How to get rid of hemorrhoids forever?

A sedentary lifestyle and hemorrhoids – this combination does not surprise anyone, since the connection of this disease with physical inactivity is obvious. The concept of “hemorrhoids” has become an attribute of jokes and anecdotes, and, meanwhile, proctologist patients suffering from this disease are not in the mood for jokes at all. Hemorrhoids are not limited to pain in the anus and occasional discomfort. Severe forms of this disease threaten with complications such as vascular thrombosis, bleeding and other troubles that greatly complicate life. The problem of getting rid of varicose veins of the rectum, namely, this is the second name of this pathology, seems unsolvable to patients.

Is it possible to get rid of hemorrhoids forever?

This disease in many cases becomes chronic. It is not at all necessary that the prolapse of hemorrhoids and the pain associated with it will be a constant source of discomfort. Hemorrhoids is a disease in which the stages of exacerbation alternate with stages of remission, provided that the provoking factors temporarily recede into the background.

Not all doctors specializing in the treatment of hemorrhoids share the optimistic expectations of a complete cure for the disease. In their opinion, it is impossible to get rid of the cause of the expansion of the venous walls – their weakness. This irreversible process will not allow once discovered hemorrhoids to pass sooner or later into the category of cured ones, and relapses cannot be avoided. They advise to resort to surgical intervention, and get rid of the problem with the help of conservative methods of treatment.

Another part of the medical community of proctologists relies on statistics on patients who do not suffer from hemorrhoids, although they once experienced its manifestations. In particular, we are talking about pregnant women in whom the disease manifested itself not due to varicose veins, but due to completely different factors.

Proctologists believe that one should not rush to radical measures. You need to try to cope with the disease with milder means by changing the diet, regimen, lifestyle. With the timely start of treatment of unopened cases, it is possible to achieve a stable remission, which will last for life.

Can hemorrhoids pass by themselves?

The most irrational tactic is to postpone visiting the proctologist indefinitely, hoping that the symptoms of the disease will disappear by themselves. If they appeared and significantly worsened the quality of life, then the pathological process has been running for a long time.

The early stages of hemorrhoids proceed practically without symptoms, the appearance of its external signs indicates that treatment must be started without any delay. Especially often, proctologists have to deal with severe stages of internal hemorrhoids, since the development of a pathological internal process goes unnoticed by the patient for a very long time.

The venous walls in the later stages of the disease are so dilated and weakened that they form hemorrhoids that cannot return to their normal state without drastic measures.

The patient can count on the restoration of vascular tone and normalization of the blood flow of the rectal veins if he uses modern methods of treatment, restores physical activity, follows a diet and eliminates the provoking factors that led him to the disease. In this case, hemorrhoids will go into a long stage of remission.

The initial period of the disease is characterized by the absence of protrusion of hemorrhoids from the anus with external hemorrhoids, or into the rectum with the internal form of the disease. The only symptom is periodic discomfort that appears after straining during bowel movements, when lifting weights, after a long stay in a sitting position.

At this stage, it is still possible to achieve a complete and final remission. At the initial stage, the venous walls retain their tone, they are not yet thinned. The cavernous bodies of the rectum, although overflowing with blood under increased stress, are still able to return to their normal state when blood flow is restored.

This stage is the optimal time to prevent further development of the disease. Treatment of hemorrhoids at the initial stage will be able to stop its development, the transition to the next, more severe stage. The use of suppositories and drugs recommended by the proctologist will not be able to radically change the situation.

More effective measures are needed, a change in the whole way of life. For this, the patient should adhere to the following principles throughout his life: stabilization of body weight, normalization of the gastrointestinal tract in order to ensure regular stools, and the fight against physical inactivity.

What should be done to get rid of hemorrhoids forever?

To plan effective measures for the treatment of this disease, you need to get acquainted with the etiology of hemorrhoids. This pathology is based on congenital or acquired weakness of the venous network. The appearance of hemorrhoidal cones and associated bleeding appear as an early symptom rather quickly if vascular weakness is congenital.

The main causes of vein deformation in adult patients are prolonged exposure to a complex of conditions: high intra-abdominal pressure, blood stasis in the pelvic organs, trauma and irritation of the intestinal walls.

Factors causing these symptoms:

• Hypodynamia (hemorrhoids – an occupational disease of “white-collar workers” who spend the whole working day in a sitting position);

• Irrational nutrition (lack of regularity, deficiency of plant fiber in food with a preponderance towards protein foods, dry food) causes stool disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, dysbacteriosis;

• Problems with defecation (excessive pressure on the walls of the rectum and stretching them), prolonged sitting on the toilet, straining with pathological stool retention;

• Sports or physical work involving heavy lifting;

• Pregnancy, childbirth;

• Abuse of bad habits: drinking alcohol, nicotine (leads to vasospasm and circulatory disorders).

The method of complex treatment of hemorrhoids includes the following activities:

• Consultation with a proctologist or surgeon – clarification of the diagnosis, determination of the stage and type of hemorrhoids, recommendations for taking medications.

• Examination in order to determine whether there are concomitant chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, as well as treatment of anal fissures and inflammation of other organs.

