornings and evenings. Although the active medicinal ingredients of Preparation H products vary, most of them aim to reduce inflammation and the discomfort that hemorrhoids can cause. There are products for both external and internal hemorrhoids.
Preparation H products, like other topical creams for hemorrhoids, only temporarily relieve symptoms. They do not completely eliminate the problem. Preparation H will not make your hemorrhoids disappear.
Home Remedies for Hemorrhoids
There are many home remedies for hemorrhoids that can be used to relieve the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Natural remedies are preferred over those that contain medicinal ingredients. It will not provide permanent hemorrhoid relief, no matter which home remedy you use.
Here are some examples of home remedies for hemorrhoids:
Apple cider vinegar. This at-home remedy is appealing because it can be bought at most grocery stores. In fact, many people may already have this product in their pantry! Hemorrhoids are best treated with organic, unfiltered, raw apple cider vinegar.
Applying apple cider vinegar topically to hemorrhoids is the best way to use it. Some people report that the vinegar can cause stinging. You can reduce or prevent this by diluting it with equal amounts of water before applying the vinegar.
Some people find it easier to consume the apple cider vinegar orally with a glass of water. Some people will also add 1-2 cups of apple cider vinegar to their sitz bath for additional relief. Although apple cider vinegar can temporarily relieve hemorrhoids, only a treatment like the CRH O’Regan System can fully eliminate them.
Sitz Bath. This is a popular way to get hemorrhoid relief at home. It is recommended by your doctor. This involves a brief period of sitting in warm, but not hot, water with Epsom salts. It encourages blood flow to the affected area and relaxes your anal sphincter.
The sitz bath should be used at least three times per week, after every bowel movement. You should dry your bottom well after the bath to prevent further irritation of your hemorrhoids.
Warm water should not reach your anal area. This can be done by filling a bathtub with enough warm water or buying a sitz-bath from a drugstore. A sitz bath is a small bowl that you can place on the toilet seat. To achieve the same concentration, a sitz bath in a bathtub will require you to use more Epsom salts.
Witch Hazel. Although there are no scientific studies, it is believed to decrease pain, swelling, and itching in hemorrhoids. Some hemorrhoid creams, creams, and suppositories contain witch hazel. It is usually available in liquid form.
Witch hazel can be applied topically, just like other natural remedies such as apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil. These natural remedies can provide temporary relief, but they won’t cause your hemorrhoids to disappear completely. They often contain ingredients that will only make your hemorrhoids worse. A sitz-bath may also include liquid witch hazel.
Talk to your doctor if your hemorrhoids keep returning after you’ve tried to eliminate them at home.
Permanent Hemorrhoid Treatment Options
Are you sure that your hemorrhoids need to be treated? If your symptoms persist or return over time, then the answer is often yes.
You may find home remedies for hemorrhoids helpful for temporary relief. However, if your symptoms persist or do not completely disappear, you will need to see a doctor.
Hemorrhoidectomy or “Hemorrhoid Surgery”
Hemorrhoidectomy refers to a type of surgery that is usually performed by a colorectal surgeon or general surgeon. The best treatment for hemorrhoids is surgical hemorrhoidectomy. It is the last resort for hemorrhoid sufferers, but it has the highest complication rates and causes significant pain and downtime.
Hemorrhoid surgery is reserved for advanced cases. Instead, doctors will recommend less invasive treatments and lifestyle changes such as adding fiber to your diet before resorting to hemorrhoids.
Rubber Band Ligation
There are many non-invasive treatments that provide temporary hemorrhoid relief. However, only a few of them are permanent. Hemorrhoids rubber band ligation (hemorrhoid banding) has the lowest rate of recurrence after hemorrhoids surgery. This means that hemorrhoids are less likely to return.
The type and severity of hemorrhoid banding will determine if this method is suitable for you. However, it may require sedation or be very likely to cause pain.
The CRH O’Regan System, a type of hemorrhoid-banding that can remove hemorrhoids permanently and without any pain or sedation, is different from these other methods.
Tips To Prevent Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids can be prevented by making changes to your diet and daily routine. You can also use home remedies to treat hemorrhoids and prevent future flare-ups. These are some tips to help you avoid future flare-ups.
- Drink plenty of fluids and eat the recommended amount of high-fiber foods to maintain soft stool and prevent straining during bowel movements. Stool softeners can be purchased from your doctor.
- Regular exercise will help you keep your bowel movements in check.
- To reduce pressure on your veins, lose weight if you are overweight.
Sources:
- Hemorrhoidectomy for Hemorrhoids | Michigan Medicine. (2020, April 15). Hemorrhoidectomy for Hemorrhoids | Michigan Medicine. https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw212391.
- Hemorrhoidal (Witch Hazel) Topical: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing – WebMD. (n.d.). Hemorrhoidal (Witch Hazel) Topical: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing – WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-169454/hemorrhoidal-witch-hazel-topical/.
- Digestive Disorders. (n.d.). WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/.
- Apple Cider Vinegar for Hemorrhoids: Does It Work?. (n.d.). Apple Cider Vinegar for Hemorrhoids: Does It Work?. https://www.healthline.com/health/apple-cider-vinegar-for-hemorrhoids.
- K-Y Jelly Water-Based Lubricant | K-Y. (n.d.). K-Y USA. https://www.k-y.com/products/k-y-jelly-water-based-personal-lube.
- Ointment. (n.d.). Ointment | Preparation H. https://www.preparationh.com/products/ointment/.
- Products | TUCKS. (2019, March 14). TUCKS |. https://www.tucksbrand.com/products/.
- Animated Video – CRH O’Regan System – CRH Physicians. (2014, June 2). CRH Physicians. https://physicians.crhsystem.com/animated-video-crh-oregan-system/.
- Are You At Risk for Hemorrhoids?: John M Rivas, M.D.: Gastroenterology And Endoscopy. (n.d.). Are You At Risk for Hemorrhoids?: John M Rivas, M.D.: Gastroenterology and Endoscopy. https://www.johnrivasmd.com/blog/are-you-at-risk-for-hemorrhoids.
- Why Do Hemorrhoids Itch?. (n.d.). Why Do Hemorrhoids Itch?. https://www.healthline.com/health/why-do-hemorrhoids-itch.
