7 ways to relieve hemorrhoid pain (and speed up treatment)

To alleviate the discomfort caused by hemorrhoids, you can take sitz baths, eat foods rich in fiber, increase your water intake during the day, practice physical activity or avoid using toilet paper so as not to injure the anal region, as these measures They help relieve pain and treat hemorrhoids faster, especially when you cannot take medication, as happens during pregnancy.

It is also important to consult a proctologist so that the hemorrhoids are evaluated and, thus, the need to use analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications, such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen, ointments such as Proctyl or Ultraproct, or surgery, in the most serious cases, in that the hemorrhoid is “stuck” in the anus, for example.

How to relieve hemorrhoid pain

Some important precautions to treat and relieve the pain of hemorrhoids are:

1. Eat a diet rich in fiber

To help treat and prevent hemorrhoids from worsening, you should increase your consumption of foods rich in fiber, such as brown rice, bread with cereals, flaxseed and wheat germ, as they help to make stools softer, which makes it easier to function. of the intestine and reduces pain when going to the bathroom.

2. Drink 2 liters of water a day

Drinking around 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day helps keep the stool well hydrated and facilitates its elimination, greatly reducing pain when defecating and facilitating the healing of the hemorrhoid.

3. Go to the bathroom as soon as you feel like it

Another strategy that can help a lot to alleviate pain when using the bathroom is to go to the bathroom whenever you feel like it. This ensures that the stool is eliminated while it is still hydrated, which decreases pain and reduces pressure on the hemorrhoid.

People who wait a long time to go to the bathroom usually end up having drier stools, which cause discomfort when eliminated and can worsen hemorrhoids.

4. Avoid using toilet paper

Although toilet paper is one of the most used ways to clean up after using the bathroom, it may not be a good option when you suffer from hemorrhoids. This happens because the paper is usually irregular and can cause irritation in the anal area, increasing discomfort.

It is recommended to use a shower or use a wet wipe, for example.

5. Exercise regularly

Exercising regularly, such as walking or swimming, stimulates bowel function and makes the stool more molded, helping it come out more easily and reducing pain.

6. Apply an ointment for hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoid ointments, such as Hemovirtus, Proctyl or Ultraproct, are widely used in the treatment of hemorrhoids because they have vasoconstrictive, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

The ointments must be recommended by the doctor and applied directly to the hemorrhoid, with a gentle massage, 2 to 3 times a day, for the duration of the treatment. Discover all the ointments for hemorrhoids.

7. Take sitz baths

Sitz baths are a great natural treatment for hemorrhoids that can be done with just warm water about 3 to 4 times a day, as warm water helps to relieve pain and discomfort.

To take a sitz bath, simply fill a large basin with warm water and sit in it, without underwear, for about 20 minutes or until the water cools.

Sitz baths can be more effective if plants with anti-inflammatory and vasopressor properties are added to the water.

See the following video on how to prepare some sitz baths for hemorrhoids:

Signs of improvement

Signs of improvement in hemorrhoids include relief of pain and discomfort, especially when evacuating and sitting, the disappearance of blood during bowel movements or after cleaning the anal region and the disappearance of one or more puffiness in the anal region, in the case of hemorrhoids. external.

Signs of worsening

Signs of worsening hemorrhoids include increased pain and discomfort, especially when sitting or having a bowel movement, an increase in the size of the lump(s) in the anus, and an increase in blood in the stool or on the toilet paper after a bowel movement.