There are many different options for hemorrhoid pain relief, including pain relievers, warm baths, and products containing witch hazel or hydrocortisone. The type of treatment used might also depend on whether a person has internal or external hemorrhoids. Sometimes over-the-counter pain reliever and hemorrhoid products are not as effective for relieving pain associated with internal hemorrhoids as they are for external hemorrhoids. Doctors must occasionally inject internal hemorrhoids with a substance to make them become smaller or perform rubber band ligation to cut off the circulation if relief for this type of hemorrhoid is unattainable.
Pain relievers may sometimes help with hemorrhoid pain. Most of the time, over-the-counter pain medicine is adequate for treating the pain, but there are additionally stronger medicines that may be prescribed by a doctor for more severe pain symptoms. Pain medicine containing ibuprofen and acetaminophen is typically used for minor hemorrhoid pain. In addition to these medicines, a person might also find some hemorrhoid pain relief from using pads, creams, or ointments containing witch hazel and hydrocortisone. Witch hazel can help to soothe the irritation a person might experience from hemorrhoids, while hydrocortisone is considered useful for the itching.
There are also some things a person may be able to do at home for the relief of hemorrhoid pain. Warm baths tend to be very soothing for painful hemorrhoids, but it is probably a good idea for a person to avoid using any soap or other chemical-based bath additives to the water. This is because the chemicals in bath products might cause further irritation to hemorrhoids. A person who does not have time to take frequent baths may be able to get similar results with a sitz bath, which is just a shallow tub of warm water that can be placed on top of a toilet for the relief of hemorrhoids and other injuries relating to the anal area.
It might occasionally be necessary for a person suffering from hemorrhoids to have certain outpatient procedures or surgeries performed if hemorrhoid pain relief cannot be achieved. When people have injections or rubber band ligation done on their hemorrhoids, they typically do not have to stay overnight in the hospital, and in many cases their hemorrhoids do not recur after these procedures. People who have extremely severe hemorrhoid problems might be advised to undergo surgery for manual removal of their hemorrhoids, which normally does require a hospital stay. If a person's hemorrhoids are not responding to treatment from over-the-counter medications, it may be necessary to see a doctor about other options for hemorrhoid pain relief.