Homeopathy Treatment for Prolapse of Rectum
Prolapse of Rectum
A Prolapse occurs when an organ falls or sinks out of its normal anatomical place. The pelvic organs normally have tissue (muscle, ligaments, etc.) holding them in place. Certain factors, however, may cause those tissues to weaken, leading to Prolapse of the organs.
Rectal Prolapse is protrusion of rectal tissue through the anus to the exterior of the body. It is also called as procidentia of rectum.
The rectum is the last out of six divisions of the large intestine; the anus is the opening from the rectum through which stool exits the body. A complete rectal Prolapse occurs when the rectum protrudes through the anus. If rectal Prolapse is present, but the rectum does not protrude through the anus, it is called occult rectal Prolapse, or rectal intussusception. In females, a rectocele occurs when the rectum protrudes into the posterior (back) wall of the vagina.
It occurs mainly in the elderly and in young children. Complete Prolapse in adults is most common in elderly females. In children, rectal Prolapse occurs most often in patients younger than 3 years, and especially in the first year of life. Females are affected more often than males, accounting for 80% to 90% of reported cases.
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Types
There are three chief conditions which come under the title rectal Prolapse:
- Full-Thickness rectal Prolapse describes the entire rectum protruding through the anus.
- Mucosal Prolapse describes only the rectal mucosa (not the entire wall) prolapsing.
- Internal intussusception wherein the rectum collapses but does not exit the anus.
Causes of Rectal Prolapse
Rectal Prolapse is caused by weakening of the ligaments and muscles that hold the rectum in place. In most people with a Prolapsed rectum, the anal sphincter muscle is weak. However, rectal Prolapse is usually associated with the following conditions:
- Increased intra-abdominal pressure, e.g., constipation, diarrhea, benign prostatic hypertrophy, pregnancy, severe or chronic cough (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, whooping cough)
- Previous surgery
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Parasitic infections, e.g., amoebiasis, schistosomiasis
- Neurological disease, e.g., previous lower back or pelvic trauma, lumbar disc disease, cauda equina syndrome, spinal tumors, multiple sclerosis
- Psychiatric disease
In children rectal Prolapse may be associated with cystic fibrosis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Hirschsprung’s disease, congenital megacolon, malnutrition, and polyps.
How to Diagnose Rectal Prolapse?
Physical examination is most often used to diagnose rectal Prolapse. The patient is asked to strain as if defecating; this increase in intra-abdominal pressure will maximize the degree of Prolapse and aid in diagnosis. Other tests are: –
- Videodefecogram — This X-ray test is taken while the patient is having a bowel movement to help determine whether the Prolapse is internal and if surgery is necessary.
- Anorectal manometry test — Measures how well the muscles around the rectum are functioning.
- Colonoscopy — Determines if the rest of the colon is normal.
Signs and Symptoms of Prolapse of Rectum
The first sign of rectal Prolapse is often the unexpected release of mucus, stool, or blood from the anus.
Other symptoms of rectal Prolapse include:
- A feeling of having full bowels and an urgent need to have a bowel movement.
- Passage of many very small stools.
- The feeling of not being able to empty the bowels completely.
- An inability to control bowel movements (fecal incontinence) that becomes worse over time.
- Anal pain, itching, irritation, and bleeding.
- Bright red tissue that protrudes from the anus.
Patient may notice tissue slipping out of the anus during a bowel movement. As the condition becomes worse, tissue may slide out of the anus when you stand and then may remain outside the anus all the time.
Complications of Prolapse of Rectum
Rectal Prolapse that is not treated can lead to complications.
- Fecal incontinence may become worse, and permanent damage can occur to the circular muscle that controls the anus (anal sphincter).
- The rectum can become damaged from the tissues rubbing together, which can result in a sore (ulcer) that may bleed.
- Normal blood flow to tissue in the rectum may be cut off, causing the tissue to die (gangrene).
