Many doctors advise ice packs for hemorrhoids to reduce swelling, pain, and bleeding. External piles lie under the skin on the anal region that causes a lot of discomfort while sitting as it is an injury to soft tissues. So ice packs are an instant home remedy to get relief from piles. It will reduce the swelling and inflammation by reducing the symptoms of piles.
Table of Contents
How to make an Ice Pack for hemorrhoids at home?
You have ice at home. Take a clean cotton soft cloth and put some cubes of ice on it. Make a pouch of ice with it. This becomes your own personal temporary hemorrhoid pain relief compress. Immediate use of cold compress provides instant relief from piles pain.
What is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is a procedure to freeze hemorrhoids. It helps reduce rectal itching plus burning by numbing the nerve-rich & extremely vascular cells of the anus. Ice packs also stop bleeding hemorrhoids and temporarily shrink swollen veins & tissues. Reducing external hemorrhoid swelling by immediate use of ice usually brings relief of hemorrhoid pain in minutes. (Also read: Coconut Oil for hemorrhoids)
Why do some doctors recommend hot compress and cold for hemorrhoids?
Surprisingly, both hot and cold are of great benefit in treating hemorrhoid symptoms. A recent analysis compared the impact of warm vs. cold compress to alleviate hemorrhoid pain. The study observed that soaking hemorrhoids in warm water everyday for 2 weeks provided more relief than cold compress.
Wet heat allows the anal sphincter muscles to loosen up, reducing internal anal pressure. Furthermore, it enables higher healing of the injured hemorrhoid and surrounding tissue cells. This may be particularly useful for an anal fissure instead of hemorrhoid. But before you do these things you should talk to the doctor about the effectiveness of these treatments.
After putting ice packs, you can add warm compress as well. By switching back and forth, you get quick relief from the pain due to piles. (Also read: Piles Cure in 3 days)
Ice Packs
- Eases pain by numbing the affected area.
- Reduces swelling and inflammation.
- Reduces bleeding.
Hot Compression
- Improves blood flow to the area where it is applied.
- Reduces muscle spasm, which makes it useful when muscles are tight.
Ice pack as an alternative treatment for sitz bath
Ice packs are often used in an alternating fashion with sitz baths to improve results. The warm sitz baths help blood flow more easily through the veins. Applying the ice pack after a sitz bath causes the veins to contract, reduces swelling and relieves pain.
Take Away
If ice packs for hemorrhoids do not work then contact a doctor. Do not self medicate as the condition might get worse. You can consult online or write to us, our medical coordinator will get in touch with you.
Also read: Epsom Salt for piles
Also read: Best sitting position for piles