Varicose veins in the legs (varicose veins - common name) - externally visible enlargement of the saphenous veins, which develops as a result of varicose veins or post-thrombotic syndrome and is accompanied by a sharp violation of venous flow in the lower extremities.
Modern methods make it possible to treat varicose veins radically without incisions and pain.
Complaints with varicose veins
For many people, varicose veins and spider veins are just a cosmetic problem. In others, varicose veins cause pain and discomfort. Sometimes varicose veins lead to more serious problems and complications - thrombophlebitis or the appearance of trophic ulcers. Treatment consists of removing or closing deformed veins, which is the job of a phlebologist.
Varicose veins are a complete degeneration of the venous wall, associated with weakness of its connective tissue (varices of the lower extremities), or developing with a marked violation of venous flow, due to blockage or overflow of the veins.
Causes of varicose veins of the lower extremities
Varicose veins of the lower extremities
The disease, as a cause of varicose veins of the legs, occurs in 20-40% of the population of the developed countries of the world. For a long time, varicose veins are just a cosmetic defect, but the progression of the disease leads to pain, swelling of the feet and legs and, in advanced stages, darkening of the skin of the legs, inflammatory changes and trophic varicose ulcers.
Hereditary predisposition is the main cause of primary varicose veins, however, the disease develops with excessive stress on the veins. The triggering mechanism for varicose veins of the lower extremities is marked physical overload, pregnancy and childbirth. In this case, there is a marked increase in pressure in the veins of the lower extremities and damage to the valve apparatus, which triggers the mechanism for the development of the disease.
post-thrombophlebitic disease
Secondary varicose veins develop after venous thrombosis or as a result of congenital disorders (arteriovenous fistulas, congenital venous dysplasia). Postthrombotic disease is a complex progressive pathological process in the venous system of the lower extremities. Due to valve insufficiency or blockage of the deep veins, the saphenous veins dilate as they overflow with blood. Another cause can be congenital or acquired arteriovenous fistulas. Occasionally, congenital obstruction of deep veins occurs, leading to secondary varicose veins (Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome).
Varicose Vein Complications
More than 40% of women and 20% of men have enlarged and swollen varicose veins. In 20% of cases, varicose veins lead to the appearance of a trophic ulcer, more than 25% of patients suffer from varicose vein thrombophlebitis. These complications often require serious treatment and pose a major health threat.
chronic venous insufficiency
Obstruction of venous outflow causes a pathological condition called chronic venous insufficiency. At the beginning of the disease, one may notice the appearance of single nodules of dilated veins, which do not cause much concern, although they can sometimes hurt. Subsequently, there is an increase in the number of varicose veins. The disease progresses slowly but steadily. If the first varicose veins appeared below the knee, then the rate of development of the disease is much higher. If the disease is not stopped, the third stage of venous insufficiency gradually develops. Edema becomes permanent, a dark color of the skin appears in the ankle area, heaviness in the legs is constantly worried, which can persist even after a night's rest. They often develop thrombophlebitis from varicose veins and skin inflammation, eczema and dermatitis. The final stage in the development of varicose veins is the appearance of trophic ulcers.
Varicose vein thrombophlebitis
Thrombophlebitis is the most common complication of varicose veins. Thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of the venous wall, with the formation of blood clots in the lumen of the vein. Thrombophlebitis occurs in superficial and deep veins. With varicose veins, thrombophlebitis occurs in 25% of patients and is usually superficial. The cause of thrombophlebitis in varicose veins is very slow blood flow, especially in large ganglia. Under these conditions, any factors that increase blood clotting (pregnancy, overheating, trauma, sprains, hypothermia and scratches, acute respiratory infections) can cause a blood clot to form in the varicose vein and become inflamed. Thrombophlebitis occurs in 25% of patients with varicose veins of the lower limbs. The cause of thrombophlebitis is decreased blood flow in varicose veins. Thrombophlebitis can progress and lead to deep vein thrombosis. Chronic venous insufficiency is a painful condition of venous outflow with varicose veins. It is characterized by edema, darkening of the skin, the appearance of trophic ulcers and varicose dermatitis.
varicose trophic ulcer
A trophic ulcer is a sign of an extreme degree of chronic venous insufficiency. This is a long-term non-healing wound that occurs with a severe violation of venous flow through the deep and superficial veins. It occurs in 1% of the general population and in 20% of patients with venous disease. Every fifth patient with varicose veins who does not receive treatment sooner or later develops a trophic ulcer. It can develop with both varicose veins and secondary varicose veins. Without the elimination of pathological venous discharges, a trophic varicose ulcer does not heal or recurs constantly. Trophic ulcers with varicose veins occur in most patients and cause serious suffering. Modern minimally invasive methods allow you to reliably eliminate trophic varicose ulcers without incisions and pain.
