I remember the pain and discomfort when I suffered from hemorrhoids after the normal delivery of my 4 kids. The extreme pushing during labor resulted in my hemorrhoids acting up for days. I could not sit normally and every bowel movement was excruciating. Thankfully, the situation would clear up after a couple of weeks.
But that got me thinking about the many other men and women who suffered daily from hemorrhoids. Some suffer the milder form – internal hemorrhoids. These are usually not painful although they may bleed. But others who are less fortunate suffer extreme pain from hemorrhoids where the veins are already outside the anus. These can be itchy or painful and sometimes crack and bleed.
Current Hemorrhoid Treatments
Often, lifestyle changes, topical medications and good hygiene are all that is needed to reduce the symptoms of hemorrhoids. In my case, after my normal deliveries, the pain just cleared up after a couple of weeks on its own. However, in a certain percentage of sufferers, surgery may be required. To-date, here are some invasive treatments done:
1. Rubber band ligation – this is performed on persons whose internal hemorrhoids have fallen outside the anus. It involves pulling the hemorrhoidal tissue into a double-sleeved cylinder to allow the placement of latex/rubber bands around the tissue. Over time, the tissue below the bands die off and is eliminated during bowel movement. This can be performed in the doctor’s office and requires little preparion.
2. Traditional hemorrhoidectomy – Excess tissue causing bleeding or protrusion is cut away under anesthesia. This requires hospitalization and absence from work for an average of 6 weeks. After-recovery is difficult due to discomfort and pain experienced by the patient. Employees usually lose about 20 days of work.
3. Cryotherapy (freezing the hemorrhoidal tissue) – This is a very painful procedure.
4. Bipolar Diathermy Coagulation (BICAP) and direct current – These techniques shrink the hemorrhoids and cause the tissue to die.
PPH: A Faster and Less Painful Option
Recently, Medical City announced the availability of a surgical option, developed by Dr. Antonio Longo of the St. Elizabeth Hospital in Vienna, which is modern, faster and less painful. It is called Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids or PPH.