A Look At The Four Main Types Of Non-Surgical Hemorrhoid Treatments

Posted on: 28 April 2020

No one likes to talk about it, but many people have the issue at some time in their lives. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins that surround the rectum, and they can get irritated with too much straining. While most people will see a hemorrhoidal flare-up subside soon after they realize they have a problem, there are other unfortunate souls who develop hemorrhoids that never seem to go away. Even though hemorrhoids are literally and figuratively a pain in the butt, they are actually relatively common to treat. Professionals have developed a list of non-surgical treatments for hemorrhoids that can be highly effective. Take a look at a few of those treatment options you may want to know about if you have hemorrhoids yourself. 

Rubber Band Ligation (RBL) Hemorrhoid Treatment 

Rubber band ligation, which is most often shortened to simply HBL, is perhaps the most common non-surgical treatment option for people with hemorrhoids. Just as it sounds, RBL involves banding the affected hemorrhoid so the blood flow to that part of the vein is blocked. The tissue eventually dies and falls off on its own, along with the band that was placed. This procedure is done as an outpatient treatment, and you will have some swelling and discomfort for a few days after the band is placed. However, as blood flow to the area has ceased, it also kills the nerve endings in that area, so soon after the band placement, you should hardly notice it is there. 

Injection Sclerotherapy 

Injection sclerotherapy is done to collapse the walls of a vein, and the procedure is done for other reasons like varicose veins. The injection is a salt solution that basically dehydrates the vessels of the vein so it will inherently collapse. For people who have smaller hemorrhoids that will not go away, injection sclerotherapy is a relatively quick and easy procedure. Pain is also minimal, and recovery times are fast. 

Anal Dilation and Hemorrhoid Ligation 

Anal dilation involves using medical devices to widen the anal opening, which allows stool to pass through more easily so hemorrhoids are less exacerbated during bowel movements. Ligation with a rubber band is also often performed with anal dilation methods. In studies involving anal dilation for hemorrhoids, the procedure has proven to be quite effective for patients when compared to those who had hemorrhoids surgically removed. With the anal dilation method, recovery times were considerably faster and most patients reported less pain in one study of 50 patients. 

To learn more, contact a resource like The Oregon Hemorrhoid Clinic.

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