This is my impressions of hemorrhoid removal treatment, having experienced all three.
Top Tier:
Aluminum Potassium Sulfate and Tannic Acid injection (ALTA) is a new method of non invasive hemorrhoid removal that's very popular in Japan but not used in the west for some reason. Nearly painless compared to other methods, reasonable effectiveness (like 95% at worst) and extremely safe. Only works on internal hemorrhoids though.
Mid Tier:
Banding procedure. Basically the doc will use a wide syringe to pop a rubber band around your hemorrhoid that hurts like hell for the first half hour and then maybe a week of feeling a weird tightness before the band falls off. Procedure is done with only topical anesthetic, doesn't take that long. No serious complication risk.
Avoid Tier:
Surgical removal. The lowest reoccurrence rate, but highest likelihood of complications. Very painful, weeks of recovery time. The worst that can happen is damaging the system responsible for fecal continence (life ruining). Only use as a last resort.
For prevention, this is the most actionable advice:
Squat when doing bowel movement. Get a stool to elevate feet.
Never push, never hold your breath. just hold the squatting position and relax. Do not force yourself to evacuate everything in one session.
Supplement fiber. Don't need to get the whole DV in. Psyllium husk powder is recommended, but it is unpleasant for me. My preferred intake is to dissolve 1tbsp (6g of fiber) into a small amount of water to create a flavorless gelatin consistency and then eat with spoon.
Rye bread is very high in fiber
For temporary relief:
Hot water bath before bed
Sleeping on side instead of back to remove pressure from tailbone
Dr butlers hemorrhoid and fissure cream. I like this one because it has a lot of lidocaine.
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This is my impressions of hemorrhoid removal treatment, having experienced all three.
Top Tier: Aluminum Potassium Sulfate and Tannic Acid injection (ALTA) is a new method of non invasive hemorrhoid removal that's very popular in Japan but not used in the west for some reason. Nearly painless compared to other methods, reasonable effectiveness (like 95% at worst) and extremely safe. Only works on internal hemorrhoids though.
Mid Tier: Banding procedure. Basically the doc will use a wide syringe to pop a rubber band around your hemorrhoid that hurts like hell for the first half hour and then maybe a week of feeling a weird tightness before the band falls off. Procedure is done with only topical anesthetic, doesn't take that long. No serious complication risk.
Avoid Tier: Surgical removal. The lowest reoccurrence rate, but highest likelihood of complications. Very painful, weeks of recovery time. The worst that can happen is damaging the system responsible for fecal continence (life ruining). Only use as a last resort.
For prevention, this is the most actionable advice:
For temporary relief:
More options
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