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

Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
Updated on March 03, 2025
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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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The difference between rectal polyps and internal hemorrhoids

Rectal polyps are skin-like mucosal protrusions that grow on the rectal mucosa, whereas internal hemorrhoids are confined to congestion and protrusion of the mucosa around the dentate line. The formation of rectal polyps is mainly due to long-term stimulation by feces, or certain constitutional and genetic factors, while the most likely cause of internal hemorrhoids is chronic congestion and edema around the anal area or the formation of venous thrombosis, leading to local varicose clusters. After the discovery of rectal polyps, it is necessary to perform surgery as soon as possible; however, the treatment for internal hemorrhoids in the early stages is primarily conservative, aimed at delaying the frequency of disease attacks and improving the quality of life for the patient. If the internal hemorrhoids reach a later stage or become severe, manifested by recurrent prolapse and rectal bleeding, surgical removal is recommended.

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Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
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Why is it difficult to cure internal hemorrhoids bleeding?

Internal hemorrhoids refer to the soft venous masses formed by the dilation and varicosity of the hemorrhoidal venous plexus located beneath the mucosa at the end of the rectum, above the dentate line of the anus. Once these masses have formed, they contain blood vessels which can rupture, leading to bleeding during bowel movements, evident as blood mixed with stool. Once these pathological masses have formed, it is very difficult to completely heal them with medication alone; surgical removal of these venous masses is required to prevent recurrent bleeding. Therefore, if conservative treatment is applied, it only slightly alleviates symptoms. If any triggering factors are present, bleeding may recur.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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How long does it take to recover from internal hemorrhoidectomy surgery?

The recovery time after internal hemorrhoidectomy mainly depends on the severity of the condition before the surgery. Most internal hemorrhoidectomies, specifically referring to internal hemorrhoid ligation surgeries combined with sclerotherapy injections, generally require a recovery period of about 2-3 weeks. If the internal hemorrhoids were significantly prolapsed before the surgery or if there were multiple prolapsed hemorrhoids, the recovery time might be relatively longer. If the procedure involved only localized ligation or sclerotherapy injections and there are no external wounds around the anus, the recovery time is approximately one week. During the recovery period, patients need to maintain a light diet, avoid dry stools and excessive straining during bowel movements, which could lead to pain or bleeding at the surgical site.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
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Mild bleeding due to internal hemorrhoids prolapse.

Internal hemorrhoids have prolapsed with slight bleeding. This is primarily considered to be due to pathological hypertrophy and descent of the anal cushions, causing the internal hemorrhoids to prolapse and the mucosa of the hemorrhoids to erode, leading to symptoms of rectal bleeding. For such cases, if the prolapsed internal hemorrhoids cannot spontaneously reduce, it is necessary to promptly adopt surgical methods such as hemorrhoidal banding, PPH (Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids), or TST (Transanal Hemorrhoidal Dearterialization). If the prolapsed hemorrhoids can spontaneously reduce, conservative treatment with medication may be temporarily used, such as applying compound preparations like mixed hemorrhoid suppositories or Jiuhua suppositories anally. Moreover, attention should be paid to a light diet, avoiding foods such as fishy seafood. It is also important to maintain smooth bowel movements; thus, eating less cold, hard food and avoiding difficult defecation that can lead to prolonged toileting times.

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Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
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How to completely treat internal hemorrhoids?

In recent years, there have been numerous treatment methods for internal hemorrhoids, primarily divided into non-surgical and surgical treatments. Non-surgical treatment mainly involves conservative management, which generally includes measures such as increasing the intake of vegetables and fruits, maintaining smooth bowel movements, and using medications or applying ointments locally. Surgical treatment mainly includes injection therapy and excision of the hemorrhoidal nodes. For a complete cure, surgical treatment is typically required, which involves thoroughly removing the pathological hemorrhoidal nodes. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)