Thrombosed hemorrhoids are painful protrusions where the flow of blood has become restricted in the veins just outside the rectum or in the anus. This blockage in the veins causes them to swell and eventually burst. This leaves pools of blood that gather and clot under the surface of the skin. Considered one of the more painful types of hemorrhoid, a thrombosed hemorrhoid is often extremely sensitive and may appear as a protruding hemorrhoid or be contained in the anus.
The causes for a thrombosed hemorrhoid are relatively straightforward. Sitting for extremely long periods of time can lead to this condition. Lifting excessive amounts of weight while working out at the gym can also trigger the development of this type of hemorrhoids, as can the stress of giving birth. Finally, excessive straining while attempting a bowel movement may cause the veins to swell and eventually rupture.
In some cases, no treatment at all is necessary for a thrombosed hemorrhoid to heal. Often, the blood clots under the skin will reabsorb into the body over a period of weeks. During that time, it may be a good idea to use soothing balms to manage hemorrhoid pain, and also avoid activities that could cause the condition to worsen.
There are some home remedies that can help expedite the shrinking of the clot and the healing of the hemorrhoid. Taking a warm bath can often help ease the pain. If constipation was the root cause for straining, increasing fiber content to make bowel movements easier to achieve will also ease stress on the thrombosed hemorrhoid, effectively preventing the situation from getting any worse. Soothing creams that help to deaden the sensation of pain can also make it easier deal with the condition until complete healing has taken place.
While a thrombosed hemorrhoid is not usually considered dangerous, the level of pain may be so intense that steps to extract the blood clot may be necessary. Rather than attempting to do this at home, seek the services of a qualified physician. Depending on the location of the hemorrhoid or group of hemorrhoids, the doctor may be able to make a small incision and extract the clot, bringing relief almost immediately to the patient.
In severe situations, your doctor may opt for more invasive surgery to take care of a thrombosed hemorrhoid. Known as a full hemorrhoidectomy, this procedure calls for not only extracting the blood clots, but also the damaged veins. While more intensive than simply extracting the clots, there is less chance of a recurrence in the future. In addition, many patients find that there is less post-operative pain with this approach than with the more simplistic extraction of the clots alone.
