Piles Treatment: 3 Tips to get Instant Relief

Although the body can heal piles on its own, the condition can be quite troublesome for people to carry on with their day-to-day chores. Fortunately, there are numerous piles treatment options available to ease the discomfort and remove the affected parts. However, in most cases, a person with piles does not require a doctor’s visit for haemorrhoid treatment, and home remedies are enough to soothe the pain and discomfort.

Let’s explore more about piles and different treatment options available for the condition along with its causes and symptoms.

What are Piles?

Haemorrhoids inside the rectum and/or around the anus are known as piles. Haemorrhoids are basically swollen and irritated blood vessels. They are quite common amongst people of all genders, and about one in every two people get it by the age of 50 years. Piles can occur for many reasons, but they usually heal with time naturally without the need of medical intervention.

Haemorrhoids can also be painful at times and cause trouble in bowel movements. Depending on their location, haemorrhoids are divided into two categories—internal haemorrhoids (occurring inside the rectum, which is a muscular tube at the end of large intestines) and external haemorrhoids occurring the edge of anus. Internal haemorrhoids are further classified into 4 grades based on the severity, where Grade I suggests that a person has small haemorrhoids that remain in the rectum, and Grade IV suggests that the haemorrhoids prolapses (falls out of the rectum) and cannot be pushed back in.

Symptoms of Piles

Some of the most common symptoms of piles are listed here:

1. Bleeding during or after bowel movement (excretion)
2. Irritation or itching in and around the anus
3. Swollen (and sometimes hard) lumps in the anal region
4. Difficulty in excreting

Please note that these symptoms are similar to the symptoms of some other ailments of the digestive system such as colon cancer and anal fissures. Thus, it is better to visit your doctor to confirm the actual cause behind these symptoms.

Causes of Piles

Piles are largely common, and many reasons can be the cause behind them. These reasons may include:

1. Prolonged or chronic constipation or diarrhoea
2. Too much straining during bowel movements or sitting for too long, especially on the toilet seat
3. Obesity
4. Heavy lifting
5. Old age
6. Family history of piles
7. Pregnancy

Please note that anal intercourse may also cause piles and inflame existing haemorrhoids.

Diagnosis of Piles

Usually, people see a general physician after seeing blood during/after poo or in their underwear. A doctor might conduct a physical examination of your anus to check for lumps, tears, or prolapsed internal haemorrhoids during your visit and order some tests to eliminate the possibility of other diseases, such as colon cancer. The doctor might also use an anoscope (a small device) to check the inside of the rectum.

Treatment Options for Piles

With the advancement of technology, people can now avail minimally invasive treatment procedures for piles if the home remedies do not work. Here are some of the common treatments used for piles:

Home Remedies for Piles

The following home remedies are ideal for less severe piles that show signs of improvement:

1. Fibre supplements: These supplements can soften the stool and reduce constipation. Examples: Citrucel and Metamucil.
2. Cold compresses and ice packs: They can help alleviate pain.
3. Sitz bath: Sitting for a while in warm water is also helpful in reducing pain.

Medication for Piles

Most medicines for treating piles symptoms are usually over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, but you should talk to your doctor in case of any doubt or confusion.

1. Ointments and/or topical creams
   Topical creams (especially those containing zinc oxide) used for treating external haemorrhoids are efficient in reducing discomfort, itching, and swelling.
   Examples: Shield rectal ointment and Anovate cream.
   There are few steroid creams, such as hydrocortisone, that can reduce inflammation, but you shouldn’t use them for a long time.
2. Analgesics
   OTC pain blockers can be taken if you experience more than bearable pain to immediate relief, but you should always consult your doctor to avoid any mishaps.
   Examples: ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
3. Local anaesthetic
   These work by reducing the pain sensation and/or numbing the area.
   Example: lidocaine.
   Please note that the information mentioned here is only for informative purposes, and you should consult with your doctor first before trying any new medication.

Non-surgical Piles Treatment

The following approaches can help in treating piles and led a doctor remove haemorrhoids with minimally invasive methods without any surgery. The methods mentioned here work by cutting off the haemorrhoids’ blood supply causing them to shrink and/or fall off eventually.

1. Rubber band litigation
   This technique, an outpatient procedure, involves tying the haemorrhoid with an elastic band at the base.
2. Electrocoagulation
   In this technique the doctor sends a low electric current into the base of a haemorrhoid to scar the tissue.
3. Infrared photocoagulation
   This procedure, also known as laser treatment for piles, involves shining infrared light at internal haemorrhoid, causing the area to heat and the tissues to scar.
4. Sclerotherapy
   This technique involves injecting a sclerotherapy solution directly into the vein to cause scarring.

Piles Treatment with Surgery

Although it is not common for people to undergo surgery to treat piles, sometimes, the doctor may decide that it is safe to remove an outgrown haemorrhoids to prevent other complications. The process of removing a haemorrhoid by cutting it off is generally known as a haemorrhoidectomy. Another way of treating piles is to staple a prolapsed haemorrhoid to the rectum walls. The patient is usually given general anaesthesia and discharged the same day if there are no signs of complication.

General Recovery Time

Usually, small haemorrhoids go away naturally in a few days, but larger ones may require a doctor’s intervention. However, after a haemorrhoidectomy, a person can return to normal activities in about a week or two. Since piles is a common ailment you may hear people making claims of piles being cured in 3 days; you should be vary of such claims as they might be scamming you.

Final Word

People often worry about piles if they don’t know much about the disease as it is natural to get scared on seeing blood in the poo. However, piles are a common and mostly non-fatal condition that often heal on its own. There are certain things a person can do to prevent getting piles—eating enough fibre, drinking plenty of fluids, leading a physically active life, and avoiding heavy lifting and pushing too hard during bowel movements.

People who have had piles once are more likely to develop haemorrhoids again, but by leading a healthier lifestyle and following the doctor’s instructions, they can manage their condition better and prevent piles from reoccurring.