Varicose veins in the legs - symptoms and treatment

27 May 2022

Varicose veins (VV) is a very common disease that affects both men and women. It can affect a person's lower limbs as well as deep veins, causing thrombosis and post-thrombophlebitis.

As the disease progresses, the spider veins that appear in a person's legs cause him to begin to feel attractive. In addition to the external, there are internal manifestations of explosives, expressed in the appearance of discomfort and pain in the calf muscles of the leg. The development of the disease increases the risk of other pathologies of the circulatory system.

The key to success in the fight against pathology is timely diagnosis and competent treatment. A big mistake of a person is the independent use of various ointments and creams, which in most cases do not bring the desired effect. As a result, time was lost that could be directed to proper and effective therapy.

To get rid of varicose veins, you need to solve the following tasks:

Elimination of symptoms.
Removal of varicose veins.
Prevention of the development and recurrence of VV.

Only a highly qualified specialist with sufficient experience in the treatment and prevention of such pathologies can successfully cope with each of the above tasks.

Symptoms of varicose veins

Symptoms of the disease are clear signs of its development. They are divided into:

Subjective:
1. Non-tight and painful pain in the calf muscles.
2. Burning sensation and itching along the veins affected by varicose veins.
3. The heaviness in the legs worsens towards the end of the day.
4. Hyperpigmentation of the skin.
5. Increased fatigue of the lower extremities.
6. Trophic venous ulcer of the foot.
7. Pain in the calf muscles intensifies during walking.
8. Appearance of edema in the legs and feet.
Purpose:
1. Varicose sapen veins visible even without the use of special equipment.
2. Enlarged intradermal and saphenous veins look good.
3. The presence of spider veins.
4. Changes in the structure and color of the skin, the appearance of lipodermatoscoerosis and venous trophic ulcers.

What do the veins look like?

The first alarm about vascular problems is swelling of the lower extremities by the end of the day. Swelling is especially pronounced when a person spends most of the day standing. After a night of rest, it may disappear in the morning.

However, if you do not pay enough attention to this problem, the situation can worsen significantly. Intradermal veins in the legs with varicose veins are dark blue, protruding above the surface of the skin of the feet and legs. Externally, they look like ripe red grapes. Such external manifestations of the pathology are accompanied by pain in the calves, a feeling of warmth in the legs, swelling and cramps in the calf muscles. Over time, these symptoms are accompanied by changes in the appearance of the skin.

Causes of varicose veins of the lower extremities

VV of the lower extremities can develop under the influence of a number of factors and conditions, the main of which are:

Pregnancy. This is a major risk factor for the onset of the disease. This explains why women have several times more varicose veins than men. In this case, the disease develops under the influence of increased circulating blood volume and compression of the retroperitoneal vessels of the pregnant uterus.
Obesity. The connection of this situation with the development of VV has been proven by a number of studies. At the same time, a direct link was found between increased body weight and increased risk of developing pathology.
A lifestyle characterized by prolonged static loads with prolonged inactivity while lifting weights or standing or sitting.
dyshormonal conditions. In recent years, their role in the development of the disease has increased significantly. This is due to the widespread use of hormonal contraceptives, the spread of hormone replacement therapy for osteoporosis, and the premenopausal period.
Heredity. The role of this factor in the development of varicose veins in the legs is not unequivocally confirmed today.
Damage to the valve apparatus of the arteries causes the blood flow to accelerate under the influence of gravity each time a person stands up. As you walk, the muscles around the deep veins contract. These vessels are prone to emptying, which increases venous pressure. Blood enters superficial vessels through contact vessels that do not have enough valves. As a result, they are filled with blood, which causes them to lengthen and dilate (varicose veins).

Classification and stages

Like any disease, VV consists of several stages, which differ in the degree of prevalence of pathology and symptoms. Among them are the following stages:

Initial (or compensatory).
Second (or subcompensation).
Third (or decompensation).

It should be noted that complications can occur in any of the above stages, but the most likely of them are specific to the last two. It can stimulate the development of diseases such as VV:

Thrombophlebitis.
Erysipelas.
Deep vascular thrombosis.
Trophic eczema.