Venous thrombosis and thromboembolism
Pulmonary embolism is a serious complication of venous thrombosis. Varicose veins are an important risk factor for thrombophlebitis and deep vein thrombosis. Thromboembolism leads to the development of severe heart and respiratory failure, with a mortality rate greater than 50%.
Prevention of varicose veins of the lower extremities
Any modern person should understand what varicose veins on the legs are, how to treat and prevent their occurrence. With an inherited predisposition, factors that contribute to varicose veins should be avoided. Use of venotonic drugs, use of compression stockings during exercise, periodic examinations by a phlebologist, and ultrasound of the veins are shown.
When working in conditions of concomitant factors, it is necessary to wear compression stockings of the 1st class of compression at work, therapeutic exercises, outdoor activities, daily walks of at least 1 hour in medical stockings, foot massage and swimming. Refusal to use oral contraceptives with complicated inheritance of varicose veins. It is better to follow these simple rules than to treat varicose veins in the legs.
Avoid producing factors during heavy physical work. For this, compression stockings are necessary, especially with a predisposition to varicose veins. Medical meshes are suitable for all pregnant women and, in cases of predisposition to varicose veins and thrombophlebitis, special compression stockings are used for childbirth. It is advisable for all pregnant women to see a phlebologist and perform an ultrasound of the veins in the last weeks of pregnancy. This will help reduce the risk of problems with the venous system.
How to treat varicose veins in legs
In the last 10 years, the "barbaric" methods of treating varicose veins are becoming a thing of the past, thanks to the emergence of gentler and more effective methods that are successfully used in clinics.
Venous sclerotherapy for varicose veins
Sclerotherapy is the introduction into the lumen of a varicose vein of a drug that causes the walls to "stick together" along with the disappearance of the veins. For sclerotherapy, various chemicals are used, there have been attempts to treat with ozone. At the same time, the emergence of foam sclerotherapy revolutionized phlebology. For the first time, an effective method of treating varicose veins without major surgery has appeared. Currently, foam sclerotherapy is used to remove medium-diameter varicose veins after laser obliteration of pathological venous discharges. Sclerotherapy is indispensable in the treatment of spider veins and reticular varicose veins, where it has no real competitors.
Laser varicose veins treatment
Laser treatment for varicose veins of the lower extremities (EVLT) is the most modern, radical and inexpensive treatment method that allows you to treat varicose veins in the legs and eliminate the causes of trophic ulcers. The significance of laser treatment lies in the thermal heating of the venous wall from the inside and the subsequent resorption of the varicose vein. The EVLT's latest achievement is a 1470nm laser and radial light guide, which were introduced into medical practice by phlebologists. The postoperative period after this technique is completely painless, and the result is superior to other treatment options - the radicality of the laser intervention is at least 98%.
Surgery to remove varicose veins
The surgical treatment of varicose veins with the removal of the main venous trunks is a thing of the past. The risk of complications from stem vein removal forced phlebologists to look for other approaches, which led to the development of laser techniques and other methods of thermal obliteration of veins. However, the modification of classic phlebectomy into microphlebectomy according to Müller and Varadi allowed a wonderful combination of laser treatment and removal of large varicose veins through punctures without incisions or sutures. Varadi's technique saved patients from painful sclerotherapy for large varicose veins. Miniphlebectomy allows you to treat varicose veins in the legs and remove visible varicose veins anywhere on the body.
Radiofrequency obliteration of varicose veins
Radiofrequency obliteration (RFO) of varicose veins of the legs is a modern and safe treatment method. The method is based on the use of microwaves that heat a metal probe, which is already the wall of the vein and causes the destruction of the inner membrane. In terms of painlessness, the method corresponds to laser coagulation with lasers at a wavelength of 1470 nm, it is easy to perform and there is little postoperative pain. However, RFO is far inferior to laser in terms of long-term treatment results. The effectiveness of RFO is 85% without recurrence. The method is not suitable for the treatment of perforating veins.
Massage and bath for varicose veins
Massage is an active treatment method for varicose veins.
All types of modern massage are used, especially in the pathology of the lymphatic and venous systems. Among the unique methods is the bandage lymphatic drainage massage technology, which very effectively relieves chronic venous insufficiency.
