Varicose veins in the legs is a pathology of enlarged, thinned and inflamed subcutaneous veins. Venous valves become ineffective, causing 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 the disease
- genetic predisposition;
- working for a long time on your feet or in a sitting position, lifting heavy loads, weights;
- hormonal changes during pregnancy, individual childbirth
- overweight;
- advanced age and gender (30% in women, 10% in men)
Varicose veins symptoms and development mechanism
- Swelling in the legs in the evening;
- leg pain, heaviness;
- vascular network, blue skin color;
- increased fatigue from physical exertion;
- nodules in veins, from pain, inflammation;
- itching of the skin, cramps;
- darkening of the skin;
- thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcer.
Varicose veins in women often occur during childbirth, but with timely treatment, it passes. The situation is worse when a woman does not go to the doctor and waits for improvement after childbirth. However, we must remember that varicose veins do not disappear by themselves.
The venous bed has two sectors: 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 decreases, the blood begins to move towards the surface vessels. As a result, they stretch, stretch, and form knots that are visible even without tools. If you do not change your lifestyle and start therapy, the disease will progress, because the blood tends to go down 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 feet by a doctor and ultrasound is enough. If there is a risk of recurrence of varicose veins, then it is necessary to check the deep veins with X-ray and injection of contrast material (phlebography).
How to treat varicose veins in 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 pay off, especially if you change your job and don't stay upright for a long time. 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 main symptoms of varicose veins. In the future, it is necessary to resort to expensive methods.
Modern methods of treatment of varicose veins
Now there are effective ways to treat varicose veins without surgery. Their meaning boils down to the following - pathological vessels are removed from the bloodstream. With the help of a laser or another method, the wall of the damaged vessel is glued together in the area of the valve, and blood no longer enters this segment of the channel. One or several punctures for access to the laser are performed without anesthesia and without incision, there is no need for long-term rehabilitation. As a result, the proper movement of blood is restored, knots, swelling, and pain disappear. The color of the skin returns to normal, it becomes smooth.
Consider in more detail the methods of therapy without surgery
Laser treatment of patients has become widespread in the last ten years. If earlier it was necessary to surgically remove a damaged vessel, exposing a person to risk and hospitalization for a long time, then these methods are obsolete in our time. Laser internal venous coagulation is widely prescribed. Through a thin puncture, a laser fiber is inserted into the vein and leads to the damaged valves. Heating with a beam causes coagulation of the vascular tissue, as a result of inflammation, the walls of the vessel stick together. The method also works in the later stages of varicose veins, when there are trophic ulcers. Efficacy was recorded in 98% of patients. With the same principle, therapy is carried out with the help of radio wave energy.
If the varicose veins have not reached a dangerous stage, the sclerotherapy method is used. This technique does not involve the use of heat. A substance is injected into a vein, which causes an inflammatory reaction, then fills the lumen of the vein. Injections with sclerosants have disadvantages - they have a high relapse rate. Sclerotherapy will not correct severe blood flow imbalances in large vessels. In addition, there may be an allergy to such drugs, there is a risk of necrosis of vascular tissues. Among the advantages, the low cost of the method should be noted. Doctors often combine laser therapy with injections.
In addition to laser treatment, miniphlebectomy is used - removal of the damaged vein through a thin puncture. Since there are no incisions after the operation, the patient goes home the same day. The skin acquires an aesthetic appearance, acquires a normal color, and does not leave a scar.
Treatment of varicose veins with drugs
We note once again that it is impossible to completely get rid of the pathology only by conservative means. Thus, prescribing drugs is symptomatic and prophylactic. Nevertheless, many patients who take the course note significant improvements: pain in the legs, swelling and fatigue decrease.
Venotonic
This group includes drugs based on diosmin: they increase the tone of veins and capillaries, as a result of which their elongation and venous congestion decrease. Improves blood circulation, microcirculation, reduces leg swelling, pain, heaviness. An additional indication of drugs 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 based on troxerutin. It has a wide range of indications, has an anti-inflammatory effect, but has more side effects. Drops made on the basis of horse chestnut seed extract tone the walls of the vessels and improve the condition of the capillaries. It is also indicated for varicose veins.
Anticoagulants for external use
This group contains all gels containing sodium heparin. The drug accelerates the resorption of blood clots, reduces tissue swelling, increases blood circulation in capillaries and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Varicose veins are its main indication. The line of gels with heparin is very large, with different concentrations.
Often, heparin is part of complex external forms of varicose veins.
Physiotherapy for varicose veins
electrophoresis
Under the influence of electric current in a special carrier, the drug is delivered directly to the modified veins (venotonic, heparin). The procedure is painless, lasts less than an hour, the course is up to 20 sessions. It is effective to strengthen the veins, reduces the severity of the disease, but does not completely eliminate the nodes.
Lymphatic drainage, pressotherapy
To carry out this procedure, you need equipment: a suit, a compressor. Air is distributed to the legs and supplied to the suit. Tissues and blood vessels are compressed, an imitation of massage takes place. Improves the flow of lymph, excess water. The duration of exposure is determined by the doctor. However, a significant contraindication is nodes, protruding veins, kidney disease. Pressotherapy is indicated only in the initial stage of varicose veins.
Magnetotherapy
Effect on blood vessels with low frequency magnetic field. The method also reduces swelling, pain, heaviness in the legs. But of course it doesn't repair a damaged valve. In general, we can say that all types of physiotherapy are good only in the initial stage of varicose veins. We list general contraindications:
- oncological diseases;
- pregnancy;
- hypertension;
- bleeding;
- tuberculosis;
- epilepsy;
- blood coagulation disorders, etc.
Along with physiotherapy, regular cycling also has a positive effect. The muscles of the moving legs accelerate the reverse flow of blood, and over time, relief of varicose veins occurs. Swimming is generally beneficial when the load on the veins is reduced and all the muscles are active at the same time. Even after one session, the swelling is noticeably reduced, lightness appears in the legs.
In almost all stages of varicose veins, the doctor prescribes wearing compression underwear (socks, tights, socks). Elastic tissue supports the veins, increases their tone and prevents swelling. Such products are often worn after operations and not only on the legs to protect the veins. For workers who spend a lot of time on their feet, there is a great need for anti-varicose tights. Their correct use prevents the development of the disease.
The result
Early diagnosis of varicose veins helps prevent the development of the disease. Doing suitable sports, taking venotonics is a good prevention and treatment at the initial stage. However, in the presence of altered vessels, only minimally invasive therapy methods, namely laser exposure, are suitable. The technique has a high price, but at the same time it is chosen by most patients. The laser copes with even the most neglected cases. It remains only to inquire about the most professional phlebologists in the region. After all, it is impossible to read the tactics of therapy and the combination of methods on the Internet, where unique personal experience is important.