• Combating constipation – bowel cleansing, the use of mild laxatives, nutrition aimed at loosening the stool. As a result of these measures, a regular stool should be established, the consistency of which does not irritate the rectum and anus.

• Normalization of nutrition: introducing a large amount of vegetable fiber, liquid into the diet, and removing gas-forming products from it, as well as food that irritates the intestines or causes constipation.

• Normalization of intestinal microflora.

• The fight against hypodynamia: performing therapeutic exercises (Kegel exercises for relaxation and contraction of the anal sphincter), performing a warm-up after a long stay in a sitting position. Refusal of strength training, weightlifting.

• Maintaining strict standards of anal hygiene: using wet wipes or soft toilet paper after a bowel movement, washing the anal area with cool water.

After considering the measures aimed at obtaining a stable remission, we will consider in detail the method of treating hemorrhoids.

How to get rid of external hemorrhoids

The reason for the development of external hemorrhoids is the stagnation of venous blood during overflow of the cavernous bodies under the skin and mucous membrane of the perianal region. At the first stage of the disease, small knots form around the anus, giving the patient discomfort during defecation, he experiences pain, itching and burning.

In the second stage, the affected veins become inflamed, the symptoms of the disease intensify. Pain in the anus becomes chronic, aggravated during movement. In the third stage of external hemorrhoids, the pain intensifies, the inflammatory process causes hyperthermia, it spreads to fatty tissue, large blue or purple hemorrhoids appear near the anus.

After diagnosing external hemorrhoids, along with measures aimed at the general improvement of the body, drug therapy is used:

• Phlebodia, Detralex, Anavenol – these systemic venotonics and their analogues are effective in the treatment of external hemorrhoids. Exacerbation of the disease involves a short course of medication, prevention of relapse – long-term medication.

• Ultraproct – drugs that eliminate local symptoms: swelling and inflammation.

• Heparin ointment and other anticoagulants in the form of ointments are drugs for the destruction of blood clots in hemorrhoids.

• Levomekol ointment and similar bactericidal agents are preparations for the prevention of infection of venous nodes.

• Relief Advance is a vasoconstrictor ointment for the treatment of bleeding lesions.

• Ginkor Forte, Asklezan A and other dietary supplements and preparations created for herbal medicine are an addition for the complex treatment of external hemorrhoids.

Exacerbation treatment regimen

Ice candles and cold compresses on the inflamed area are the most effective remedy in the first hours of exacerbation of external hemorrhoids. The vasospasm that occurs when exposed to cold pushes blood out of the hemorrhoids and serves as a prevention of vein thrombosis.

After relief of pain and swelling, the effect of cold is replaced by sitz baths with warm water. This measure is aimed at the destruction of blood clots. An additional effect is obtained from the use of anticoagulant ointments. If the symptoms persist, and the patient’s condition does not improve after the measures taken, drugs are used for external and internal use.

A radical measure in the complication of hemorrhoids is the behavior of a surgical operation to excise a blood clot (thrombectomy).

Removing external nodes

The high traumatism of operations to remove external hemorrhoids is due to the need for deep tissue dissection, so they are not widely used. Hemorrhoidectomy, in which external nodes are removed, is performed if there are serious indications – a severe course of the disease, the risk of complications.

Modern minimally invasive methods of treating external hemorrhoids, which practically do not give complications, are cryodestruction (treatment with liquid nitrogen), laser therapy, removal of hemorrhoidal cones using electrocoagulation.

How to get rid of internal hemorrhoids?

Symptoms of internal hemorrhoids do not cause discomfort to the patient for a long time. Provocative factors (physically hard work, heavy lifting, straining during bowel movements) lead to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. Violation of the normal outflow of blood causes the expansion of the veins of the rectum. This symptom is felt by the patient as the presence of a foreign body in the rectum or as a feeling of incomplete emptying during defecation.

In the following stages, an increase in the symptoms of the disease occurs: an increase in hemorrhoidal cones and their bulging into the lumen of the rectum. Pain increases, bleeding appears, as the venous nodes are constantly injured by stool.

At stages 3 and 4, another characteristic symptom of internal hemorrhoids appears – the venous nodes increase so much that they go beyond the anus during defecation. At the end of a bowel movement, they can spontaneously set back, however, the largest nodes of a patient with hemorrhoids are forced to set themselves.

Since the initial stage of the disease is diagnosed with great difficulty due to indistinct symptoms, in most cases the onset of external hemorrhoids goes unnoticed by the patient. Such patients turn to the proctologist already at the 2-3 stages of the disease.

 The choice of treatment tactics depends on the timely visit to the doctor. Prolapse and pinching of nodes, thrombosis of internal veins is a reason for surgical treatment. Treatment by a proctologist, started when the first symptoms of the disease appear, makes it possible to use exclusively conservative therapy. Its duration is determined by the symptoms and stage of hemorrhoids.

Medication

Medicines used for internal hemorrhoids:

• Detralex, Phlebodia, Vasoket – tablets and suppositories from the group of venotonics, which increase the tone and elasticity of the venous walls, strengthen them. They contain horse chestnut extract.

