What Is Thrombosed External Hemorrhoid And Its Treatment

Hemorrhoids are much more painful in patients who have a thrombosed external hemorrhoid. Thrombosed means blood-filled and external hemorrhoids are those located in the vicinity of the anus. A hemorrhoid becomes thrombosed after its blood supply is cut off. This results in the formation of a blood clot in the hemorrhoid. Due to the pressure on the tissue and nerves due to the blood, a symptom of thrombosed hemorrhoids are fairly painful.

Surgery is usually indicated by a doctor in patients afflicted with a thrombosed external hemorrhoid. Although temporarily thrombosed hemorrhoids may respond to cortisone creams, the pain usually returns, because the cortisone treatment only relieves the pain temporarily. The patient cannot wait to relieve the moderate to high pain until the pressure in the blood-filled hemorrhoid is relieved through excision.

It is always better to prevent a condition than to treat it. A thrombosed external hemorrhoid can be avoided by preventing constipation, hard stools, straining during defecation, and eating a high fiber whole grain containing diet. Many effective fiber supplements are available at most pharmacists on an over-the-counter basis. Besides this, you can also go in for stool softeners such as Colace or Senokot. These are also easily available on the same basis.

Since a thrombosed external hemorrhoid develops gradually, taking the above early action can help you to avoid this painful condition. Certain medicines such as Preparation H can help shrink external hemorrhoids before they transpose into thrombosed hemorrhoids. The cream contains hydrocortisone which besides its shrinking action also relieves itching, pain, and burning associated with these hemorrhoids.

In case, the above techniques do not work, surgery is the way to go. It involves surgically cutting away the thrombosed tissue. This usually requires a small cut to be made to ooze away the blood from the hemorrhoid. This helps in the immediate relief from pain sensed by the sensitive nerves. The cut is usually made under local anesthesia as the procedure involves a lot of pain.

Bleeding is the most common complication after thrombosed hemorrhoid surgery. It can be easily controlled with the application of direct pressure to the site of bleeding. If bleeding does not stop even with direct pressure, cauterization with silver nitrate or a surgical stitch can be used to stem it. Post operative advice involves sitz baths in warm water and ibuprofen for pain control.

Laser surgery is also a safer alternative for a thrombosed hemorrhoid. It is considered less invasive, is less painful, and there is less infection risk associated with this advanced procedure. It is costlier than traditional surgery.

Sometimes, treatment via non-surgical procedures or through natural products may also make a thrombosed external hemorrhoid respond well, provided enough time is available at your disposal. However, most people prefer the surgical method as it quickly relieves pain.

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