Varicose veins on the legs are a pathology of subcutaneous veins in which they expand, thin and become inflamed. Venous valves become ineffective, leading to swelling, pain and circulation problems. A dangerous complication of varicose veins is thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the vessel wall with the formation of a blood clot), trophic ulcer, separation of the blood clot, embolism of the lungs and other organs, bleeding.
Causes of disease
- genetic predisposition;
- working on your feet or sitting for a long time, heavy loads, lifting weights;
- hormonal changes during pregnancy, private childbirth
- excess weight;
- advanced age and gender (30% in women, 10% in men)
Symptoms of varicose veins and the mechanism of development
- Swelling of the legs in the evening;
- leg pain, heaviness;
- vascular network, blue skin color;
- increased fatigue from physical exertion;
- nodes on the veins, from pain, inflammation;
- itchy skin, cramps;
- darkening of the skin;
- thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcer.
Varicose veins in women often occur during childbirth, but with timely treatment they pass. The situation is worse in cases where the woman does not go to the doctor and expects improvement after childbirth. However, we must remember that varicose veins do not disappear on their own.
There are two sectors of the venous bed: peripheral and deep. Normally, blood should move from the periphery to the center, that is, upwards. But if the tone of the valves and blood vessels is reduced, then the blood begins to move into the superficial veins. As a result, they lengthen, stretch, form knots that are visible even without instruments. If you do not change your lifestyle and start therapy, the disease will progress, because the blood tends to descend according to the law of gravity. At this stage, drugs and therapeutic exercises will no longer help.
Diagnostics
In most cases, an examination of the legs by a doctor and an ultrasound are sufficient. If there is a risk of varicose veins reappearing, an x-ray examination of the deep veins and injection of a contrast medium (phlebography) is necessary.
How to treat varicose veins on the legs?
In the initial period of the disease, when there are no visible veins and pain, but there is heaviness in the legs, it makes sense to visit a doctor and start prevention. Medicines for internal and external use, an active lifestyle, gymnastics, wearing therapeutic compression stockings are suitable here (the list of medicines can be found at the end).
Preventive measures bear fruit, especially if you change jobs and don't stay upright for long. Sports activities recommended by the doctor will help improve blood flow, because the working muscles of the legs significantly tone the blood vessels. Unfortunately, many people ignore the primary signs of varicose veins. In the future, expensive methods must be resorted to.
Modern methods of treatment of varicose veins
Now there are effective methods of treating varicose veins without surgery. Their meaning boils down to the following - pathological veins are removed from the bloodstream. With the help of a laser or some other method, the wall of the damaged vein is glued in the area of the valve, and blood no longer enters this segment of the channel. One or more punctures are made for laser access, without anesthesia and without incision, long-term rehabilitation is not required. As a result, proper blood circulation is restored, knots, swelling and pain disappear. Skin color returns to normal, becomes smooth.
Consider more detailed methods of therapy without surgery
Laser treatment of patients has become widespread in the last decade. If the previously damaged vein had to be removed surgically, exposing the person to risk and long-term hospitalization, then in our time these techniques are outdated. Internal venous laser coagulation is widely prescribed. The laser fiber is inserted into the vein through a thin puncture and leads to the damaged valve. Heating with the beam causes coagulation of vascular tissue, as a result of inflammation, the walls of the vein stick together. The method also works in the later stages of varicose veins, when there are trophic ulcers. Efficacy was noted in 98% of patients. Therapy with the help of radio wave energy is carried out according to the same principle.
If the varicose veins have not reached a dangerous stage, then the sclerotherapy method is used. This technique does not involve the use of heat. The substance is injected into the vein, which leads to an inflammatory reaction, followed by filling of the lumen of the vessel. Injections with sclerosants have their drawbacks - they have a high recurrence rate. Sclerotherapy will not eliminate the severe blood flow imbalance in the large veins. In addition, there may be an allergy to such drugs, there is a risk of tissue necrosis of blood vessels. The low cost of the method should be mentioned as an advantage. Doctors often combine laser therapy with injections.
