HEALTH PRODUCTS ARTICLE
Hemorrhoids Surgery as a Last Resort
Hemorrhoids are nearly always a transient condition. However, if severe hemorrhoids persist or are recurrent in spite of good hygiene practices, home care remedies, a healthy diet, and regular exercise, surgery as a last resort may be necessary for enduring relief.Surgery, or
a hemorrhoidectomy, is required in less than 1 percent of cases and
should be
considered only when all other treatments have failed. Depending on the
location and severity of the offending hemorrhoids, minimally invasive
procedures can be performed with local anesthesia in a surgeon’s office
or on
an outpatient basis.
While still
unpleasant and painful, the aftercare and recovery time associated with
these
procedures are significantly less than with major surgery. Less
invasive
techniques block the blood supply to the hemorrhoid causing it to die
and
slough off.
One such
procedure is rubber band ligation (RBL), whereby a physician places a
band
around the base of the hemorrhoid, strangulating the blood flow.
Similarly,
stapling devices also interrupt circulation to hemorrhoids and tend to
be less
painful than RBL.
Laser
coagulation and heat coagulation create a blockage by forming a clot in
the
blood vessel. Another method, sclerotherapy, uses a hardening solution
injected
into the hemorrhoid causing it to shrivel and eventually fall off.
Treatment
with major surgery is necessary to remove large, severe, often
prolapsed,
internal hemorrhoids. The same risks and post-operative care, along
with a
longer recovery time, inherent with any major surgery can be expected. This type of
hemorrhoidectomy involves removal
through surgical incisions made around the base of the hemorrhoid to
excise it
completely.
Recovery
time from a major hemorrhoidectomy is about 3 weeks. Bleeding is normal
and
antibiotics are often prescribed to prevent infection. Ice packs may be
used in
addition to the prescribed and over-the counter medication to numb the
pain
from the incisions. Frequent soaks in warm sitz baths are recommended
to ease
discomfort and muscle spasms.
While
treatment through major surgery is the most painful and difficult to
recover
from, it is also the treatment least likely to see a recurrence of
hemorrhoids.
But because of its radical nature and lingering effects, surgery is
impractical
for most sufferers of hemorrhoids. Unless hemorrhoids are chronic and
severe,
treatment with surgery is more unpleasant and painful than the
hemorrhoids
themselves.
Health and Humor
Voltaire
(and your grandmother) recognized long ago
that humor and laughter are good for you. You've probably noticed
yourself that
you simply feel better after a good belly laugh. The problem, of
course, is
that your sense of humor generally abandons you right when you need it
the most
– on the tough days. But if you manage to bring your sense of humor to
your
daily conflicts on your job, your relationship with your spouse and
children,
and your health or financial problems, you'll go a long way toward
improving
the quality of your life; and you'll boost your physical health and
well-being.
– Paul E. McGhee, PhD
“Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died. ”
- Erma Bombeck
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– Dave Tishendorf