In chronic venous insufficiency, massage is used to eliminate venous hypertension in varicose veins and post-thrombotic syndrome. The combination of this massage with a bandage makes it possible to effectively eliminate all clinical manifestations of the disease.
Bathing with varicose veins, thrombophlebitis or post-thrombotic disease is very dangerous. Any heat stress can cause blood clots to form in the deep veins with all the resulting consequences.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to achieve a complete cure for varicose veins without eliminating venous discharge and varicose veins. Although the reduction of symptoms associated with stagnation of venous blood in the legs is quite possible with the help of modern therapy. However, the prevalence of varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency sometimes raises the desire to speculate about this problem. Consider modern methods of treatment and deception.
Medicines for varicose veins
The goal of drug therapy for venous pathology is to reduce symptoms and prevent complications, but these goals are not easy to achieve. Today, the abundance of means that can be applied has given rise to another problem: which one to choose? Unfortunately, most of the proposed drugs have a rather low efficiency, despite the theoretically justified convenience of use. This is due to several reasons, the main one being the low absorption of the medicinal substances of these medicines by the body. An ideal drug for the treatment of venous insufficiency should affect as many pathogenic links as possible of chronic venous insufficiency, presenting a minimum number of side effects and high absorption by the body. A very large number of venotonic agents are represented in the modern pharmaceutical market. However, they have similar medicinal substances (plant flavonoids) and therefore the effectiveness of one or the other depends only on the concentration and digestibility of the active ingredient.
You should not expect varicose veins to disappear with these medications, however, there may be lightness in the legs, decrease in edema and disappearance of night cramps.
Creams and gels for varicose veins
Despite the high efficiency promoted by sellers and manufacturers, creams and gels do not bring relief from varicose veins and varicose veins do not disappear from them. In the initial phase of venous insufficiency, phlebologists are not opposed to the use of these agents, as their friction promotes venous outflow, like a light massage, and has a soothing effect on the skin. With advanced forms of venous insufficiency, these creams and ointments can cause dermatitis and allergization and are therefore very harmful. Some drugs are used in the development of acute thrombophlebitis and help to reduce the inflammatory process, but varicose veins do not go away from them. Thanks to the right publicity, shamanic products with leeches have gained great popularity among people, but they have no attitude towards medicines and even leeches, and it makes no sense to expect them.
Medicines for blood clots in varicose veins
A frequent complication of varicose veins is thrombophlebitis, especially during pregnancy and the puerperium. A proven drug for preventing blood clots is a low molecular weight sulfur-containing acid glycosaminoglycan. To prevent thrombophlebitis after treating varicose veins, tablets are used in clinics. They are taken 7 days after the laser or radiofrequency intervention.
Compression stockings for varicose veins
Compression stockings are undoubtedly one of the most effective means of treating venous edema and reducing the degree of chronic venous insufficiency. Invented over 100 years ago, gaining immense popularity in the 20th century and even more so in the 21st century, compression stockings and stockings have become an integral part of treatment by a phlebologist. This is due to the effects it has:
- improvement of venous and lymphatic flow of the lower extremities,
- improvement of microcirculation,
- slow the progression of the disease,
- prevention of complications of varicose veins (varicothrombophlebitis, trophic disorders),
- prevention of deep vein thrombosis.
How to wear compression stockings
So if you have varicose veins and plan to treat them, during treatment you will undoubtedly wear compression stockings for a period of several days or several months (individually). If your feet are swollen later in the day after work and you suffer from heavy leg syndrome, you can also wear compression stockings during the day to avoid these symptoms at night. If you have complications from untreated varicose veins - trophic ulcers or thrombophlebitis - you will also use compression to improve the condition of your legs and reduce unpleasant symptoms.
The fact is that by improving venous flow, compression stockings work every second of use to improve the return of venous blood from the legs, which is undoubtedly not easy for veins compromised by disease and against the law of universal gravitation. Compression meshes can safely be called one of mankind's ingenious inventions, but in order for them to work for you, several conditions must be met:
- Compression knits are selected individually (according to standards). The main requirement is the fulfillment of the anatomical profile of the limb and, therefore, the creation of the correct pressure gradient.
- The meshes are selected by a doctor (phlebologist) individually. Medical products are marked in mm Hg and are divided into compression classes 1, 2, 3, 4. Each compression class corresponds to a certain pressure. In different stages of varicose veins or chronic venous insufficiency, the appropriate compression class is used. That is why only a doctor has the right to prescribe and choose the right compression stockings - taking into account the nature of the pathology and in accordance with individual standards.
