There are many hemorrhoid treatments available, ranging from surgery and medical treatments to simple lifestyle changes such as alterations to ones bowel and diet habits.  Usually only very painful or large hemorrhoids require surgical or other medical treatments.

Nonsurgical treatment procedures are used to help reduce the supply of blood flowing to a hemorrhoid which will cause the hemorrhoid to go away or shrink.  Scar tissue following the procedure helps to prevent the development of more hemorrhoids and helps with supporting anal tissue.

These types of procedures are also referred to as fixative procedures and include rubber band ligation (tying hemorrhoids off using a rubber band) and coagulation therapy through the use of electric current, lasers or heat to produce scar tissue.

Hemorrhoidectomy, or the removal of hemorrhoids through surgery, is sometimes used to remove either several small hemorrhoids from one area or large internal hemorrhoids.  Surgery may also be necessary if other types of hemorrhoid treatments have not been able to control the bleeding.

Best Hemorrhoid Treatment

At times a combination of surgery and fixative procedures may prove to be the most effective at treat hemorrhoids.  Better long term results may result from hemorrhoidectomy rather than fixative procedures, however surgery involves recovery times that are longer, is more expensive, and is often more painful and can result in more complications.  For individuals in poor health or over the age of 70, fixative procedures generally are the hemorrhoid treatment of choice.

Hemorrhoids Treatment at Home

There are several home hemorrhoid treatment options available that can be tried.

* Sitz Baths

Taking several 15-20 minute baths daily with warm water can help to decrease hemorrhoid inflammation.  The anal area should be dried off thoroughly following the bath.  This will help to minimize skin irritations around the anus.

* Changes to Diet

Increasing fiber and fluid intake reduces the likelihood of developing constipation and allows reduces the amount of pressure for the anus and rectum during bowel movements.  This helps to minimize additional bleeding, discomfort and swelling.  Stools can also be bulked up through the use of dietary fiber supplements.

* Stool Softeners

At times stool softeners can be helpful.  However, once hemorrhoids have developed, liquid stools can cause infection and inflammation in the anus.  Consult with your physician or other health care professional.
* Changes in Activity

It is not a good idea for individuals suffering from hemorrhoids to sit for extended amounts of time.  Sitting on rubber or air donuts, which can be purchased from many local pharmacies, can help to alleviate some pain.

It is also a good idea to engage in some physical exercise, which can help to reduce pressure on one’s hemorrhoidal veins and also help to reduce constipation.  Bowel movements should be performed as soon as one can.  If delayed, constipation can occur.

* Over-the-Counter Hemorrhoid Medications

There are many hemorrhoid suppositories, ointments and creams that are available for purchase over the counter.  They can help with hemorrhoid symptom relief but will not cure hemorrhoids.  A corticosteroid or numbing medication is often contained in the medications to help with decreasing swelling and inflammation.

Medical Hemorrhoid Treatments

* Prolapsed Internal Hemorrhoids

These hemorrhoids can often be pushed into the anus again. However, if the hemorrhoids stay swollen and outside the anus, infections can occur.  Surgery may become necessary.

* Thrombosed Hemorrhoids

These hemorrhoids are often quite painful.  They generally are hard and can’t be pushed back inside in.  With these situations, the clot inside the hemorrhoid is removed through making a small incision.

* Surgery

For persistent hemorrhoidal pain and bleeding there are several surgical options that are available.

Rubber band ligation on internal hemorrhoids is a procedure that can be performed at the doctor’s office.  A few tight rubber bands are placed by the surgeon around the hemorrhoidal vein’s base.  The surgeon places a couple of tight rubber bands around the base of the hemorrhoidal vein which cuts off the blood supply.

Sclerotherapy is a procedure where the hemorrhoid is injected with a chemical to cause scarring.

Laser therapy is used to harden and scar internal hemorrhoids.

Stapled hemorrhoidectomy is a new surgical procedure for the treatment of hemorrhoids.  The hemorrhoids themselves are not removed.  Instead the expanded and abnormally lax hemorrhoidal supporting tissue is removed.  This is much quicker and less painful procedure than traditional hemorrhoidectomy is.

Hemorrhoidectomy surgery is performed in an operating room  with sedation. This form of treatment involved the removal of the entire hemorrhoid.  This treatment is very aggressively and greatly reduces the chances of hemorrhoids reoccurring.  However complication rates also are increased.

Whatever form(s) of hemorrhoid treatment are used, a change in diet to increase roughage and fluids is recommended.