Tips for Recovering After Hemorrhoid Surgery (2024)

Hemorrhoidectomy is a surgery used to treat hemorrhoids when symptoms are severe or conservative treatments fail 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.

Tips for Recovering After Hemorrhoid Surgery (1)

Hemorrhoid Surgery Recovery Timeline

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.

You can expect some pain and discomfort for two to four weeks following the surgery, though it will gradually subside. You can minimize pain by avoiding constipation, practicing proper wound care, and using pain medications as prescribed.

Full recovery with no pain is usually achieved withinone to two months.

Home Care

You can make recovery from a hemorrhoidectomy a whole lot easier by educating yourself and making a few preparations in advance of the surgery. This includes restricting certain activities, preparing meal plans, having a pain management strategy, and committing to follow-up appointments.

Activity

Certain activities need to be restricted during recovery from a hemorrhoidectomy. These include any activity that places undue pressure or movement of the anal 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:

  • Heavy lifting
  • Straining during bowel movement
  • Running
  • Heavy exertion of any sort

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

The main dietary goal following a hemorrhoidectomy is the avoidance of constipation. Hardened stools place extreme pressure on the surgical site during bowel movements. Most are caused by inadequate fiber intake and dehydration.

During the first few days of recovery, you will need to eat a low-residue diet, consuming foods that place little stress on the anus during bowel movements.

Low-residue foods include:

  • Cooked cereals, like farina or cream of wheat
  • White rice or noodles
  • White bread or plain saltine crackers
  • Well-cooked vegetables or canned vegetables without seeds
  • Lean ground beef, chicken, or pork
  • Eggs
  • Dried fruits, including prune
  • Ripe bananas
  • Soft melons or papaya
  • Applesauce
  • Gelatin
  • Pudding
  • Ice cream or popsicles

As you begin to heal, you can embark on a low-fat, high-fiber diet. This includes foods rich in soluble fiber which draw water out of the intestines and helps soften stools

Sources of soluble fiber include:

  • Apples
  • Avocados
  • Beans and legumes
  • Berries
  • Brown rice
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Brocolli
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Eggplant
  • Pears
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Zucchini

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 to Ease Constipation

Medications

There are two classes of medications commonly prescribed to people who have undergone a hemorrhoidectomy: stool softeners and analgesics (painkillers).

Stool softeners work naturally with the body to ease bowel movements and have fewer side effects than stronger stimulant laxatives. They are also less likely to cause diarrhea, which also places undue stress on surgical wounds.

Recommended stool softeners include:

  • Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide)
  • Colace (docusate sodium)
  • Metamucil (psyllium husk)
  • Miralax (polyethylene glycol)

Sitz Bath for Pain Relief

A sitz bath may 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 drugs used to treat postoperative hemorrhoid pain include:

  • Tylenol (acetaminophen): An over-the-counter drug that has analgesic and antipyretic (fever-reducing) effects
  • Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Options include Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) which have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects
  • Rectal NSAIDs: Most commonly Voltaren (diclofenac) suppositories

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 an ice pack or cold compress can be applied to the anus to help ease swelling and pain.

Follow-Up Appointments

A follow-up appointmentwill 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:

  • Infection: Recognized by pain, oozing, swelling, and redness of the surgical site
  • Anal stricture: The narrowing and hardening of the anal sphincter
  • Urinary retention: The reduced ability or inability to urinate (pee)
  • Fecal impaction: When stools back up into the small intestine
  • Fecal incontinence: The loss of bowel control

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:

  • Avoid foodsthat cause constipation, such as dairy products, red meat, and processedfoods.
  • Don't move quickly or lift anything heavy until your healthcare provider gives you the OK.
  • Avoid wiping your anus with dry toilet paper for the first few days. You can instead use unscented baby wipes, Tuck pads, or moistened paper towels.
  • Do not apply skin cleansers, antibacterial soaps, alcohol, iodine, or hydrogen peroxide to the rectal area. They can damage the skin around the incision and delay healing.

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.

Exercise can also decrease constipation by stimulating the bowels. Even a 15-minute walk can help. Twisting exercises and toe touches also promote regular bowel movements.

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.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

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:

  • High fever with chills
  • Pain that cannot be controlled with medicine
  • Problems passing stool or urine
  • Abnormal discharge from the anus
  • Passing large amounts of blood from the anus

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 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. 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

  2. Kunitake H, Poylin V. Complications following anorectal surgery.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):14–21. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1568145

  3. Lohsiriwat V. Treatment of hemorrhoids: a coloproctologist's view.World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(31):9245–9252. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i31.9245

  4. University of California San Francisco Department of Surgery. Hemorrhoidectomy.

Additional Reading

By Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FN
Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She has experience in primary care and hospital medicine.

See Our Editorial Process

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Tips for Recovering After Hemorrhoid Surgery (2024)

FAQs

Tips for Recovering After Hemorrhoid Surgery? ›

Take sitz baths (sit for 15-20 minutes in warm water) at least 3 times a day and after each bowel movement. Don't worry if you have some bleeding, discharge, or itching during your recovery. This is normal. Avoid constipation.