Along with laser treatment, miniphlebectomy is used - removal of the damaged vein through a thin puncture. After the operation, the patient goes home the same day, because there are no incisions. The skin takes on an aesthetic appearance, normal color, no scars remain.
Treatment of varicose veins with drugs
We note again that it is impossible to completely get rid of the pathology only in a conservative way. Therefore, the prescription of drugs is symptomatic and prophylactic. However, many patients who attend the course notice significant improvements: leg pain, swelling and fatigue are reduced.
Venotonics
Diosmin-based drugs belong to this group: they increase the tone of veins and capillaries, which results in a decrease in their elasticity and venous congestion. Improves blood circulation, microcirculation, reduces leg swelling, pain, weight. An additional indication for the medication is the symptomatic treatment of hemorrhoids.
External forms of venotonics are also produced.
A lot of positive things can be said about venotonics with diosmin, their effectiveness has been proven by clinical trials, and side effects are rare. Before their appearance, Troxevasin was used on the basis of troxerutin. It has wide indications, has anti-inflammatory effects, but more side effects. Drops based on horse chestnut seed extract tone the vein walls and improve the condition of the capillaries. Also indicated for varicose veins.
Anticoagulants for external use
This group contains all gels with sodium heparin. The drug accelerates the resorption of blood clots, reduces swelling in tissues, increases circulation in capillaries, has an anti-inflammatory effect. Varicose veins are its main indicator. The line of gels with heparin is very large, it has different concentrations.
Heparin is often part of complex external forms of varicose veins.
Physiotherapy for varicose veins
electrophoresis
Under the action of electric current on a special carrier, the drug is delivered directly to the altered vessels (venotonics, heparin). The procedure is painless, takes less than an hour, the course is up to 20 sessions. Effective for strengthening the veins, reduces the severity of the disease, but does not completely remove the knots.
Lymphatic drainage, pressotherapy
To perform this procedure, you will need equipment: a suit, a compressor. Air is supplied to the suit with distribution to the legs. Tissues and blood vessels are compressed, an imitation of massage occurs. Improves lymph outflow, excess water. The time of exposure is determined by the doctor. However, an important contraindication is nodes, protruding veins, kidney disease. Pressotherapy is indicated only in the initial stage of varicose veins.
Magnetotherapy
Effect on veins by a low-frequency magnetic field. The method also reduces swelling, pain, heaviness in the legs. But, of course, it doesn't fix a damaged valve. In general, we can say that all types of physiotherapy are good only in the initial stage of varicose veins. Here are the general contraindications:
- oncological diseases;
- pregnancy;
- hypertension;
- bleeding;
- tuberculosis;
- epilepsy;
- blood clotting disorders, etc.
In addition to physiotherapy, regular cycling also has a positive effect. Leg muscles in motion accelerate the reverse flow of blood, with time the varicose veins are relieved. Swimming brings benefits when the load on the veins is generally reduced, while all the muscles are active. Already after one session, the swellings are noticeably reduced, lightness in the legs appears.
In almost all stages of varicose veins, the doctor prescribes wearing compression underwear (socks, tights, stockings). Elastic tissue supports the veins, strengthens their tone and prevents swelling. Such products are often worn after operations and not only on the legs to protect the veins. Employees who spend a lot of time standing, anti-varicose tights are very necessary. Their proper use prevents the development of diseases.
Conclusion
Early diagnosis of varicose veins helps to avoid the development of the disease. Doing appropriate sports, taking venotonics is a good prevention and treatment in the initial phase. However, in the presence of altered veins, only minimally invasive methods of therapy, i. e. laser exposure, are suitable. The technique has a high price, but at the same time it is chosen by the majority of patients. The laser copes with even the most neglected cases. All that remains is to inquire about the most professional phlebologists in the region. After all, therapy tactics and a combination of methods cannot be read on the Internet, unique personal experience is important here.