Rehabilitation after hemorrhoid surgery

A successful operation on hemorrhoids is halfway there. For a complete recovery of the body after resection, it is necessary to follow all the rules of the postoperative period. The efficiency of the rectum in the future depends on this and the likelihood of complications will decrease.  

How long do they stay in the hospital after surgery?

After surgical resection of hemorrhoids, the patient is under medical supervision for about 3 weeks. At this time, a working citizen is issued a paid sick leave. If a minimally invasive technique for removing hemorrhoids is used, the rehabilitation period is reduced to three days. If during this time there were no complications, the patient is discharged home.

How long is the postoperative period

How long a patient will recover after surgery depends on many factors:

• age;
• surgical technique;
• the presence of intestinal diseases;
• type of hemorrhoidal lesion;
• the general state of the immune system (presence of chronic diseases);

On average, the postoperative period after hemorrhoid surgery lasts from 2 weeks to 1.5 months. This period can be reduced if you steadily follow the doctor's recommendations, take healing drugs and follow a diet.

Important! Hemorrhoids are a very dangerous disease. Statistics show that 79% of patients are at risk of developing oncology.

Basic rules of rehabilitation

Methods of rehabilitation after surgery for hemorrhoids are selected individually. First of all, it is important for the doctor to restore the full functioning of the vessels. Therefore, the patient is prescribed a comprehensive treatment, which includes the following components:

1. Taking prescribed medications. For the successful healing of postoperative sutures, suppositories and ointments are prescribed. They have analgesic, hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effects. The selection of medicines takes into account the postoperative complications that have arisen in the patient. If the resection was successful, medication may not be needed.
2. Hygiene. During the recovery process, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse the anus. It is best to use regular, fragrance-free baby soap. The water must be cold. In patients who neglected hygiene, infection and suppuration in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe sutures are observed.
3.  Dieting. During the healing period, you should take only those foods that are easily absorbed by the body and do not linger in it. Otherwise, the patient risks damaging the rectal or anus mucosa with dense feces or gases.
4. Decreased motor activity. Many patients after resection quickly feel improvements and include physical activity in their routine. But these are false sensations. After all, the comparison is with the state that was before surgery. Therefore, it is better to minimize the load on the pelvic area for the entire recovery period.

In order for the sutures to heal quickly, and the operation to take place without complications, it is necessary to strictly adhere to all the recommendations of the attending physician. Their non-compliance can lead to the reappearance of hemorrhoidal bumps, divergence of sutures and other problems of the rehabilitation period.

What problems can appear at an early stage of rehabilitation

Many patients expect to get rid of the problem immediately after surgery for hemorrhoids, bypassing postoperative complications. However, as statistics show, in most cases, recovery does not go smoothly. Most often, one or more uncomfortable manifestations occur:

1. Pain syndrome. After the effect of anesthesia ends, the patient may feel pain in the anus. And in most cases, it is quite sharp. To relieve pain, the patient is prescribed non-narcotic or narcotic analgesics. Unpleasant sensations can last for several days. The pain subsides gradually as the scars heal.
2. Prolapse of the rectum. This complication is extremely rare. Most often, prolapse is caused by damage to the anal sphincter during surgery. Another reason is the initially weak rear valve. To eliminate this violation, a strict conservative solution or repeated surgical intervention is necessary.
3. Urinary retention. It affects mainly men. In women, this complication manifests itself if epidural anesthesia was used during the operation. To eliminate urinary retention, no additional surgical interventions are required. It goes away on its own after 2-3 days. At this time, a catheter is installed in patients, which removes fluid from the bladder.
4. Narrowing of the anus. This happens when the sutures are not properly placed at the last stage of the operation. The patient, in turn, feels pain during bowel movements and a constant feeling of incomplete defecation.

Another complication that occurs in a patient after surgery for hemorrhoids is more of a psychological focus. The patient begins to fear the process of emptying the intestines. He feels like he doesn't go to the toilet often enough or is afraid of pain or bleeding. To eliminate this problem, the patient is prescribed laxatives. In rare cases, if fear turns into panic attacks, it is recommended to visit a psychologist.

Note! Due to the fact that in our country patients are wary of visiting a psychologist, denying the existence of problems, problems with bowel movements can go into a chronic stage. The patient has constipation, which leads to damage to the anus. It is important to remember that all problems discussed with a psychologist do not go beyond the office.

How to eat right during the recovery period

Successful recovery after hemorrhoid surgery directly depends on whether the person followed the diet. It includes eating certain foods. But this is not the main thing. The basics of clinical nutrition consist of several rules:

1. It is necessary to adhere to the principle of fractional nutrition. Doctors recommend eating small portions, the size of a human fist, 5-6 times a day.
2. Food must be balanced. After the operation, the patient is given a list of allowed and prohibited foods. In the cooking process, it is necessary to combine the components so that the body receives the optimal amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
3. Products must not be fried. Cooking is best done by boiling, stewing or baking. This will help reduce the risk of intestinal upset.
4. Prepared meals must be taken correctly. Doctors recommend chewing each bite thoroughly before swallowing it. Plus, you should avoid taking water and other drinks with meals.

