"Does Traditional Hemorrhoid Surgery Cause Pain Afterwards?"
Postoperative Pain Management for Traditional Hemorrhoid Surgery
Traditional hemorrhoid surgery can be accompanied by pain, though the intensity varies among individuals. The postoperative pain primarily stems from the analgesic effects of anesthetic medications. Immediately after surgery, patients may experience localized pain due to the anesthetics, which typically diminish over several days, gradually alleviating the pain sensation.
1. Local Anesthesia
Local anesthesia is a relatively effective method for postoperative analgesia. Lidocaine is commonly used, allowing patients to undergo surgery without feeling pain, though they may experience mild discomfort.
2. Spinal Anesthesia
Spinal anesthesia offers good postoperative analgesia and can last for a period. Some patients may experience localized pain 2-3 days after surgery, primarily due to anesthesia-induced numbness of skin sensation, which subsides as the anesthetic wears off.
3. General Anesthesia
Traditional hemorrhoid surgeries may result in suboptimal analgesia, with some patients experiencing severe pain. In such cases, intravenous general anesthesia can be administered, effectively eliminating pain symptoms through intravenous medication.
4. Pain Pump
For patients experiencing severe, intolerable postoperative pain, a pain pump can be considered. This device effectively alleviates postoperative pain, ensuring that patients do not experience significant discomfort.
Postoperative Diet and Care
Following traditional hemorrhoid surgery, patients must adhere to a specific diet. Eating is allowed only after passing gas, and the diet should primarily consist of semi-liquid foods such as porridge and noodles, avoiding spicy or irritating foods like chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, which may irritate the anus and hinder gas passage. Additionally, patients should promptly cleanse the anus after bowel movements, followed by a sitz bath with warm water or potassium permanganate solution to maintain anal cleanliness and dryness.