When Hemorrhoids Won't Go Away

Almost everyone has come across the experience of suffering from an ailment that seems to refuse to go away. Imagine the frustration if this ailment happens to be hemorrhoids. Not only can hemorrhoids be a potentially embarrassing affliction, the real frustration lies in its persistency. Many individuals have known the pain of chronic hemorrhoids. They follow prescribed treatment plans to a tee, and even experiment with non-traditional herbal remedies, all to no avail. So what should you do if you think you have an unshakable case of hemorrhoids? Is there anything you can do? And how do you know if you suffer from chronic hemorrhoids that require medical attention, and maybe even surgical correction? Read on to find out the best plan of action when hemorrhoids just won't go away.

If you suspect you have hemorrhoids, but have not yet received a proper diagnosis from a physician, this should be your first step. The first thing you will need to know in order to organize a 'plan of attack' against your hemorrhoids is to learn about the circumstances surrounding your specific condition. You will either be diagnosed with external or internal hemorrhoids. External hemorrhoids are those that develop outside the anus, or at the very rim of it. Many times, external hemorrhoids resemble a small cluster of grapes. External hemorrhoids are usually the most painful kind of hemorrhoids, proving to be very sensitive, and even very painful to the touch. Internal hemorrhoids are not as painful, and often patients who suffer from the internal form of hemorrhoids are not even aware of it.

Once you have been accurately diagnosed, your physician will lay out a treatment plan. Initially, your treatment plan will probably be directed at alleviating the most strenuous symptoms of the condition. Your doctor will probably direct you to make several changes aimed at helping ease the painful symptoms most commonly associated with external hemorrhoids. For instance, your doctor may advise you to take several warm baths a day, and to apply ice packs to the afflicted areas. These 'home treatments' can go far in terms of symptom relief. Witch hazel, often in the form of popular commercial brand Tucks pads, are also used to treat mild symptoms of hemorrhoids. Your doctor may also prescribe an alternative diet that is high in fiber, and will warn you against straining when using the toilet, as this may cause significant pain, and even damage to the afflicted areas.

If even after implementing these changes into your lifestyle and diet doesn't provide significant relief, you may be a candidate for several procedures that are reserved for harder to treat cases. Surgical intervention may sometimes be the only option left for those who have long suffered from the condition. One of the most common forms of hemorrhoid surgery is known as a hemorrhoidectomy, which involves the surgical removal of the hemorrhoid(s). Other viable options for hard to treat cases may include infrared coagulation, sclerosing of the hemorrhoid, and stapling of the hemorrhoid. Although these procedures may sound a bit painful, they are regarded as safe, and most importantly, very effective.