If all of the above tips are followed, the patient reduces the risk of flatulence and constipation, which cause pain and other inconveniences in the rehabilitation process.

What foods can you eat

As previously mentioned, the patient is given a list of products allowed during the rehabilitation period. All of them are rich in fiber and moisture. Among them:

• vegetable soups;
• cereals (except semolina and rice);
• vegetable purees;
• juices;
• omelette;
• berry compotes;
• fruit without seeds;
• meat and cottage cheese casseroles;
• berries without seeds;
• lean fish and meat (finely chopped);
• low-fat or low-fat dairy products.

Plus, you need to maintain water balance by drinking at least two liters of water a day. As for fresh vegetables, they should be treated with caution. Most of them cause flatulence. And this complicates the process of emptying the intestines and contributes to the appearance of pain.

What products are prohibited

In order for surgical sutures to heal faster, it is necessary to abandon a number of "harmful" products:

• fresh sweet pastries;
• mayonnaise;
• strong tea, coffee;
• fatty meat and fish broth;
• fresh milk;
• alcoholic drinks;
• seasonings (especially spicy);
• cocoa products;
• vegetables containing coarse fiber;
• berries and fruits with small seeds;
• carbonated drinks;
• fatty meats and fish.

Immediately after the operation, patients are put on a liquid diet. The first 1-2 days they are forbidden to eat any solid food. And after all meals should be made in compliance with the above rules.

You need to follow a diet for the entire recovery period after hemorrhoid surgery. Many abandon proper nutrition immediately after the scars heal. But it is best to extend the diet for a month. In order to avoid routine and breakdowns, it is best to cook dishes in a slow cooker, use the recipes of nutritionists.

It is important after the end of the diet that you do not need to run to the refrigerator and overeat previously prohibited foods. Proctologists recommend introducing the “prohibition” gradually, otherwise hemorrhoids may reappear. The basis of nutrition should be the right foods. And the number of prohibited items varies within 20% -30% of the total monthly norm.

Recommendations for physical activity norms

After removal of hemorrhoidal cones, it is strictly forbidden to run, lift weights, and generally overexert your body. Namely, the crotch area. General recommendations for the amount of physical activity are as follows:

1. The first few days after the intervention, the patient should be at rest. Patients are on bed rest. They are forbidden to make sudden movements, strain the abdominal area. This is due to the fact that during this period postoperative scars are formed, dissected tissues heal.
2. Only 2-3 weeks after the operation, it is allowed to introduce rehabilitation exercises. Exercises should not overstretch the pelvic region. It is recommended to walk short distances, do breathing exercises. An exercise therapy doctor can help with the selection of exercises.

Compliance with all these rules contributes to the rapid healing of sutures, due to the improvement of blood supply within the tissues. Sexual contacts are possible only after three weeks. At the same time, anal sex is strictly prohibited.

For a full recovery, the body will need at least 2 months. All this time, a working citizen is on sick leave. This is especially true for office workers, since a person is forbidden to sit for a long time. For trips by car, it is recommended to purchase a special ring-shaped pillow.

Recommendations for hygiene standards

The postoperative period when removing hemorrhoids includes hygiene. A person needs:

• wash the genitals and anus with cool water and baby soap;
• water procedures are carried out at least 2 times a day;
• use soft tissues or toilet paper;
• wear cotton underwear (thongs are strictly prohibited).

Compliance with hygiene allows postoperative sutures to heal faster. Additionally, the risk of their infection with subsequent suppuration is reduced.

What complications can occur after surgery

If the rules of rehabilitation are violated, a person may experience the following deterioration:

1. The occurrence of bleeding. Bloody discharge appears due to injury to postoperative sutures, unhealed tissues, rectum and anus. They can be small and quite abundant. In the latter case, the patient is given a blood transfusion or hemostatic injections.
2. Suppuration of the seams. Pus appears if the patient neglects the rules of personal hygiene. If suppuration occurs, you should immediately contact a proctologist. If this is not done on time, phlegmon or rectal fistula will occur at the site of hemorrhoids.

If the patient strictly follows all the advice of his attending physician, he will be able to avoid the serious consequences of the operation. To understand that something went wrong, you can by several signs:

• the appearance of severe incessant pain;
• the appearance of purulent discharge from the anus;
• high temperature leading to fever;
• profuse bleeding from the anus.

If a person has noticed one of the above signs, you should immediately contact a proctologist. There is no need to self-prescribe medications or hide about taking painkillers. The patient runs the risk of nullifying all the doctors' work and returning to the preoperative state. In addition, excessive bleeding can be fatal.

You can learn more about all the nuances of the correct postoperative period after resection of hemorrhoidal cones from the video review, where a professional doctor answers all questions of concern to patients:

Compliance with the rules of rehabilitation is the direct responsibility of the patient. The surgeon can only remove the neoplasms and give recommendations for further healing. With their observance, a person will be able to recover as soon as possible and avoid complications. In addition, relapses in this disease practically do not occur.