A visit to a specialist at the first signs of the onset of the disease will help reduce the risks of aggravating the condition and eliminate varicose veins. Do not ignore even the slightest symptoms, as this can lead to undesirable and extremely negative consequences.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of varicose veins, the symptoms of which are described above, determines the solution of the following tasks:

Determining the presence of pathology in each individual patient. It often happens that people are convinced that there are no varicose veins, and vice versa. However, only an experienced phlebologist can make an accurate diagnosis based on external examination and a number of complex studies.
Establishment of the type characteristic of vascular pathology. The doctor determines exactly which vessels have undergone a pathological lesion, as well as the degree of this lesion and the possible or already occurring consequences.
Determining the correct course of treatment. Based on the diagnosis and the characteristics of each specific organism, the attending physician makes a choice in favor of this or that treatment or a number of therapeutic measures.
Evaluation of the level of effectiveness of therapy performed by the attending physician during the elimination of the disease or after complete recovery of the patient.

The main methods of VV diagnosis include:

Plethysmography.
thermography.
Magnetic resonance imaging.
Ultrasound angioscanning.
Computed tomography.
Clinical studies: conversation with the patient, his external examination and manual examination.
Phlebography of radionuclides.
Intravenous ultrasound.
X-ray phlebography.

Often, a professional's clinical examination and ultrasound angiography are sufficient to identify varicose veins in the legs.

Methods of treatment

Modern therapies for varicose veins are aimed at reducing the degree of disability and trauma, which helps the patient to recover faster. The main therapeutic methods include:

Sclerotherapy. This method involves the insertion of a special drug into the lumen of the varicose veins of the legs, which causes chemical inflammation of the inner venous wall. This causes them to stick together and stop the pathological blood flow through them. Can be used alone or in combination with other manipulations. Punctures of the skin using a fine needle are performed without prior anesthesia. The duration depends on the extent of the lesion.
Foam sclerotherapy, which involves the preparation of a foam by a specialist from a specific drug that can use the affected area of the inner walls of the affected venous vessels. Used to treat large diameter vessels.
Endovenous laser coagulation performed using a laser device on the main trunks of the leg vessels, which allows to stop the pathological blood flow from the affected vessels due to burning and subsequent adhesion of their inner walls.
Miniphlebectomy is aimed at removing subcutaneous nodules and arms enlarged by varicose veins through punctures of the skin. It has an excellent cosmetic effect and is used under local anesthesia alone or in combination with other therapeutic methods.
Prevention of venous insufficiency and elimination of ineffective perforated vessels performed for the treatment of trophic disorders, including ulcers.
Combined phlebectomy, which is a combination of some methods of IV therapy, based on the symptoms and nature of vascular pathology.

Complications of varicose veins

It is important to understand that improper treatment or complete rejection of the disease can lead to complications. The latter is seen not only in cosmetic defects of the lower extremities, but also in more serious forms. Among them:

Trophic eczema then develops into an ulcer.
thrombotic lesions of the venous system, including thrombophlebitis of superficial veins and thrombosis of deep veins of the lower extremities.

Venous blood is a kind of "sewer" for the tissues of the body and is saturated with substances and metabolic products of cells that are relatively harmful to the human body. Cells from the skin and subcutaneous tissue, as well as muscles and bones, carry tissue respiratory products and other wastes into the venous system, which transports them to the heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver. In case of dysfunction of the venous system, there is an increase in the content of these products in the tissues of the body.

An enlarged vein with varicose veins not only increases the concentration of harmful products in the tissues, but also increases their swelling. Such disruption of the flow of harmful products, along with long-term swelling, leads to the death of skin and subcutaneous tissue cells and their subsequent replacement by venous eczema, which is represented by a dense and dotted structure of dark color. Death of the surface layer of the skin is the cause of trophic ulcers.

