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Internal Hemorrhoid Treatment

Hemorrhoids appear on the interior or exterior walls of the anus due to swollen veins. When the veins start to swell on the inside of the anal canal, the condition is known as internal hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids can be caused by constipation, diarrhea and pregnancy due to pressure placed on the area. Since internal hemorrhoids can prove painful, you should discuss treatment options with your doctor.

  1. The Facts

    • If you have internal hemorrhoids, you typically suffer from the same type of symptoms as external hemorrhoids. The most obvious symptom is pain or discomfort emanating from the anal canal. Bleeding is a common sign as well, especially during bowel movements. The blood could be seen on the stool or on the toilet paper used to wipe. It is fairly common for mucus to be seen during bowel movements when a person has internal hemorrhoids. Other feeling of discomfort may be apparent, such as itching and irritation around the rectum.

    Identification

    • To confirm diagnosis of internal hemorrhoids prior to treatment, your doctor will need to inspect the area by performing a rectal exam. The physician will feel the surface of the area with a gloved finger to feel for abnormalities. With internal hemorrhoids, a scope with a light may be used to examine the interior of the rectum.

    Types

    • In some cases, the doctor may permit you to treat the internal hemorrhoids on your own, especially if they are not severely inflamed or swollen. He'll instruct you to drink plenty of water and eat a fiber rich diet in order to encourage bowel movements. If you are constipated, an over-the-counter stool softener may be recommended. A cream with hydrocortisone can be applied to the rectum to help relieve any itching you may feel from the internal hemorrhoids.

    Features

    • In more severe cases, a doctor may try different non-surgical methods to get rid of the internal hemorrhoids. This could include rubber band ligation, where the hemorrhoids are surrounded with rubber bands in order to cut off the blood supply. Another alternative is a therapy that involves using chemical injections to close the veins and shrink the internal hemorrhoids.

    Considerations

    • If home treatment and non-surgical methods are unsuccessful, you may need to have surgery in order to remove the internal hemorrhoids. This procedure, known as a hemorrhoidectomy involves surgically cutting away the hemorrhoids.

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