Can Hemorrhoids Cause Back Pain?

Hemorrhoids can cause a lot of problems. The problems form in critical parts of the body, exposing it to exceptionally harmful circumstances.

In addition to being itchy and painful, hemorrhoids halt the body's normal functions. With all the damage hemorrhoids can do, the question remains what impact, if any, do hemorrhoids have on back pain?

To determine whether hemorrhoids cause back pain, it's essential to look at what hemorrhoids are and how they interact with the body. Hemorrhoids can be broken down into two categories:

Internal Hemorrhoids

These hemorrhoids exist in the body for the most part. The symptoms, however, are seen outside the body. Internal hemorrhoid symptoms may be lines of blood on toilet paper or in a bowel movement released into a toilet. These hemorrhoids form from small veins which swell in the anal region. Sometimes the veins swell so much that they sag and pop outside of the anus. When this occurs, the pain worsens greatly because anal muscles restrict the blood flow. Hemorrhoids thrive on blood flow. The result is mucus-like material on toilet paper following bowel movements.

If these hemorrhoids do not heal quickly, the damaged veins can cause additional health problems.

External Hemorrhoids

With external hemorrhoids, the risk of severe conditions is elevated. External hemorrhoids progress from small smears of blood to small puddles of blood. A discomforting solid mass develops in the anal region and the hemorrhoids begin to clot.

Do Hemorrhoids Cause Back Pain?

From a scientific perspective, the link between hemorrhoids and back pain is dubious. Some have speculated that hemorrhoids require so much blood that they drain blood from other sources. Such instances they claim may cause back pain in muscular regions of the back due to a lack of blood flow.

The other possible connection between hemorrhoids and back pain is the location. People often complain of hemorrhoid pain near the tailbone because hemorrhoids grow near their tailbone. Such growths can cause sufferers to equate hemorrhoids pain with tailbone pain, thus establishing a back pain connection. Again, both connections are dubious and not scientifically founded.

Hemorrhoids, under normal circumstances, should be seen by a doctor. When hemorrhoids begin bleeding and occur outside the body, a physician should be consulted. Anal bleeding can be a symptom of more serious issues such as colon or rectal cancers.

Over-the-counter medications can be helpful in treating most hemorrhoids. The over-the-counter creams relieve pain and reduce swelling. Other treatments help external hemorrhoids without the aid of a doctor. Treatments include adding more fiber to meals, drinking more water and the hemorrhoid creams to reduce itch-inducing inflammation. These treatments have also been shown effective in treating internal hemorrhoids.

Particularly harmful cases of internal hemorrhoids may require other treatments. Tying the hemorrhoids with a rubber band can restrict blood flow, essentially stopping the hemorrhoids' food supply. Surgery is another option for severe cases.

Either way, when suffering from both back pain and hemorrhoids, consult a doctor, but be wary of drawing conclusions about hemorrhoids causing back pain. Other underlying problems are more likely.