While hemorrhoids by themselves are painful and annoying, a thrombosed hemorrhoid can be even more painful and annoying.
Thrombosis is caused by the rupturing and subsequent blood clots in a hemorrhoid. Because they are external, the nerves in a thrombosed hemorrhoid are extremely sensitive and easily agitated. Occasionally, they will become strangulated, in which case it is best to seek medical attention.

It is possible to treat thrombosed external hemorrhoids at home, as long as they aren’t too far gone. The best place to start is by making your bowel movements less painful. You can do this in one of two ways: amending your diet or taking a stool softener. By drinking plenty of water and eating foods high in fiber content, your stools will become softer and cause less pain. Foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains are good sources of fiber.

Be sure to keep the area clean. Commercial pre-moistened cloths are available, some moistened with witch hazel, which can be used for cleansing. You can also use moistened soft tissue to cleanse yourself. If possible, it is best to take a warm bath after a bowel movement for optimal cleansing and relief.

Thrombosed Hemorrhoids

You can ease the pain of thrombosed hemorrhoids by taking anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and applying topical analgesics. Creams are available over the counter, but there are other things you may already have at home that will work just as well. Witch hazel can be used to alleviate pain as well as for cleansing the sensitive hemorrhoid. Try applying vitamin E squeezed from a capsule or aloe vera. While they won’t cure the problem, these treatments can speed the healing process while easing your discomfort. Herbal supplements, such as Horse Chestnut and Stone root are sometimes suggested by herbalists to add to a treatment regimen.
Other procedures can aid in thrombosed hemorrhoid treatment as well. A warm sitz bath will not only ease the pain, but will increase blood flow to the hemorrhoid, and will shrink surrounding blood vessels. If the thrombosed hemorrhoid makes it difficult to sit in the tub, you may have to squat or make use of a doughnut to raise you off the hard surface of the tub.  Using ice packs on the sensitive area can also lessen the pain.

In the worst cases that do not respond to home treatment, you may have to have the thrombosed hemorrhoid treated and removed by a physician. There are surgical options, Rubber Band Ligation, infrared photocoagulation, and sclerotherapy. Discuss the available options with your doctor and decide which option is right for you.