- If a Prolapsed rectum swells, it may prevent the passage of stools.
- Rarely, a loop of the large intestine is pinched off (strangulated), causing blockage of the intestine (bowel obstruction).
Homeopathy and Rectal Prolapse
One of the natural health therapies widely in use today is Homeopathy.
There are specific medicines for the treatment of rectal Prolapsed and the related conditions. Research shows high efficacy of the homeopathic medicines in treating rectal Prolapsed. The homeopathic medicines treat the patients leaving no side-effects.
Recent clinical research suggests that homeopathy affects the immune system. Homeopathic drugs also have been found to stimulate the white blood cells and to have antiviral and antibacterial effects, as seen in European laboratory studies by Ferley on influenza-like syndromes and by Davenas on mouse macrophages and on human basophils
Fear to go out of home, pain, depression, and embarrassment associated with the condition leaves the patient nowhere. But homeopathic treatment has the caliber to help you get out of all these things easily.
Scared of surgery? There is a kinder alternative, Homeopathic treatment!
So, one can save himself/herself from a painful and depressing condition and need not be absent from work.
How Homeopathy works on Rectal Prolapsed?
- Touching the root cause of rectal Prolapsed: – after the detailed case taking the exact cause of the rectal Prolapsed is evaluated like constipation, previous pelvis surgery, infections etc. and then an appropriate homeopathic medicine is prescribed in contrast to the conventional treatment where the root of the problem is not touched upon.
- Supportive homeopathic medicines- ligaments and muscles that hold the rectum in place become weak resulting in rectal Prolapsed can be supported well by homeopathic medicines. Layers of muscles, fibrous coverings called fasciae, and various ligaments and tendons are supported by homeopathic medicines keeping the rectum at its place.
- Treating the various infections withy homeopathic medicines– Homeopathic medicines work as a powerful anti-inflammatory medicine which will help in reducing the frequency of stools, the urging and the passage of mucus and blood in the stools, etc.
- Action of the medicines on the various risk factors: – the various risk factors like constipation, diarrhea, chronic cough, BHP(benign prostatic hypertrophy) can be effectively treated with homeopathy and hence reducing the severity of the condition.
- Early Diagnoses and Homeopathic treatment rules out the option of surgery- Surgery can be avoided if a patient comes in the early stages (first and second degree Prolapse) of the disease. Homeopathic medicines help in slowing down the progress of the disease and prevent the complications like incontinence of urine, infections etc.
- Action of homeopathic medicines after surgery- If surgery is the last option and cannot be prevented, then it is highly recommended to continue the homeopathic treatment to avoid post surgical complications
Self care at home
Home treatment for children
If your child has a rectal Prolapse, you can help prevent the Prolapse from coming back.
- Push the Prolapse back into place as soon as it occurs. Wear disposable latex gloves and use lubricating jelly. Apply an ice pack to help decrease swelling.
- Have the child use a small toilet that is placed on the floor. This will help support the child’s buttocks so that he or she will not have to strain while having a bowel movement.
Home treatment for adults
Protruding tissue caused by rectal Prolapse often can be pushed back into place. Stand with your chest tucked as closely to your thighs as you can. Using a wet, gloved finger or a soft, warm, wet cloth, gently reinsert any tissue that comes out of the anus. If the rectal tissue cannot be inserted easily into the anus, see your doctor.
Other measures include: –
- Drink plenty of water. And eat fruits, vegetables, and other foods that contain fiber. A high-fiber diet can help prevent constipation and reduce the need to strain during a bowel movement. Changes in diet are very important to improve or reverse a Prolapse of the lining of the rectum (partial Prolapse), which does not always protrude from the anus.
- Do Kegel exercises to help strengthen the muscles of the pelvic area. Although these exercises usually are used to help prevent urinary incontinence and Prolapse of the uterus, they also can strengthen muscles in the pelvic area and may improve symptoms of rectal Prolapse in both men and women.
- Do not strain while having a bowel movement.