Varicose veins of the legs are a pathology of the subcutaneous veins, in which they expand, thin and inflame. Venous valves become ineffective, leading to swelling, pain, and circulatory problems. A dangerous complication of varicose veins is thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the vascular wall with the formation of a blood clot), trophic ulcer, separation of a blood clot, embolism of the lungs and other organs, bleeding.
Causes of disease
- genetic predisposition;
- work standing or sitting for a long time, heavy loads, lifting weights;
- hormonal changes during pregnancy, private childbirth
- overweight;
- advanced age and sex (30% in women, 10% in men)
Symptoms of varicose veins and mechanism of development
- Swelling of the legs in the evening;
- leg pain, heaviness;
- vascular network, blue skin color;
- increased fatigue due to physical exertion;
- nodes on the veins, pain, inflammation;
- itching on the skin, cramps;
- darkening of the skin;
- thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcer.
Varicose veins in women often occur during the period of childbirth, but with timely treatment they pass. The situation is worse in cases where a woman does not go to the doctor and expects improvement after childbirth. However, it should be remembered that varicose veins do not go away on their own.
There are two sectors of the venous bed: peripheral and deep. Normally, the blood should move from the periphery to the center, that is, upwards. But if the tone of the valves and blood vessels is reduced, the blood begins to move to the superficial veins. As a result, they lengthen, stretch, form visible knots even without instruments. If you do not change your lifestyle and start treatment, the disease will progress, because the blood tends to drop according to the law of gravity. At this point, medications and therapeutic exercises will no longer help.
Diagnostic
In most cases, a leg examination by a doctor and an ultrasound are sufficient. If there is a risk of recurrence of varicose veins, it is then necessary to examine the deep veins by X-ray and injection of a contrast product (venography).
How to treat varicose veins in the legs?
In the initial period of the disease, when there are no visible veins or pain, but there is heaviness in the legs, it makes sense to consult 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 drugs is at the end).
Preventive measures pay off, especially if you change jobs and don't stay up for long. Sports activities recommended by a doctor will help improve blood circulation, since active leg muscles significantly tone blood vessels. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the main signs of varicose veins. In the future, expensive methods will have to be used.
Modern methods of treating varicose veins
There are now effective methods for 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 another method, the wall of the damaged vein is glued in the region 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 necessary. As a result, the correct 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
The treatment of patients with a laser has become widespread over the past decade. If a previously damaged vein had to be surgically removed, exposing a person to risk and prolonged hospitalization, then in our time these techniques are outdated. Laser internal venous coagulation is widely prescribed. A laser fiber is inserted into the vein through a fine puncture and directed towards the damaged valve. Heating with a 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 recorded in 98% of patients. By the same principle, therapy using radio wave energy is performed.
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 the vein, causing an inflammatory reaction, followed by filling of the lumen of the vessel. Sclerosant injections have their drawbacks - they have a high relapse rate. Sclerotherapy will not eliminate a strong imbalance of blood flow in the large veins. In addition, there may be an allergy to such drugs, there is a risk of necrosis of vascular tissues. Among the advantages, it is worth mentioning the low cost of the method. Doctors often combine laser therapy with injections.
In addition to laser treatment, miniphlebectomy is used - removal of a damaged vein with a thin puncture. After the operation, the patient goes home the same day, as there are no incisions. The skin acquires an aesthetic appearance, a normal color, there are no scars left.
Treatment of varicose veins with medication
We note again that it is impossible to completely get rid of pathology only conservatively. Thus, the prescription of drugs is symptomatic and prophylactic. Nevertheless, many patients, following the course, note significant improvements: pain in the legs, swelling and fatigue are reduced.
Venotonic
This group includes drugs based on diosmin: they increase the tone of veins and capillaries, as a result, their extensibility 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 veinotonics are also produced.
A lot of positive things can be said about venotonics with diosmin, their effectiveness has been proven in clinical trials, and side effects are rare. Before their appearance, Troxevasin was used on the basis of troxerutin. It has wide indications, there is an anti-inflammatory effect, 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 tissue swelling, increases circulation in capillaries and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Varicose veins are its main indication. The range of heparin gels is very wide, has different concentrations.
Heparin is often part of the complex external forms of varicose veins.
Physiotherapy for varicose veins
electrophoresis
Under the action of an electric current on a special carrier, the drug is delivered directly into the damaged vessels (venotonics, heparin). The procedure is painless, takes less than an hour, the course is up to 20 sessions. Effective in strengthening the veins, reduces the severity of the disease, but does not completely eliminate knots.
Lymphatic drainage, pressotherapy
To carry out this intervention, 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 the flow of lymph, excess water. The exposure time is determined by the doctor. However, an important contraindication is lymph nodes, protruding veins, kidney disease. Pressotherapy is indicated only at the initial stage of varicose veins.
Magnetotherapy
Impact on the veins with a low frequency magnetic field. The method also reduces swelling, pain, heaviness in the legs. But, of course, does not repair a damaged valve. In general, it can be said that all types of physiotherapy are good only at the initial stage of varicose veins. We list the general contraindications:
- oncological diseases;
- pregnancy;
- hypertension;
- bleeding;
- tuberculosis;
- epilepsy;
- blood clotting disorders, etc.
In addition to physiotherapy, regular cycling has a positive effect. Moving leg muscles accelerate the reverse blood flow, over time, relief from varicose veins occurs. Swimming brings benefits when, in general, the load on the veins decreases and at the same time all the muscles are active. Even after one session, the swelling is noticeably reduced, the lightness of the legs appears.
At almost all stages of varicose veins, the doctor prescribes the wearing of compression underwear (stockings, tights, stockings). The elastic fabric supports the veins, improves their tone and prevents swelling. Such products are often worn after operations, and not only on the legs to protect the veins. For employees who spend a lot of time on their feet, anti-varicose vein tights are sorely lacking. Their proper use prevents the development of the disease.
Conclusion
Early diagnosis of varicose veins helps to prevent the development of the disease. When practicing adapted sports, taking venotonics is a good prevention and treatment at the initial stage. However, in the presence of impaired veins, only minimally invasive treatment methods, or rather laser exposure, are suitable. The technique has a high cost, but at the same time it is chosen by most patients. The laser copes with even the most neglected cases. It only remains to inquire with 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.