Natural Methods For Treating A Thrombosed External Hemorrhoid

Hemorrhoids are caused when the veins around the rectum and anus become swollen and inflamed. Hemorrhoids can occur internally or externally.

External hemorrhoids occur when the blood vessels outside of the rectum become inflamed. External hemorrhoids are usually more painful than internal. If an external hemorrhoid becomes thrombosed the pain can be excruciating.

Thrombosed external hemorrhoids occur when blood clots form in the small vein located within the anal skin.

A thrombosed external hemorrhoid is extremely painful but is not a serious medical condition and usually will rectify itself without medical treatment over a couple of weeks. However, due to the severity of the pain associated with an external thrombosed hemorrhoid most suffers look for ways to relieve the pain.

There are several things that you can do to alleviate some of the pain associated with external thrombosed hemorrhoids such as avoiding being constipated, taking warm sitz baths, avoid sitting for long periods of time, over the counter anti-inflammatory pain medications and reducing activities that aggravate the hemorroid.

Eat A Diet High In Fiber - Eating a high fiber diet, to include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables along with drinking plenty of water will help alleviate constipation and reduce the need to strain when passing stool. Constipation is one of the major causes of hemorrhoid flare ups, as the excess straining puts pressure on the veins in the rectum causing them to expand and become irritated.

Warm Sitz Baths - Sitting in a warm tub of water 2 or 3 times a day for 15 - 20 minutes will help soothe the pain from the thrombosed external hemorrhoid and assist in reducing the swelling. The warm water is soothing to the area and will provide some well needed pain relief.

Do Not Sit For Hours On End - Instead of sitting in one spot for extended periods of time, make it a point to get up and move about every couple of hours. Sitting for long periods of time is thought to be one of the causes of hemorrhoids. Therefore, getting up for a few minutes every two hours will help to alleviate some of the pressure that may cause hemorrhoids to occur.

Use Over The Counter Hemorrhoid Creams - Even though the creams will not help to get rid of your hemorrhoids, they do help soothe the area and provide relief from the itching and irritation you may be experiencing.

Over The Counter Pain Relievers- Thrombosed external hemorrhoids respond well to over the counter pain medications such as aleve, tylenol and motrin that contain anti inflammatory properties. These products are effective at reducing pain and swelling associated with external hemorrhoids.

Incorporate Exercise Into Your Daily Routine - Exercising for a 15 to 20 minutes daily will help improve your over well health and well being. It will also make it easier for food to flow through your digestive system and pass through the body without additional straining.

Thrombosed external hemorrhoids will usually clear up on their own without the need for medical intervention. However, If two weeks go by and your condition has shown no improvement or continues to get worse, you should consult with your physician for other alternatives for curing your hemorrhoids.

If the natural remedies listed above are unsuccessful in curing your external thrombosed hemorrhoids, there are other options available such as:

Sclerotherapy - With sclerotherapy a chemical solution is applied to the hemorrhoid to shrink it. 

Hemorrhoidectomy - This is where the hemorrhoid is removed surgically.  This method is very painful and there is no guarantee that your hemorrhoids will not return.

Infrared Coagulation - With this method, a laser is used to burn off the the thrombosed external hemorrhoid.

Rubber Band Litigation - With rubber band litigation, a rubber band is tied around the hemorrhoid to cut off the blood supply to the vein and kill the hemorrhoid.

These techniques are usually only necessary in cases of severe hemorrhoids.  Before opting for any type of surgical removal, it is best to try alternative natural methods.