Hemorrhoids, How Long Until They Go Away?

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are a widespread illness in today’s society. You may have them or know someone who does, but what are they? They are also known as piles, and are swollen veins in the lower rectum.

They usually cause pain, discomfort, and bleeding. Sometimes they can be so swollen that they protrude from the anus, causing a fissure (a tear or split) or an itching feeling around the anal area. The symptoms depend on how severe they are. They can last for long periods before going away.

What are hemorrhoid symptoms?

Symptoms vary from person to person, though many sufferers report seeing bright red blood covering the toilet paper after using the bathroom. Some symptoms can be more severe than just seeing blood on the toilet paper. One of these symptoms is enlarged piles that cause extreme pain and discomfort, resulting in not being able to go to work or school. Many sufferers experience insomnia because of their uncomfortable symptoms.

How Long Will I Have Hemorrhoids For?

The amount of time they will stay for varies depending on how severe your condition is. If you have just gotten piles and it isn’t too harsh, you should expect them to go away within two weeks; however, if you have had them for a long time or your piles are very serious, it might take longer than two weeks. If you get piles and they don’t go away right away, then you should visit your doctor.

The length of time they last depend on the hemorrhoid type and how severe they are. Internal piles usually go away within two days to two weeks; however, prolapsed hemorrhoids take longer than this time because you have to wait until your body takes care of pushing them back into place. External hemorrhoids usually only last months, not years, like other types of piles.

How long they stay around also depends on whether or not you treat your piles or let them heal by themselves? You can decrease the time that your symptoms last by getting treatments.

Types of Hemorrhoids

The reason why there are different symptoms for piles is that where they start will depend on which the type it is. There are three main types; internal hemorrhoids, prolapsed hemorrhoids, and external hemorrhoids. Internal piles are when the vein has swollen, making them inside the anus.

Prolapsed piles are when an internal hemorrhoid has gotten so large that it protrudes outside the anus. External piles are when pain is found in the border between your rectum and your anal canal ends.

There are different types, including internal hemorrhoids. Many sufferers only experience internal, but some hemorrhoid sufferers can have both internal and external hemorrhoids. Internal are found inside the body near the anus.

What are hemorrhoid treatments?

Treatments include both non-invasive techniques and invasive techniques. Non-invasive treatments use ointments to reduce pain, swelling, and itching around the anus. Other non-invasive treatments involve placing a witch hazel pad on top of or in between tender tissue to provide relief from discomfort. Non-invasive treatments are not meant for treating bleeding because they do not stop blood flow. 

Invasive treatments consist of hemorrhoidectomy, rubber band ligation, and sclerotherapy. Hemorrhoidectomy is considered the least effective treatment by doctors because it does not fully remove the pile. Rubber band ligation is an invasive treatment with a low success rate for treating internal and external piles with fewer complications.

However, this invasive treatment is not reversible. Sclerotherapy works by injecting a chemical or medication into tissues around the anus to shrink the tissue. This can cause skin color change near the injection site, but it does have less risk than other surgical options.

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.