What You May Not Know About External Piles
External piles, otherwise more commonly known as hemorrhoids, are described as being an area in your anal canal where swelling occurs in the tissue. There is a short and muscular tube running from your anus to your rectum.
There are different grades of piles that run from mile to severe and they usually start in the anal canal and they can, in some stages actually hang out of your rectum. If you have a first degree level of piles then the lining in your anal canal will be swelled. You cannot physically see them but they can bleed. In the second degree level they are quite a bit bigger and they actually stick out of your anus while you are having a bowel movement. They do however, after the bowel movement go back in. If you have third degree piles, then they will continuously hang from the anus but you can physically put them back in if you push on them. Piles that are in the fourth degree level will permanently stay exposed, hanging out of your anus. You will not be able to push them inside and they will probably swell quite a bit. If the blood happens to clot in them they will cause you severe pain. The most painful level of the piles are called external piles. These will develop below you anal cushions.
There are many symptoms that you may have or you may develop when you are developing external piles. You may see bleeding coming from your anus which you may notice on toilet paper or your underwear. You might also feel a lump on your anus and have a discharge or slimy mucus. Swelling or itching around the anus is common as well as pain after a bowel movement.
External piles are thought to be the result of straining during a bowel movement, not consuming enough fiber in your diet or if your family has a history of them. The more common reasons are due to being pregnant or aging.
There are a few home remedies you can try to relieve the symptoms a bit but these are not a cure. Warm baths will soothe the irritation quite a bit. It is important to not strain when having a bowel movement. A fiber supplement will often soften the feces for less discomfort. There are also many ointments, creams and suppositories that can ease the itching.
External piles as well as other level of piles are very common in pregnant women but generally get better after childbirth. Modifying your diet as a mom-to-be and adding more fiber will help to ease the strain of your bowel movement and lower the chance of developing piles.
If you have first or second degree level of piles you may need to seek out a non-surgical treatment. Banding can be done by your doctor placing a band above your pile which will cut off the supply of blood and cause it to die and fall off. Sclerotherapy may also be done by injecting them with an oily solution.
If you are suffering from a higher level or case of external piles you may need to seek out a surgical treatment for them. Conventional haermorrhoidectomy will require general anesthetic and the surgeon cuts the piles from the underneath the muscles. Stapled haemorrhoidopexy requires using a circular stapler that is inserted into your rectum and the hemorrhoids are pulled back up through your anal.
If you have piles, you can try the home remedies to soothe them but if you feel you have external piles it is advised to consult your physician.