Consider Oral Pain Relievers

As with most conditions, not everyone is going to experience hemorrhoids the same way. For many, after about a week of light treatment and care the problem tends to clear itself up. Not every case is mild though and for some there can be a fair amount of discomfort. Walking, sitting and even just standing in one place can cause grimace-inducing pangs of burning pain. Painkillers are a temporary answer for those who can’t tolerate the nagging distraction caused by the irritated thunder down under.

There are four main types of nonprescription painkillers to choose from:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• ibuprofen (Advil)
• naproxen (Aleve)
• acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin)

All four of these painkillers work in a similar manner. When the body becomes ill or injured, chemicals called prostaglandins transmit pain signals to bring attention to the problem. Oral pain relievers block those signals from being transmitted, numbing the pain for a short time. While there is no clear-cut winner for best pain relief, ibuprofen has a slight edge because in addition to pain relief it also brings down swelling. Aspirin is also good for fighting inflammation but is also a blood thinner which could be tricky for those with bleeding hemorrhoids. If unsure which painkiller is best, talk to a health specialist.