Unfortunately many people suffer from hemorrhoids. There is a broad range of severity of hemorrhoids, from internal hemorrhoids that are minimally uncomfortable, to large, prolapsed, and thrombosed clustered hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are veins that become engorged with blood and are located in the anorectal canal. They often cause rectal itching, bleeding or pain.
People often don’t know they have hemorrhoids until they see bright red blood after a bowel movement. The blood may be visible on the toilet paper, on the outer surface of a constipated stool, or even in the toilet bowl. This often is alarming to individuals as when the blood mixes with the water in the toilet, it looks like a very large amount of blood, when in actuality it may not be.
Hemorrhoids are often benign and uncomplicated, not causing discomfort. On the other hand, if you suffer from a thrombosed hemorrhoid, you are likely to encounter great pain in the rectal area. A thrombosed hemorrhoid is an external hemorrhoid that develops a clot inside the sensitive enlarged vein. This clot will feel like a hard, painful lump in the rectal area. It may be difficult to sit or stand, let alone walk, as the nerves in the rectal area get very irritated by the thrombosed hemorrhoid.
Thrombosed Hemorrhoid Treatment Options
There are a few treatments for these painful hemorrhoids, and all of them require a doctor’s evaluation. Conservative treatment may include medication to break up the clot systemically and should be prescribed by your doctor. Another, slightly more invasive treatment, involves numbing the hemorrhoid with a local anesthetic, and making a small incision in it to remove the clot itself. This sounds quite uncomfortable, but there is immediate relief once the clot is gone.
Sometimes it may occur that conservative treatments are not appropriate is there are large amount of hemorrhoids that have prolapsed and thrombosed external to the anal canal. In these instances, surgical removal is often indicated. Surgery ranges from applying a band to the base of each hemorrhoid and cutting off the blood circulation to the area; this is called band ligation. This will allow the tissue to die and the hemorrhoid will fall off. If the hemorrhoids are so severe that banding isn’t enough, a hemorrhoidectomy may be necessary. This is the most involved treatment and recovery is timely.
Preventing Future Hemorrhoidal Outbreaks
Once your thrombosed hemorrhoid is treated and gone, it is important to take measures to decrease the risk of developing them again and going through the pain. There are several dietary and lifestyle modifications that will help diminish the chances of ongoing hemorrhoids. These modifications include:
Dietary changes: adding fiber by eating fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking 8-10 glasses of water every day, lowering fat and salt intake;
Lifestyle changes: avoid constipation and straining; use a stool softener if necessary; don’t sit or stand for long periods of time without changing positions frequently; exercise regularly
Although not everyone who suffer from hemorrhoids will develop a thrombosed hemorrhoid, if you do you should have it taken care of quickly to alleviate your pain.
