Piles, or haemorrhoids, are swollen blood vessels in the rectum and anus. Piles are very common and there are many types of piles treatments available to treat different types of piles. Piles should be treated as they can be a source of great discomfort, and may worsen in severity.
The recommended types of piles treatments will depend on the location and severity of the piles. Smaller haemorrhoids may resolve on their own, with symptoms manageable through diet and lifestyle modifications and medications. Piles whose symptoms do not improve with conservative treatments or are already causing significant pain may require surgery to treat. Surgery may be recommended for piles that have prolapsed (protruding through the anus) or are thrombosed (developed a blood clot).
Haemorrhoids can either be external, developing on the skin around the anus, or internal, developing inside the rectum. They can be further classified according to the degree of prolapse:
A colorectal surgeon will determine the appropriate treatment for haemorrhoids depending on their classification.
Most haemorrhoids can be treated through conservative treatments, including preventing constipation, soaking in sitz baths, applying topical ointments and more. However, when these treatments do not suffice, or when the haemorrhoids are already causing significant pain that disrupt one’s quality of life, piles surgery is recommended.
Piles treatments can be divided into two main categories: non-surgical and surgical.
Non-surgical treatments include:
Types of piles surgery include: