Treatments
Rubber Band Ligation
Rubber band ligation is one of the most commonly administered forms of treatment for hemorrhoids. A small incision is made near the hemorrhoid tissue. Then one or two rubber bands are placed around and covering the tissue, cutting off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid and causing it to wither and fall off by itself in five to six days. This method is effective in treating internal hemorrhoids and it involves minimal risk and pain.
Sitz Bath
In the Sitz bath method, the patient sits in a bath tub filled with warm water reaching up to his/her anal region. The warm water often reduces the pain and discomfort associated with hemorrhoids. The patient repeats this method six to seven times a day for 15 to 20 minutes each time.
Hemorrhoidectomy
Doctors commonly recommend surgery to patients with severe, unbearable pain and discomfort due to the hemorrhoids. The surgical procedure is known as hemorrhoidectomy. In this method, the excessive hemorrhoid tissues along with some of the surrounding normal tissues are cut off to reduce the patient’s pain.
Stapling
This procedure, called stapled hemorrhoidectomy or stapled hemorrhoidopexy, blocks blood flow to hemorrhoidal tissue. Stapling generally involves less pain than hemorrhoidectomy and allows an earlier return to work. Compared with hemorrhoidectomy, however, stapling has been associated with a greater risk of recurrence and rectal prolapse, in which part of the rectum protrudes from the anus (see this ScienceDaily article).
Medications
Creams, ointments and medicines are commonly recommended to hemorrhoid patients by their doctors. According to a Mayo clinic report, a majority of these creams and medicines contain witch hazel or hydrocortisone, which help diminish the hemorrhoid’s size and eventually leads them to wither and fall off. The creams are generally given for a period of seven to 10 days. Overusing them can cause side effects like rashes and thinning of skin.
Other Treatments
Sclerotherapy and coagulation are other common hemorrhoid treatments. In sclerotherapy, chemicals are injected into the hemorrhoid, damaging the hemorrhoid tissues and thus curing the condition.
In the coagulation method, the tissues of the hemorrhoids are subjected to extreme heat and high energy radiation. This exposure often causes the hemorrhoids to reduce in size and eventually fall off.
