Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHemorrhoid Surgery Recovery TimelineHome CareManaging PainLong-Term CareWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Hemorrhoid Surgery Recovery Timeline
Home Care
Managing Pain
Long-Term Care
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Hemorrhoidectomyis a surgery used to treathemorrhoidswhen symptoms are severe orconservative treatmentsfail to provide relief. Hemorrhoid surgery recovery takes time and requires changes in diet and activity to help you heal properly. Pain medications and stool softeners may also be involved.
Preparing for hemorrhoid surgery can cause stress, but knowing what to expect during recovery can help ease the anxiety. Fortunately, hemorrhoidectomy has a high success rate.
This article explains what is involved in the recovery plan for a hemorrhoidectomy, including the expected timeline and home care treatments that promote healing and prevent post-surgical complications.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
Recovery from hemorrhoidectomy can last anywhere from four to eight weeks. The timeline varies based on the size, severity, and number of hemorrhoids you have as well as your general health and mobility level.
For the first week or two, you need to take it easy, staying at home and avoiding strenuous activities, including heavy lifting.
After one to two weeks, you should be able to return to normal activities. However, you still need to avoid activities that require a lot of effort.
Full recovery with no pain is usually achieved withinone to two months.
Activity
Certain activities need to be restricted during recovery from a hemorrhoidectomy. These include any activity that places undue pressure or movement of theanal sphincter. This is the ring of muscles that dilates (opens) and contracts (shuts) to enable the passage of stools. Rapid or extreme movement of the anal sphincter can disrupt stitches and open the wound.
Especially during the first weeks of recovery, you need to avoid the following:
You also need to avoid sitting for long periods without movement. In fact, it actually helps to walk during early recovery. Doing so increases circulation and prevents the pooling of blood in the injured tissues.
If you do need to sit, it often helps to have a donut-shaped pillow to sit on. Be sure to get one that is soft and properly sized. One that is too large and hard can cause the buttocks to spread and stretch the anal sphincter.
Diet
During the first few days of recovery, you will need to eat alow-residue diet, consuming foods that place little stress on the anus during bowel movements.
Low-residue foods include:
As you begin to heal, you can embark on a low-fat, high-fiber diet. This includes foods rich insoluble fiberwhich draw water out of the intestines and helps soften stools
Sources of soluble fiber include:
Stay HydratedIt is also important to drink plenty of water while recovering. The typical recommendation is at least 8 cups (64 fluid ounces) of plain water per day.If you are getting proper nutrition, sports or protein drinks are not needed.
Stay Hydrated
It is also important to drink plenty of water while recovering. The typical recommendation is at least 8 cups (64 fluid ounces) of plain water per day.If you are getting proper nutrition, sports or protein drinks are not needed.
10 Foods That Help You Poop and Ease Constipation
Medications
There are two classes of medications commonly prescribed to people who have undergone a hemorrhoidectomy: stool softeners and analgesics (painkillers).
Stool softenerswork naturally with the body to ease bowel movements and have fewer side effects than strongerstimulant laxatives. They are also less likely to cause diarrhea, which also places undue stress on surgical wounds.
Recommended stool softeners include:
Sitz Bath for Pain ReliefAsitz bathmay also help relieve postoperative pain and itching. This is a shallow, warm-water bath that can be done either in a bathtub or a basin that fits over a toilet. Some people add things like Epsom salt to a sitz bath, but plain water works best.
Sitz Bath for Pain Relief
Asitz bathmay also help relieve postoperative pain and itching. This is a shallow, warm-water bath that can be done either in a bathtub or a basin that fits over a toilet. Some people add things like Epsom salt to a sitz bath, but plain water works best.
Analgesic drugsused to treat postoperative hemorrhoid pain include:
NSAIDs are used with caution during early recovery as they can promote bleeding. The drugs are also intended for occasional, short-term use as they can cause stomach ulcers if overused.
Topical hemorrhoid creams may also be prescribed to relieve itching, while anice pack or cold compresscan be applied to the anus to help ease swelling and pain.
A follow-up appointment will be scheduled two to three weeks after your hemorrhoid surgery. It is important to keep the appointment to ensure that the wound is healing properly.