• Anti-inflammatory suppositories and ointments – relieve swelling and soreness. They can be classified as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), like suppositories with indomethacin, as well as hormonal drugs (which contain hydrocortisone).

• Troxevasin, Heparin – drugs from the group of thrombolytics that prevent the formation of blood clots in hemorrhoids. Available in the form of ointments and rectal suppositories.

• Analgesics – drugs that relieve pain, the method of use, both oral (tablets) and local (candles with menthol and belladonna for local anesthesia).

• Antiseptics – preparations for stopping the infection in the venous nodes affected by the pathological process (ichthyol ointment, microclysters with a decoction of chamomile and calendula).

• Preparations for the regeneration of venous walls – used to speed up the healing process (suppositories with sea buckthorn oil, propolis, methyluracil).

• Hemostatic drugs – are used in the form of suppositories (Thrombin) and tablets (Vikasol).

Surgical methods

Radical treatment of internal hemorrhoids has many surgical techniques in its reserve. Most of these are minimally invasive technologies that practically do not give complications.

These methods can be used to treat internal hemorrhoids up to stage 3 inclusive:

• Sclerotherapy – during this procedure, a scleroforming substance is injected into the hemorrhoid. As a result of its action, the walls of the venous node stick together and sealed, it undergoes destruction.

• Ligation – the imposition of latex rings on the vessels responsible for the blood supply of the hemorrhoid. The node dies within 7-8 days due to the fact that it does not receive blood.

• Laser coagulation and photocoagulation – a tip with a laser or light emitter is inserted into the rectum, pointwise heats the hemorrhoid, the walls of which are sclerosed, the node ceases to exist.

• Cryotherapy – exposure of the hemorrhoidal bump to liquid nitrogen, which has an extremely low temperature, the tissues of the node die off.

All these procedures use local anesthesia, they are not accompanied by blood loss, have no complications, do not require a long recovery period, can be performed in a day hospital or on an outpatient basis. The effect of such manipulations immediately makes itself felt: the symptoms of the disease do not disturb the patient, the hemorrhoids cease to exist, the patient experiences significant relief. However, the cause of the appearance of hemorrhoids by such methods is not excluded, the weakness of the vascular walls can lead to a relapse of the disease.

The advanced stages of internal hemorrhoids can be cured only by radical methods – hemorrhoidectomy (excision of nodes). In addition to removing hemorrhoidal cones, the surgeon sutures weak venous walls to strengthen them and prevent recurrence. Due to the complexity and trauma of such operations, they are performed under general anesthesia in a surgical department. The patient is hospitalized for a sufficiently long period, the recovery period after surgery takes from 2 to 4 weeks. Although both doctors and patients with advanced forms of hemorrhoids are reluctant to undergo such operations, there are cases in the medical practice of proctologists when this is the only acceptable method of getting rid of the disease.

Exercise for hemorrhoids

At any stage of hemorrhoids, it is impossible to quickly get into shape without physical exertion according to the patient’s strength, but physical therapy exercises that activate blood flow, strengthen the small pelvis, and increase venous tone are especially useful.

Physiotherapy exercises – exercises for hemorrhoids:

• Exercises from the “Kegel gymnastics” – squeezing and unclenching the muscles of the perineum, anal sphincter, relaxing and retracting the anus. Performed anytime and anywhere, they can be done standing, sitting, lying down.

• “Walking” on the floor on the buttocks – stimulates blood circulation in the legs and pelvic organs.

• Feasible push-ups from any position, pumping the abdominal muscles, you can not unnecessarily overstrain the abdominal wall.

• Hiking and running for 4-5 km, cycling are not recommended.

• Running up stairs.

• Squats as deep as possible from the starting position with legs wide apart.

• Soft jumps in place.

• Stand on the shoulder blades (“birch”).

• Stand on goals.

• Exercise “bicycle” – imitation of cycling with your legs in the air, lying on your back.

The last three exercises help to normalize the outflow of blood from the anus and problem areas, serve to prevent exacerbations of the disease, and help relieve discomfort.

Antihemorrhoid diet

A balanced diet, a properly selected diet, an orderly eating schedule are the basis for the treatment of hemorrhoids. The main principles of clinical nutrition:

• Exclusion from the diet of dishes with an irritating effect on the intestines (pickles, smoked meats, spicy and fried foods, spices, alcohol);

• Restriction in your menu of protein foods (meat products, eggs), which contributes to the thickening of the stool;

• Reducing the number of foods containing starch (bakery, rice, potatoes, pasta), provoking constipation;

• Increasing the proportion of fiber in your menu (bran, whole grain bread, fresh fruits and vegetables);

• Compliance with the optimal drinking regimen (at least 2 liters of fluid per day);

• The use of laxative products (dried apricots, prunes, apples, beets);

• Introduction to the diet of fermented milk products containing “live” bacteria.

Applying conservative methods of treatment of hemorrhoids, one should not miss symptoms such as acute pain, purulent discharge, heavy bleeding. Such complications require treatment in a hospital. Self-treatment of hemorrhoids is unacceptable, medical support is required at all stages – from prescribing treatment to monitoring the course of therapy.