- Must be medical, not slimming knits. Only proven brands with RAL certificate.
When do you need meshes for varicose veins?
- correction of "heavy legs" syndrome: reduction in severity, edema, improvement in quality of life;
- during treatment with a phlebologist: after surgery or for a period prescribed by a specialist;
- slow down the progression of varicose veins;
- for the treatment of complications of varicose veins (varicothrombophlebitis).
A necessary component of any treatment for varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency is medical elastic compression. Thanks to compression therapy, it is possible to completely eliminate swelling, heaviness in the legs and create conditions for any type of radical treatment of varicose veins. Modern medical meshes have a high therapeutic effect and excellent aesthetic properties.
elastic bandages |
therapeutic shirt |
|---|---|
The creation of the necessary pressure is determined by the technique and skills of bandaging the doctor or patient. |
Treatment profile and pressure level specified during manufacture according to compression class |
The need for medical participation in the imposition of a dressing or patient education |
Physician participation is limited to selection of compression class and product type |
Difficulties providing compression and fixation in the thigh |
Provides effective compression and fixation on the thigh |
Used for non-standard member format |
With a non-standard shape of the member, customization is possible |
Daily washing causes bandages to wear out quickly |
Daily washing is necessary to maintain compression properties. |
Needs to be replaced after several washes |
Guaranteed preservation of compression properties for 6 months |
Possible violations of water balance and skin temperature |
The porous bond provides the skin's normal temperature and water balance |
Low aesthetic properties, provide convenience and comfort |
High aesthetic properties, convenience and comfort in use |
Exercises and sports for varicose veins
Strength sports for varicose veins and athletics are possible after elimination of varicose syndrome or in compression stockings of 2-3 compression classes. Modern treatment is able to bring legs with varicose veins back to normal, which eliminates all restrictions.
We draw your attention to a complex of therapeutic and preventive exercises developed by renowned specialists. Its regular implementation will help to reduce the manifestations of venous insufficiency in the lower extremities, slow the progression of the disease and reduce the risk of life-threatening complications.
- Discharge from leg veins. Breathe deeply and evenly, lie down with your eyes closed, relax. At the same time, place some pillows under your feet so that they are raised at an angle of 15-20°
- Bike exercise. Lying on your back and breathing evenly, imagine that you are riding a bicycle.
- The exercise consists of several parts, it is performed slowly and smoothly. Lying on your back with your legs extended, take a deep breath. Exhaling, bend your right leg, bringing your knee to your chest. Inhale, straighten the leg vertically upwards. Breathing out, lower it. Repeat this exercise alternately for each leg.
- Lying on your back, arms along your body, lift your legs vertically. Rotate both feet simultaneously inward and then outward.
- Alternately bend and unfold your feet at the ankle joint back and forth.
- Alternately bend and unfold your toes.
- Get into one position: legs together, arms along the torso. After taking a deep breath, slowly rise up onto your toes, exhaling, return to the starting position.
- Walk in place without lifting the socks off the floor.
- Vertical scissors. Lying on your back, arms along your body, breathing evenly, alternately cross your legs, alternating them.
- Lying on your back, bend your knees without lifting your feet off the floor. Place your hands on your hips. Breathing in slowly, lift your head and torso. At the same time, the hands slide to the knees. Breathing out slowly, return to the starting position.
- Lying on your back, arms along your body, legs at an angle of 15-20°, hold a small pillow between your feet. Inhaling slowly, bend at the waist, pulling your buttocks off the mattress. Breathing out slowly, return to the starting position.
- Lying on your back, arms along your body, bend your knees, keeping your feet on the floor. Breathing out slowly, contract your stomach. Inhale slowly, inflate the stomach.
- Lying on your back, legs raised at an angle of 15-20 °. Bend your right leg, bringing your knee to your chest. At the same time, firmly squeeze the foot with your hands. Slowly straighten your leg up. The hands, firmly squeezing the leg, slide along the calf to the level of the knee. Slowly lower your leg, your hands sliding over your thigh. The exercise is repeated for the other leg.
- Standing, feet together, arms along the body, breathing in slowly, bring your shoulders back, breathing out slowly, relax your shoulders and tilt your head forward.
- Contrast shower in the legs. Alternate hard jets of warm and cold water. 5-10 minutes for each leg.