External Hemorrhoids, Can You Push Them Back In?

External hemorrhoids are external growths of the veins just under the skin. They can get inflamed and become very painful, which is why they are more difficult to live with than internal ones. Having piles means that a person has swollen external veins, which form the hemorrhoidal tissue. This external tissue itself is also called a thrombosed external hemorrhoid.

External Hemorrhoids Can You Push Them Back In?  

According to the doctors at NYU Langone Medical Center, in rare cases when a patient’s pile gets very large, it can be possible to push them back in when defecating. Still, they will need medical help from a doctor or nurse. The NYULMC notes that patients should not attempt to push them back in on their own because it can be very painful, cause them to bleed, or make them much worse. They usually need to be removed surgically if they are too large or problematic.

What Are External Hemorrhoids?

When a person has external piles, these are called thrombosed hemorrhoids. Pushing them back into the body might help for a few days, but these can become uncomfortable and large enough that they begin to protrude outside of the body through the anus. When this happens, they need medical attention before pus starts leaking out, which will likely occur after pushing them back in. If someone is experiencing pain with bowel movements, they have probably already started to thrombose and need medical attention.

What Are Internal Hemorrhoids?

Internal hemorrhoids are a bit different from external ones in that they lie within the anus itself and do not protrude outside of it at all. If they get large enough, external types can prolapse outside of the anus, which means they start to hang down from inside, but this is also when they become external hemorrhoids and require immediate medical attention. According to doctors at NYU Langone Medical Center, unless you want to go through surgery to remove an external pile or wait until it clears, which can take several weeks or longer.

What Causes External Hemorrhoids?

They can occur in all types of people, but they frequently appear in older adults and pregnant women due to the body’s changing systems over time. Some of them also develop due to too much sitting or pushing during a bowel movement. This is especially common among people who are constipated. Also, according to doctors at NYU Langone Medical Center, external pile symptoms include pain with bowel movements, thrombosed external hemorrhoid prolapse outside of the anus, blood clots, those that have been scratched or injured, and swelling.

What Is The Difference Between External And Internal Hemorrhoids?

External hemorrhoids are located outside the anus but still within a finger’s reach. You can push them back into the rectum and cover them with a sterile dressing. They form small blood clots inside them; this makes them very painful and prone to bleeding or bursting if irritated by scratching or during bowel movements. Internal hemorrhoids are located inside the anus, so external pile removal is required if they become too large.

How Do You Treat External Hemorrhoids?

Prevention is the best treatment. If they become a thrombosed hemorrhoid, sit in a warm bath several times daily until they become less painful and decrease in size. If you have external piles that seem irritated or are bleeding when wiping, try an over-the-counter external hemorrhoid cream containing hydrocortisone; ask your pharmacist to recommend one for external hemorrhoid relief. Sit in a tub of steaming hot water for 15 to 20 minutes several times daily; this increases blood flow and soothes the pain and itching. If you think you have problems, ask your pharmacist for external hemorrhoid relief or remedy products that contain benzocaine. This topical anesthetic reduces outward hemorrhoid symptoms such as pains and itching.

Ask your doctor about HemWell, an FDA-approved, pain-free treatment that’s permanent. If your provider doesn’t offer HemWell, we can assist you in finding one that does. Please visit our website to learn more about this life-changing treatment. Learn more about hemorrhoids.