Can internal hemorrhoids that prolapse be treated conservatively without surgery?

Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
Updated on February 10, 2025
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If internal hemorrhoids can be manually reduced after prolapse, then surgery can be temporarily avoided, and conservative treatment can be administered. For example, the patient should ensure smooth defecation, perform anal lifting exercises after defecation, strengthen the anal sphincter, and prevent the recurrence of internal hemorrhoids. Additionally, the duration of defecation should not be too long, and excessive straining should be avoided to prevent worsening of the prolapsed hemorrhoids. Moreover, patients must pay attention to the hygiene around the anus, and cleanse the peri-anal area with warm saline water after each bowel movement. However, if the internal hemorrhoids cannot be manually reduced after prolapse, or if incarceration and swelling occur, causing anal distension and pain, it is necessary to visit the hospital's colorectal surgery department promptly to undergo internal hemorrhoid ligation, TST, PPH, or other surgical procedures, followed by dressing changes. Since unresolved internal hemorrhoid prolapse can easily lead to incarceration or even necrosis, it is crucial to arrange for surgery as soon as possible, and patients should develop good bowel habits to maintain smooth defecation.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
1min 5sec home-news-image

Can warm water sitz baths improve internal hemorrhoids that have prolapsed?

Warm sitz baths for prolapsed internal hemorrhoids can improve anal heaviness to some extent, and prevent inflammatory edema caused by the prolapse. They can also help prevent further worsening of prolapsed hemorrhoids, as warm sitz baths promote circulation around the anal area, relieve heaviness, and can somewhat reduce the prolapse, but they cannot completely cure it. Prolapsed internal hemorrhoids are caused by pathological hypertrophy and descent of the anal cushions, representing an organic lesion. Simple conservative medical treatment can only prevent the hemorrhoids from worsening, but cannot fully cure them. For prolapsed internal hemorrhoids that can be manually reduced, conservative treatment is generally recommended. Regular smooth bowel movements should be maintained, long duration of defecation should be avoided, and frequent anal sphincter exercises should be performed. However, for prolapsed hemorrhoids that cannot be reduced, or those that develop incarceration with edema or thrombosis, surgical treatment is recommended.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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Can internal hemorrhoids cause constipation?

When internal hemorrhoids flare up, if their size increases and obstructs the anal opening, it can prevent normal defecation or make it difficult, potentially causing symptoms of constipation such as difficulty in defecating or poor bowel movements. Prolonged and recurrent difficulty in defecating can also lead to overly dry stools within the intestinal lumen, further exacerbating symptoms of constipation. Therefore, constipation is one of the most common clinical complications of hemorrhoids. To treat constipation, one can initially choose oral medications that lubricate the intestines and facilitate bowel movements. At the same time, it is essential to actively treat hemorrhoids, reduce the size of the hemorrhoidal tissue, or directly remove both internal and external hemorrhoids, to enable normal expulsion of stool.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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Will internal hemorrhoids be painful?

If internal hemorrhoids experience local mucosal rupture or repeated prolapse leading to friction of the mucosa, it is likely to cause pain and even bleeding. To avoid pain caused by internal hemorrhoids, it is recommended that patients use hemorrhoid suppositories for local administration in the rectum for early flare-ups to reduce swelling, relieve pain, and cool and stop bleeding. If internal hemorrhoids prolapse and cannot retract back into the anal canal on their own after each prolapse, it is suggested that patients consider surgery to ligate and excise the affected internal hemorrhoids, or inject sclerosants under the mucosa of the hemorrhoids to cause local mucosal consolidation and shedding. Patients with internal hemorrhoids are advised not to strain excessively during bowel movements to avoid worsening local congestion and edema.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
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Can internal hemorrhoids be treated with wet compresses?

After prolapse of internal hemorrhoids, moist compresses can be applied, but the therapeutic effect of moist compresses is not significant. The prolapse of internal hemorrhoids mainly occurs when the anal cushion pathologically enlarges and shifts downward, leading to the prolapse. If the prolapsed hemorrhoids cannot be retracted back into the anus, this can lead to incarcerated edema, causing swelling and pain around the anus. If the incarceration lasts too long, it can induce local thrombosis or even necrosis. In such cases, it is recommended to opt for surgical treatment as soon as possible. Common surgical methods include internal hemorrhoid ligation, internal hemorrhoid excision, PPH (Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids), or TST (Transanal Hemorrhoidal Dearterialization). After surgery, it is advisable to use anal washes or potassium permanganate solutions for sitz baths, and then apply topical treatments such as hemorrhoid creams, red oil gauze strips, and yellow ointments to promote postoperative recovery. Moreover, patients should develop good bowel habits after surgery to maintain smooth bowel movements, which further aids recovery. (Under the guidance of a doctor for medication use)

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Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
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Do internal hemorrhoids cause a sensation of falling and swelling in the anus?

Internal hemorrhoids can cause a sensation of fullness or swelling in the anus. Although the main clinical symptoms of internal hemorrhoids are bleeding and prolapse of the hemorrhoidal nodes outside the anus, any stage of internal hemorrhoids can exhibit varying degrees of this sensation. Early to middle stages of internal hemorrhoids typically involve less severe swelling, while in the later stages, when the hemorrhoidal nodes prolapse, the sensation can be significantly more intense, especially after prolonged standing or physical exertion.