During the appointment, the healthcare provider will examine your rectal area to ensure that there are no complications, some of which include:
Additional appointments, tests, or exams may be scheduled.
Things to Avoid
With the proper treatment, you should recover from a hemorrhoidectomy without incident. Here are a few things you need to avoid to ensure a worry-free recovery:
Long-Term Recovery
Continue to eat foods high in fiber even after you have recovered from surgery. Drink plenty of water and avoid straining on the toilet. Doing so can help prevent future hemorrhoids.
Not all hemorrhoids can be prevented, but following these simple recommendations can greatly reduce the risk.
What Is the Most Common Complication After Hemorrhoidectomy?The most common complications after hemorrhoidectomy are pain, bleeding, and difficulty urinating. Less rare is a complication called fecal impaction, in which stool gets stuck in the rectum or lower colon due to chronic constipation. As with any surgery, there is also a risk of infection.
What Is the Most Common Complication After Hemorrhoidectomy?
The most common complications after hemorrhoidectomy are pain, bleeding, and difficulty urinating. Less rare is a complication called fecal impaction, in which stool gets stuck in the rectum or lower colon due to chronic constipation. As with any surgery, there is also a risk of infection.
If you follow your surgeon’s self-care instructions, the likelihood of infection and other complications is low. Even so, complications can occur, and it’s important to know the signs so you can act quickly.
Call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop the following signs or symptoms when recovering from hemorrhoid surgery:
Summary
It can take four to eight weeks to recover from a hemorrhoidectomy, although you should be able to return to work in one to two weeks. During this time, you need to adjust your diet to avoid constipation and avoid activities (like heavy lifting) that can disrupt the surgical incision.
Over-the-counter pain medications and a sitz bath can help relieve pain. Drinking plenty of water and eating a high-fiber diet can keep stools soft and prevent constipation. Stool softeners can also help.
Continue eating a fiber-rich diet with plenty of water even after you’ve recovered. Along with exercise, these can help keep hemorrhoids from coming back.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bouchard D, Abramowitz L, Castinel A, et al.One-year outcome of haemorrhoidectomy: a prospective multicentre French study.Colorectal Dis. 2013;15(6):719-26. doi:10.1111/codi.12090Kunitake H, Poylin V.Complications following anorectal surgery.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):14–21. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1568145Lohsiriwat V.Treatment of hemorrhoids: a coloproctologist’s view.World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(31):9245–9252. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i31.9245University of California San Francisco Department of Surgery.Hemorrhoidectomy.Additional ReadingNational Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Hemorrhoid surgery.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bouchard D, Abramowitz L, Castinel A, et al.One-year outcome of haemorrhoidectomy: a prospective multicentre French study.Colorectal Dis. 2013;15(6):719-26. doi:10.1111/codi.12090Kunitake H, Poylin V.Complications following anorectal surgery.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):14–21. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1568145Lohsiriwat V.Treatment of hemorrhoids: a coloproctologist’s view.World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(31):9245–9252. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i31.9245University of California San Francisco Department of Surgery.Hemorrhoidectomy.Additional ReadingNational Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Hemorrhoid surgery.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bouchard D, Abramowitz L, Castinel A, et al.One-year outcome of haemorrhoidectomy: a prospective multicentre French study.Colorectal Dis. 2013;15(6):719-26. doi:10.1111/codi.12090Kunitake H, Poylin V.Complications following anorectal surgery.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):14–21. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1568145Lohsiriwat V.Treatment of hemorrhoids: a coloproctologist’s view.World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(31):9245–9252. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i31.9245University of California San Francisco Department of Surgery.Hemorrhoidectomy.
Bouchard D, Abramowitz L, Castinel A, et al.One-year outcome of haemorrhoidectomy: a prospective multicentre French study.Colorectal Dis. 2013;15(6):719-26. doi:10.1111/codi.12090
Kunitake H, Poylin V.Complications following anorectal surgery.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):14–21. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1568145
Lohsiriwat V.Treatment of hemorrhoids: a coloproctologist’s view.World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(31):9245–9252. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i31.9245
University of California San Francisco Department of Surgery.Hemorrhoidectomy.
National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Hemorrhoid surgery.
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