Hemorrhoids can be a painful and embarrassing condition, but hemorrhoid banding can provide long-lasting and meaningful relief.
Hemorrhoids can impede your everyday routine and make activities like sitting difficult or impossible. You may find permanent relief from painful hemorrhoids by undergoing a procedure known as hemorrhoid banding.
With this treatment option, also may be able to resume your regular routine without experiencing hemorrhoid symptoms like swelling and itching.
What is Hemorrhoid Banding?
Hemorrhoid banding is a procedure that involves the banding or tying off of internal hemorrhoids. It is performed as an outpatient procedure in your doctor’s office or single day surgical center.
Most hemorrhoid banding procedures take less than an hour to complete. It can only be performed on one or two hemorrhoids at a time.
Hemorrhoid banding is performed when home remedies have not provided long-lasting or meaningful relief from symptoms like pain, itching, and swelling. The most common home remedies for hemorrhoids include:
- Over-the-counter topical creams
- Sitz baths
- Witch hazel
- Cold compresses
- High-fiber diet
When these remedies do not work, it may be time to undergo hemorrhoid banding.
How is Hemorrhoid Banding Done?
Prior to the procedure starting, you will be placed under local anesthesia. The doctor will then use an instrument called an anoscope to look inside of the anus to find the hemorrhoids that need treatment.
He or she will then use another device to place a band over the base of each hemorrhoid. You will be asked if the bands are too tight or painful. If you experience a significant amount of pain, the doctor will inject a numbing medication into the hemorrhoid to relieve the discomfort.
The band placed around the base of the hemorrhoid will cut off the blood supply to the tissue. In a week, the hemorrhoid will die and slough off on its own, leaving behind scar tissue that will prevent the veins in the anus from bulging outside of the anal canal.
Hemorrhoid Banding Recovery
The total recovery time for hemorrhoid banding is at least one week. For the first two to three days after your procedure, it will be important for you to rest and drink plenty of liquids. Liquids as well as plenty of fiber will keep your stools loose and prevent the treated area from being aggravated.
You also will be advised to avoid activities like heavy lifting or straining. These activities will cause symptoms like pain and bleeding in the treated area. They also could loosen the bands and cause them to fall off.
Most people can resume their regular routines within one or two days after hemorrhoid banding. If you continue to experience bleeding, pain, or other symptoms that inhibit your recovery, you are advised to visit with your surgeon and make sure you are healing properly from hemorrhoid banding.
Finally, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for any lingering discomfort from the procedure. Your doctor may also prescribe a pain reliever for you to use on a temporary basis.