Varicose veins of the legs are a disease of the subcutaneous veins, where they expand, thin and become inflamed. Venous valves become inefficient, causing swelling, pain, and circulatory 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 a blood clot, pulmonary and other organ embolism, bleeding.
Causes of the disease
- genetic predisposition;
- long work standing or sitting, heavy loads, weight lifting;
- 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 in the legs in the evening;
- leg pain, heaviness;
- vascular network, blue skin color;
- increased fatigue from physical exertion;
- knots on the veins, from pain, inflammation;
- itching on the skin, cramps;
- skin darkening;
- thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcer.
Varicose veins in women often occur during pregnancy, but with timely treatment it passes. The situation is worse in cases where a woman does not go to the doctor and expects improvement after childbirth. However, we must remember that varicose veins do not go away on their own.
There are two sectors of the venous bed: peripheral and deep. Normally, blood should move from the periphery to the center, i. e. upwards. But if the tone of the valves and blood vessels decreases, the blood begins to move to the superficial veins. As a result, they stretch, stretch, form knots that are visible even without tools. If you do not change your lifestyle and start therapy, the disease will progress, as 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 legs by a doctor and an ultrasound scan is sufficient. If there is a risk of recurrence of varicose veins, it is necessary to examine the deep veins by X-ray and injection of a contrast medium (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 is available at the end).
Preventive measures pay off, especially if you change jobs and don't stay on your feet for long. Sports activities recommended by a doctor will help improve blood flow, as working leg muscles significantly tone blood vessels. Unfortunately, many people ignore the primary signs of varicose veins. In the future, expensive methods will have to 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 blood circulation. With the help of a laser or other method, the wall of the damaged vein is glued together 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 required. As a result, the correct movement of blood is restored, nodes, swelling and pain disappear. Skin color returns to normal, becomes smooth.
Consider in more detail the methods of therapy without surgery
Treatment of patients with a laser has become widespread in the last decade. If a previously damaged vein had to be surgically removed, exposing a person to risk and prolonged hospitalization, these techniques are obsolete in our time. Internal venous coagulation with a laser is widely prescribed. A laser fiber is inserted into the vein through a fine puncture and guided to the damaged valve. Heating with a beam causes the tissue of the vessel to coagulate, due to inflammation, the walls of the vein stick together. The method also works in the later stages of varicose veins, when there are trophic ulcers. Efficiency was recorded in 98% of patients. By the same principle, therapy with the help of radio wave energy is carried out.
If 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, which leads to an inflammatory reaction, followed by filling of the vessel lumen. Sclerosant injections have their drawbacks: they have a high relapse rate. Sclerotherapy will not eliminate a severe imbalance in blood flow in large veins. Also, there may be an allergy to such drugs, there is a risk of tissue necrosis of the vessels. Among the advantages should be mentioned 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 through a fine puncture. After the operation, the patient goes home the same day, as there are no incisions. The skin acquires an aesthetic appearance, normal color, no scars remain.
Treatment of varicose veins with drugs
We note once again that it is impossible to completely get rid of the pathology only conservatively. Therefore, the prescription of drugs is symptomatic and prophylactic. However, many patients, taking the course, note significant improvements: pain in the legs, swelling and fatigue are reduced.
Venotonics
This group includes drugs based on diosmin - they increase the tone of veins and capillaries, as a result, their extensibility and venous congestion decrease. Improve blood circulation, microcirculation, reduce leg swelling, pain, heaviness. A further indication of the 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 in clinical studies, 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 walls of the veins and improve the condition of the capillaries. Also indicated for varicose veins.
Anticoagulants for external use
This group contains all heparin sodium gels. The medicine accelerates the resorption of blood clots, reduces swelling in the tissues, increases circulation in the capillaries and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Varicose veins are its main indication. The line of heparin gels is very large, 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 to the impaired vessels (venotonics, heparin). The procedure is painless, lasts less than an hour, the course is up to 20 sessions. Effective for strengthening the veins, it reduces the severity of the disease, but does not completely eliminate the knots.
Lymphatic drainage, pressotherapy
To carry out 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 the outflow of lymph, excess water. The exposure time is determined by the doctor. However, an important contraindication is knots, bulging veins, kidney disease. Pressure therapy is indicated only in 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, it doesn't fix a damaged valve. In general, we can say 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. The muscles of the legs in motion accelerate the reverse flow of blood, over time, relief of varicose veins occurs. Swimming is beneficial when, in general, the load on the veins decreases and at the same time all muscles are active. Even after one session, swelling is noticeably reduced, lightness in the legs appears.
At almost all stages of varicose veins, the doctor prescribes wearing compression underwear (stockings, pantyhose, stockings). The elastic fabric supports the veins, enhances their tone and prevents swelling. Such products are often worn after operations, and not just on the legs to protect the veins. For employees who spend a lot of time on their feet, varicose vein pantyhose is in dire need. Their correct use prevents the development of the disease.
Conclusion
Early diagnosis of varicose veins helps to avoid the development of the disease. Playing suitable sports, taking venotonics is a good prevention and treatment in the initial stage. However, in the presence of altered veins, only minimally invasive methods of therapy, namely laser exposure, are suitable. The technique has a high cost, but at the same time it is chosen by the majority of patients. The laser tackles even the most neglected cases. It remains only to ask questions about the most professional phlebologists in the region. After all, the tactics of therapy and a combination of methods cannot be read on the Internet, a unique personal experience is important here.