How to heal faster after hemorrhoidectomy? ›

Take sitz baths (sit for 15-20 minutes in warm water) at least 3 times a day and after each bowel movement. Don't worry if you have some bleeding, discharge, or itching during your recovery. This is normal. Avoid constipation.

How can I make my poop easier after hemorrhoidectomy? ›

Start adding high-fibre foods to your diet 2 or 3 days after your surgery. This will make bowel movements easier. And it lowers the chance that you will get hemorrhoids again. If your bowel movements are not regular right after surgery, try to avoid constipation and straining.

When can I sit after hemorrhoid surgery? ›

You will get out of bed on the day of your surgery. Please ask your nurse to help you the first time you get up. As you feel stronger, you will be able to take longer walks. For the first few days, sit down gently and do not sit for long periods of time.

Does walking help after hemorrhoid surgery? ›

Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation. Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay.

What is the most painful day after hemorrhoidectomy? ›

Typically, the most significant pain occurs with your first bowel movement after hemorrhoidectomy surgery.

How long should you take stool softener after hemorrhoidectomy? ›

It is also important to take a stool softener such as Colace, Metamucil, or Citrucel once or twice a day for the first month after surgery. If you are unable to have a bowel movement following surgery, a mild laxative such as Milk of Magnesia may be used.

What not to do after hemorrhoid surgery? ›

Avoid lifting, pulling, or strenuous activity until your bottom has healed. This includes straining during bowel movements or urination. Depending on how you feel and the type of work you do, you may need to take time off work. As you start feeling better, increase your physical activity.

How do I know if my hemorrhoidectomy is healing? ›

Hemorrhoidectomy healing process

Once your hemorrhoids are removed, you will begin to feel better with each passing day. You can expect to feel fully recovered with no pain at all after 1-2 months. You will feel aches and pains around the area for 2-4 weeks after the procedure, lessening each day as you recover.

What is the most comfortable position after hemorrhoidectomy? ›

In addition to clean cotton underwear and loose-fitting pajamas, we recommend you sleep on your stomach to reduce anal pain and place a pillow under your hips to prevent yourself from rolling over onto your back.

Is hemorrhoidectomy one of the most painful surgeries? ›

This aspect has been analyzed in several studies, as the hemorrhoidectomy is a procedure in which the severe pain (opioid requirements in analgesic management) occurs in 20–40% of patients,,, even more than the “older” abdominal surgeries.

Do people lose weight after hemorrhoidectomy? ›

Compared with the traditional direct hemorrhoidectomy method (which causes patients a lot of pain because the intervention area is where many nerve endings are concentrated, direct hemorrhoidectomy loses the anal cushion, causing the patient to lose weight).

How long does it take for hemorrhoidectomy stitches to dissolve? ›

Most of the stitches are inside the anal canal (back passage) and will dissolve over a period of two to four weeks. The surgeon may also place a small pack inside the rectum to stem any bleeding. This will either be removed by the nursing staff, dissolve, or will be passed with your first bowel movement.

What is the fastest way to recover from a hemorrhoidectomy? ›

How can you care for yourself at home?
  1. Rest when you feel tired.
  2. Be active. Walking is a good choice.
  3. Allow your body to heal. Don't move quickly or lift anything heavy until you are feeling better.
  4. You may take showers and baths as usual. ...
  5. You will probably need to take 1 to 2 weeks off work.

What is the average recovery time for hemorrhoid surgery? ›

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.

What is the best exercise after hemorrhoid surgery? ›

You can do as much as you feel able to. However, avoid any heavy activity such as lifting, exercise or running during the first week or so after surgery. Do not go swimming until your wound has healed.

How long does it take for a hemorrhoidectomy to fully heal? ›

Hemorrhoidectomy healing process

Once your hemorrhoids are removed, you will begin to feel better with each passing day. You can expect to feel fully recovered with no pain at all after 1-2 months. You will feel aches and pains around the area for 2-4 weeks after the procedure, lessening each day as you recover.

Can I use Preparation H after hemorrhoidectomy? ›

After 1 week, some people prefer to use medicines such as Anusol or Preparation H to soothe the tissues. It is very important that your bowel movements remain soft after surgery. Drink at least 6 full glasses of water daily.

Does ice help after hemorrhoidectomy? ›

You may apply an ice pack to your bottom to help reduce swelling and pain. Wrap the ice pack in a clean towel before applying it. This prevents cold injury to your skin. Do not use the ice pack for more than 15 minutes at a time.

Can I use vaseline after hemorrhoidectomy? ›

Unless otherwise instructed, the wound requires no dressing, and you should wear a pad inside your underwear to absorb any fluid leaking from the wound. These secretions can irritate the skin around the anus. This can be prevented by using a barrier cream like Bepanthen or Vaseline.

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