Prevention

Today, varicose veins in the legs can be prevented by various methods of treatment. Because women have a higher risk of developing VV, prevention of this disease should be neglected. However, men should also ignore preventive measures aimed at preventing the development of varicose veins in the legs. Key activities include:

Use of topical preparations (gels, ointments, creams) that help strengthen the walls of blood vessels, optimize valve function, reduce the risk of blood clots, eliminate edema and heal wounds.
Use of compression stockings, tights, stockings and elastic bandages. It is an excellent tool in the fight against varicose veins. These products can be purchased in specialized stores after consulting a doctor, which is necessary due to the relative difficulty in independently determining the type of compression underwear required.
Special exercises performed daily. They can even stop the dilation of blood vessels that has already begun. Keep in mind that if you have a tendency to BB, it will force you to give up heavy physical force, but in no case should you ignore an active lifestyle. Light jogging, swimming, yoga and skiing, for example, help keep the ankles healthy.
Prophylactic pills for varicose veins are known to be more effective than the use of topical medications to prevent VV. However, the use of any oral remedy should be carried out only for its intended purpose and under the strict supervision of an authorized specialist.

To prevent aggravation of the condition, you should refrain from self-medication at the first signs of the disease and consult a doctor. This will allow to make a timely diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment that will stop the development of the disease and reduce the risk of developing other pathologies to zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Often people are not only interested in the question of how to treat varicose veins. Many patients with this disease wonder what they can and cannot do to avoid aggravating their health condition and provoking other health problems. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions of interest to people with VV.

Is it possible to be vaccinated against coronavirus with varicose veins?

The answer to the question of whether a coronavirus vaccine is allowed for varicose veins is possible. This pathology is not a limitation for vaccination against COVID-19 in the absence of exacerbation. If a person does not suffer from acute thrombophlebitis, it is a decompensation of varicose veins of the legs, and he is not prohibited from being vaccinated against coronavirus infection.

Is it possible to drink coffee with varicose veins?

Caffeine has the ability to increase blood pressure and increase heart rate, which are unfavorable factors for fragile swollen arteries damaged by varicose veins. Coffee has the following effects on blood vessels:

Increased load on the walls of the vessels.
Increased blood pressure.
Short-term venous dilatation.

Therefore, you can drink coffee with varicose veins, but it should not exceed the daily norm. Absolute rejection of your favorite tonic will not lead to the restoration of pathologically affected blood vessels, so you should not torture yourself and drink coffee. Just do not drink more than 1-2 glasses a day. It is also recommended to dilute coffee with milk.

Is massage allowed?

Complex treatment of varicose veins in the early stages includes massage. However, it must be done correctly.

With varicose veins, you can do an exceptionally light massage of the lower extremities. It is also indicated for patients with uncomplicated varicose veins.

Professional hand massage is recommended for patients with varicose veins, but it is necessary to take into account all the features of the disease. Mandatory consultation with a specialist is recommended before continuing to massage the area affected by varicose veins.

Can you warm your feet?

When the legs are heated, the arteries dilate, blood circulation increases, and the load on the non-venous walls only increases. This can aggravate the already bad condition of varicose veins. Therefore, it is recommended to limit hot baths for patients with varicose veins. It is better to reduce the temperature of the water from heat to heat, which will not cause vasodilation and will not aggravate the human condition. Always remember that for varicose veins, whether we are talking about hot baths or vaccinations, it is necessary to consult a specialist.

Are running and squatting allowed?

Experts advise to start running at the first signs of BB development. It is important to ensure that these exercises are systematic. During the run, the blood is saturated with oxygen. Therefore, it is better to run in a forest or park where the air is always clean.

However, you should adequately assess your capabilities and endurance and avoid excessive loads, which are contraindicated in varicose veins. It is important to control the gradual increase of loads that do not exceed the comfort of the body.

A person with BB should not feel tired while running. Only short distances are allowed when using compression stockings. In case of thrombophlebitis, running should be avoided. The inadmissibility of running and squatting for varicose veins of the small pelvis should be discussed with your doctor.

What is the best treatment for varicose veins?

Today, there is no clear answer to the question of which therapeutic method is most effective for varicose veins. The fact is that the success of treatment in each case depends on a number of factors that must be evaluated by a qualified specialist. Only then can they make a final decision on the appointment of specific treatment for BB.