If you suffer from bowel incontinence, there is a good chance that have suffered or may suffer from hemorrhoids. These internal or external anal protuberances can cause pain, itching, and bleeding — adding insult to injury when you’re already dealing with another bowel-related issue. The good news is that you can receive treatment to help you reduce your hemorrhoid symptoms — or even eliminate the hemorrhoids themselves — and prevent recurrences.
The Link Between Incontinence and Hemorrhoids
A hemorrhoid is an enlarged blood vessel that arises in the anus. There are two main categories of hemorrhoids, both of which can develop simultaneously. The more common variety, internal hemorrhoids, form small lumps just inside the anus, although sometimes they can prolapse and extend into the anal opening, or sphincter. External hemorrhoids originate at the anal sphincter. Both types can cause maddening discomfort; they also produce bleeding that might alarm you into thinking you have another, more serious condition.
Hemorrhoids can have many possible causes, including obesity, pregnancy, lack of dietary fiber or exercise, and they may even show up for no known reason. But bowel incontinence is another direct cause of hemorrhoids. That’s because changes of pressure in the anal canal place extra stress on the delicate blood vessels there. Both constipation and diarrhea can trigger hemorrhoids. The irony there is that people worried about constipation-related hemorrhoids take laxatives, which can be a little too successful and create diarrhea, causing them to experience hemorrhoids all the same. If you have an untreated bowel incontinence condition, it’s no wonder that you might be dealing with constant hemorrhoid symptoms as a result.
Treatment and Prevention Strategies
If you suffer from mild to moderate hemorrhoids, recommended treatment usually starts by addressing the underlying bowel behavior causing or aggravating the problem. For example, if certain foods or spices as the cause of recurring diarrhea or constipation, you can simply remove those items from from your menu. If weak pelvic muscles are leading to too many trips to the bathroom, we can prescribe exercises and other forms of therapy to help you strengthen these muscles. Once we have successfully treated your incontinence problem, we’re well on the way to eliminating your hemorrhoid problem.
Some hemorrhoids can become so large or painful that we recommend their removal. The simplest method for accomplishing this is banding. Our skilled team ties off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid with tiny rubber bands, causing the hemorrhoid to die. Better yet, the scar tissue that replaces it is tough enough to discourage future hemorrhoid development at that spot. This outpatient procedure heals completely within 10 days or less, and it can work on both internal and external hemorrhoids. Contact the Incontinence Institute today, and take the first step toward a more comfortable life.
