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By Hemorrhoid.com | August 3, 2024
Did you know about rubber band ligation? It’s a common non-surgical method that helps around 80% of patients1. This fact shows how effective non-surgical solutions can be in Canada.
It’s key to know your choices for treating hemorrhoids in Canada. This knowledge can greatly improve how you manage this uncomfortable issue. Many find relief with home remedies, such as changing their diet, drinking more water, and using creams like Preparation H. When these don’t work, procedures like rubber band ligation or coagulation therapies are there to help2. Surgical routes, like a hemorrhoidectomy or THD, might be needed for tough cases.
Choosing non-surgical options often means less risk and pain compared to surgery. This leads to healing faster and getting back to everyday life swiftly1. Still, it’s vital to think about the benefits of easing symptoms versus possible risks. Also, check if treatments are covered by insurance or if you’ll need to pay yourself.
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your bottom. They can be inside or outside3. Around 5% of people in developed countries get them4. About 75% of folks might have them at some point in their lives.
Internal hemorrhoids happen more than external ones. About 4% of people have internal, while 2% get external hemorrhoids4. Internal ones usually don’t hurt but can itch or make you feel like you need to go to the bathroom. They might also stick out.
External hemorrhoids can really hurt. They’re right at the entrance of your bottom.
Internal hemorrhoids might make you bleed when you use the bathroom. Half of the people with this issue bleed4. You might also feel uncomfortable when going number two. Trouble keeping clean might be a sign too. Many see their symptoms get better with simple home care in about a week.
To avoid hemorrhoids, it’s good to know what causes them. Straining, sitting a lot, being overweight, or being pregnant can make you more likely to get them. Being pregnant is especially risky, with 38% of women in their last three months getting hemorrhoids3.
Eating lots of fiber and staying hydrated can help. So can exercising without overdoing it. Make sure you get checked by a doctor if you’re bleeding. It could be something else3.
Using home remedies is a great way to manage hemorrhoids. Adding sitz baths, special diets, and creams to your daily life can help lessen symptoms. They also speed up the healing process.
Eating more fiber is key for treating hemorrhoids at home. According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines, you should get 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories you eat. This equals about 28 grams on a 2,000 calorie diet5. Foods high in fiber, like fruits, veggies, and whole grains, can reduce bleeding6. If you can’t eat enough fiber-rich foods, try fiber supplements like psyllium (Metamucil) or methylcellulose (Citrucel)5. Also, drink 12-16 cups of water every day to make bowel movements easier5.
For quick relief, topical creams can help. Over-the-counter options include ingredients like lidocaine and hydrocortisone which lessen pain and swelling6. Dr. Jeremy Lipman recommends aloe vera for its anti-inflammatory benefits. However, he warns against using apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil due to possible risks7. Hemorrhoid.com and Revivol-XR offer a variety of products to ease discomfort and protect the area.
Sitz baths are super helpful for hemorrhoids. Sitting in warm water for 15 minutes, especially after going to the bathroom, eases itching7. You can add Epsom salt or witch hazel for more relief. Keeping the area clean and not waiting to go to the bathroom are also important6. If you don’t see improvement in a week, you should talk to a doctor6.
In Canada, people looking for non-surgical hemorrhoid treatments have good options. Rubber band ligation and coagulation therapy can help. They are great for internal hemorrhoids that home treatments cannot fix.
Rubber band ligation is a way to treat internal hemorrhoids. It ties off hemorrhoids at the base with rubber bands. This makes them shrink and fall off. Most times, this is done in under a minute and works well 80% of the time8. But, it can sometimes cause pain and bleeding8. In places like Ontario and British Columbia, health insurance covers it. This means many can get the treatment9.
Before choosing this option, talking to a doctor is important. They can tell if it’s right for you and help get a referral9. Although it’s often successful, it doesn’t work for about 20% of people8.
Coagulation therapy includes treatments like laser and infrared. These use heat or light to make scar tissue. This tissue stops the blood flow to the hemorrhoid, making it smaller. Laser treatments are effective but might need more than one session8.
These treatments have some risks, like pain or infection, but they’re usually less painful. They also allow for a quick return to work8. You can go back to your daily life the same day after treatment10.
Finding these treatments is easy in big Canadian cities like Toronto and Vancouver9. If you’re considering non-surgical options, check your health insurance. And talk to a specialist to see what’s best for you.
When simpler treatments don’t work, doctors may suggest surgery for severe hemorrhoids. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons lists hemorrhoidectomy and Transanal Hemorrhoidal Dearterialization (THD) as top surgical choices. These are best for patients with more advanced conditions1112.
Hemorrhoidectomy means removing hemorrhoids surgically. It’s a lasting solution. This method cuts out large, bothersome hemorrhoids. It’s very successful at easing severe symptoms. Yet, recovering from it can hurt and might take weeks11.
ProctoCan in Toronto offers this surgery with great care after the operation. This helps patients recover more comfortably12.
THD is a surgery that’s less harsh. Surgeons tie off the blood vessels going to the hemorrhoids. This lowers symptoms without removing too much tissue. THD is liked for its shorter recovery and less pain afterwards. The success of this surgery greatly depends on the surgeon’s skill and the care you get after1113.
Places like ProctoCan offer THD. They provide care tailored to what each patient needs.
Choosing between hemorrhoidectomy or THD is important. Think about possible risks, how skilled your surgeon is, and the care you’ll get afterwards. Centers like ProctoCan offer these surgeries. They aim for the best outcomes and happy patients1112.
In Canada, you can treat hemorrhoids in various ways. Simple home treatments like adjusting your diet, drinking more fluids, and applying creams like Preparation H help. If these don’t work, you might try non-surgical methods such as rubber band ligation and coagulation therapies. For tough cases, surgery options like hemorrhoidectomy and Transanal Hemorrhoidal Dearterialization (THD) are available.
Internal hemorrhoids hide inside the rectum and are usually painless. They can lead to itching, mucus discharge, and hemorrhoids slipping out. External hemorrhoids form near the anus and often hurt a lot.
Common signs include bleeding and discomfort during bowel movements. You might also feel itchy, feel a lump, have mucus discharge, and find cleaning difficult due to bulging hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids happen when there’s too much pressure in the rectum. This can come from straining too hard, sitting for long periods, being overweight, or during pregnancy. This pressure causes the veins to swell in and around your anus.
Eating more fiber and drinking enough water makes stool softer. This helps avoid straining when going to the bathroom, lowering hemorrhoid risk. Good sources of fiber are fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
Yes, creams with witch hazel, hydrocortisone, or phenylephrine help by easing, protecting, and reducing swelling. Over-the-counter products like medicated wipes and creams can also be helpful.
Sitz baths using Epsom salts and witch hazel can soothe irritation and aid healing. Keeping the area clean and using over-the-counter meds can also ease symptoms.
Non-surgical options include rubber band ligation, which cuts off the hemorrhoid’s blood supply. Coagulation treatments use lasers or infrared light to create scar tissue, stopping blood flow. These methods are less painful and require shorter recovery times.
A hemorrhoidectomy surgically removes hemorrhoids. It’s a lasting fix for severe cases but recovery can be tough, taking a few weeks.
THD is a surgery that ties off the blood vessels to hemorrhoids, reducing their size. It’s less invasive than a hemorrhoidectomy, leading to an easier recovery and fewer complications.
