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• Method 1 of 3: Treat the hemorrhoids at home
• Method 2 of 3: Treating the pain of internal hemorrhoids
• Method 3 of 3: Get medical treatment

Hemorrhoids are abnormally large veins in or near the anus. External hemorrhoids can be seen on the outside of the anus, but internal hemorrhoids are located in the rectum and are usually painless and not visible. You probably won't even realize you have internal hemorrhoids until they start bleeding and a doctor discovers them during an exam. Internal hemorrhoids are often caused by constipation and are made worse by other factors such as straining while defecating. In case of severe or persistent hemorrhoids, it is best to see your doctor for treatment. However, you will also have to adjust your diet and lifestyle as part of your treatment. If your internal hemorrhoids hurt, you can take painkillers during the treatment.

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Method 1 of 3: Treat the hemorrhoids at home

1. Drink lots of water. Water is important to prevent constipation, which is one of the main causes of hemorrhoids. Make sure you drink about 8 glasses of water with a capacity of 250 ml, or about 2 liters of water, every day. If you are active and thirsty, drink even more water.
   • You can also drink other drinks to increase your fluid intake, such as fruit juice, herbal tea, and club soda. Try not to drink caffeinated drinks and alcohol. Caffeinated and alcoholic drinks can dry you out and cause constipation.
2. Eat more fiber. Getting enough fiber will make it easier to defecate and treat and prevent hemorrhoids. Try to eat 25 grams of fiber per day. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to get more fiber on a daily basis.
   • Take a dietary supplement with fiber if you are not getting enough fiber. If you are unable to get enough fiber on a daily basis, it may be a good idea to take a fiber supplement to help you reach your goal.
3. Exercise every day. Exercise can help stimulate your digestive system, which can prevent constipation. Try to take a daily walk or take the bike to go somewhere. Even little things like parking further from the mall entrance and taking the stairs instead of the elevator can help you get more exercise during your day.
4. If you feel urgent, go straight to the bathroom. One way to prevent hemorrhoids from getting worse is to go straight to the bathroom when you feel urgent and need to defecate. Holding up your poop can cause constipation, and constipation is one of the main causes of hemorrhoids. Pay attention to the signals your body is sending and immediately go to the bathroom if you feel the urge to defecate.
5. Don't try to squeeze. Straining can make your hemorrhoids worse, so be careful not to force your stool out. If you are unable to get rid of your stool and find yourself starting to strain, stop and try again later.
   • Don't sit on the toilet for long trying to get rid of your stool. Your hemorrhoids can also get worse if you sit on the toilet for a long time.
   • Try to hang or squat over the toilet instead of sitting on the toilet seat. This makes it easier to get rid of your stool without straining. Buy a stool or other aid so that you can hang or squat over the toilet bowl.

Method 2 of 3: Treating the pain of internal hemorrhoids

1. Talk to your doctor if your internal hemorrhoids hurt. Internal hemorrhoids rarely hurt because there are very few pain receptors in the lower rectum. Pain usually only occurs when there is a prolapse, meaning the hemorrhoid is protruding from the anus. It may be that this problem resolves itself or that you can push the hemorrhoid inward on your own. However, if the protruding hemorrhoid hurts, this usually indicates that you cannot push the hemorrhoid back into the anus and that you should see a doctor.
   • You may also experience severe itching and irritation.
   • If you get a blood clot in this area, it puts more pressure on the hemorrhoid, which is likely to cause constant and possibly severe pain.
2. Take a warm sitz bath. A warm sitz bath can also help soothe hemorrhoids. Take a sitz bath after you defecate to help soothe and cleanse your hemorrhoids.
   • To prepare a sitz bath, fill the bathtub with a few inches of warm water and add about 300 grams of Epsom salt. Then sit in the bath for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Take over-the-counter pain relievers. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also provide some relief if your hemorrhoids hurt. Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin to relieve the pain of your hemorrhoids. Read and follow the instructions on the packaging and in the package leaflet before use.
   • If you are not sure what kind of over-the-counter pain reliever to take, ask your doctor for a recommendation.
4. Insert a suppository. If you are in pain, a suppository may help. Suppositories can help shrink your internal hemorrhoids by delivering the medicine near your rectal hemorrhoids. Because your hemorrhoids shrink, you may also experience less pain and discomfort. You can buy over-the-counter suppositories containing witch hazel and other ingredients that are intended to treat hemorrhoids.
   • Keep in mind that suppositories must be inserted into the anus.
5. Sit on a pillow. Sitting on a hard surface for a long time can intensify the pain. So sit on a pillow or donut cushion. Using a pillow or donut pillow can make your hemorrhoids less painful.

Method 3 of 3: Get medical treatment

1. See your doctor for treatment. One of the main symptoms of hemorrhoids is bleeding from the anus, but this is also a symptom of colon cancer. For this reason, it is important to see your doctor right away if you have symptoms of internal hemorrhoids. Your doctor will examine you physically and may also request imaging tests to rule out cancer. Your doctor may order the following tests:
   • Colonoscopy - In this exam, a long, flexible tube with a camera and a light at the end is inserted into the anus and pushed into the rectum and intestine to view the inside of the intestine.
   • Sigmoidoscopy - This study uses a short hose with a camera and a light on the end. The camera takes images of the lower rectum and the sigmoid, or the last part of the colon.
   • X-ray examination of the intestine - In this study, a barium enema is given and X-rays are taken to obtain images of the bowel.
2. Ask for a rubber band ligation. If internal hemorrhoids protrude from the rectum, you may qualify for a rubber band ligation. In this treatment, the doctor places one or two small rubber bands around the bottom part of the hemorrhoid.
   • The rubber bands cut off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid, which may cause some discomfort. You may bleed a little, but after a few days the hemorrhoid will die.
3. Discuss whether sclerotherapy is possible. In this test, the doctor injects an agent into your hemorrhoid that causes the hemorrhoid to shrink. This treatment works well, but not as well as a rubber band ligation. The injection may hurt a bit, but this treatment will not hurt otherwise.
4. See if coagulation is possible. Coagulation uses infrared light, heat or a laser to treat hemorrhoids. After your hemorrhoids are exposed to this, they will harden and shrink. These can treat hemorrhoids, but they are more likely to come back than if you get a rubber band ligation.
5. Consider having the hemorrhoids removed surgically. When it comes to large hemorrhoids or other treatments fail, surgery may be the best option. There are basically two types of surgery to remove hemorrhoids:
   • Hemorrhoidectomy - In this examination, the surgeon removes the hemorrhoids by making a cut at the bottom of the hemorrhoids. Remember that this procedure will numb you so that you don't feel anything. However, recovery can be painful and you may need to use prescription painkillers after surgery to relieve the pain.
   • Hemorrhoidectomy with staples - In this exam, the surgeon uses staples to cut off the blood flow to the hemorrhoids. This procedure is less painful than a regular hemorrhoidectomy and the recovery time is shorter. However, it is more likely that the hemorrhoids will come back. In addition, you can experience anal prolapse, in which part of the rectum falls out of the anus.