Cold Comfort: Put Hemorrhoids On Ice For Quick Pain Relief

Emergency medical personnel recommend applying ice packs to soft tissue injuries to combat swelling, bleeding, and pain. Since an external hemorrhoid is an injury to delicate soft tissues, applying cold packs will reduce thrombosed external hemorrhoid symptoms. If you have ice and a clean, soft cloth, you can make your own temporary hemorrhoid pain relief compress. Direct application of cold provides fast relief from hemorrhoidal pain.

Cryotherapy gives quick relief from rectal itch and burning by numbing the nerve-rich and highly vascular tissues of the anus. Cold packs also stop bleeding hemorrhoids by decreasing blood flow, which temporarily shrinks swollen tissues and veins. Reducing external hemorrhoid swelling by a direct application of ice usually brings relief of hemorrhoid pain in minutes.

Here are three examples of cold therapy for hemorrhoids:

Hemorrhoid cryotherapy devices for home use

An ice suppository for hemorrhoid pain relief is an easy hemorrhoids home cure. Freeze plain water in a small finger shape, using a rubber glove. Or make narrow cubes, using special ice cube trays sold by sporting goods stores for use in water bottles. Many people use this hemorrhoid home remedy to relieve hemorrhoidal swelling, bleeding, and pain. Before inserting, allow the ice to melt a little and become smooth and slippery. To avoid injury, never apply ice to rectal tissues for more than a minute at a time.

A hemorrhoid product made specifically for relief of swollen external hemorrhoids is Anuice. This reusable cryogenic device is placed in the freezer, then inserted into the anus for 8 to 10 minutes of cold therapy that relieves pain, inflammation, spasm, and swelling.

Disposable cold compress for hemorrhoids

Cryostat and other disposable cold packs and cold compresses for hemorrhoid relief are not hard to find, but the price may not be worth it at $6 for six single-use pads. A compress that brings relief from hemorrhoid pain can be made at home easily, using crushed ice and a clean cloth. Another easy home remedy for hemorrhoids is to soak sanitary napkins in witch hazel, place in ziploc bags, and freeze until needed. Witch hazel is soothing and does not sting painful hemorrhoids. Apply cold packs for hemorrhoids to the exterior anal area for as long as 10 minutes at a time.

Medical cryotherapy to freeze hemorrhoids

Cryotherapy for hemorrhoids is an outpatient medical procedure which can be done when more conservative hemorrhoid treatment has failed. In cryotherapy, a thin probe is inserted which freezes the hemorrhoid, resulting in tissue death and sloughing several weeks later. Symptoms during recovery, such as oozing and pain, are often reported. However, many patients report complete relief from hemorrhoid symptoms on follow-up several months afterward. Cryotherapy is one of several medical procedures that can bring permanent relief from hemorrhoid pain. When performed properly under sterile conditions and with appropriate after care, hemorrhoid cryotherapy has no harmful side effects.

Why do some doctors recommend applying cold and hot packs to hemorrhoids?

Interestingly, both cold and hot are of benefit in relieving hemorrhoid symptoms. A recent study compared the effect of hot vs. cold therapy to relieve hemorrhoid pain. The study noted that soaking hemorrhoids in hot water daily for two weeks provided more pain relief than the same activity using cool baths. Wet heat helps the anal sphincter muscle to relax, reducing internal anal pressure – which in turn allows for greater healing of the injured hemorrhoid cushion and surrounding tissues. This can be especially helpful for an anal fissure as opposed to a thrombosed hemorrhoid.