External Hemorrhoid Pain Relief
External hemorrhoids are benign enlargements of one or more veins on the outside of the anus. Usually people with external hemorrhoids do not notice them unless a blood clot forms in the hemorrhoid. If this occurs, the hemorrhoid becomes a hard and painful lump that is aggravated each time a person has a bowel movement. As long as the hemorrhoid hasn't started bleeding, you can rely on various home treatments to reduce the pain.
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Medicine and Ointments
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Medicines such as Preparation H relieve pain caused by hemorrhoids and also may help to prevent future irritation. Other medicines that contain hydrocortisone or a similar numbing agent will help ease the pain for short periods of time. For those who want pain relief without relying on a specific medicinal ointment, witch hazel is a natural astringent that can relieve hemorrhoid pain.
Oral pain killers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen will both dull the pain and revlieve any swelling. Use all oral medications as directed on the bottle or by your physician.
Baths
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A short soak in a warm bath three to four times a day will ease your external hemorrhoids and mitigate some of the hemorrhoid pain. If you do not like to take baths, a simple cleanse around the anal area with warm water can keep the hemorrhoid pain from worsening. Avoid soap or body wash, as the chemicals in these cleansers can irritate the hemorrhoids further. After you wash the anal region, dry off the area with a hair dryer instead of a towel. The rough surface of the towel can cause additional irritation.
Another option is to use a sitz bath placed over your toilet or bathtub. Most pharmacies will carry various types of sitz baths. Make sure to use warm (not hot) water with the sitz bath. If you don't want to purchase a sitz bath, you can simply fill a regular bathtub with a small amount of water that just covers the anal region. Sit in the sitz bath for 10 to 15 minutes at a time a few times a day.
Warm and Cold Therapy
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Both icing and heated compresses can help ease hemorrhoid pain. For icing, place some ice in a plastic bag and apply the ice bag to the hemorrhoid area every few hours for 10 minutes at a time. The addition of a heated compress directly after icing will relieve pain further. Conversely, if you're adverse to the cold, you can opt for just a warm compress, applied five to eight times a day for 10 to 20 minutes at a time.
Toilet Paper
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When your hemorrhoids flare up (and even after they are contained), avoid rough toilet paper. For added relief, wet the toilet paper slightly with warm water before you wipe. Alcohol-free and scent-free wipes will also do the trick.
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