Varicose veins in the legs: symptoms and treatment

Varicosis is a systemic disease that can affect the vessels anywhere in the body. Its essence is the dysfunction of the valves that control the direction of the blood flow. Because of this, there is an excessive volume accumulation of fluid in the veins, under the influence of which the walls stretch and lose their elasticity.

Most of the time, medical publications focus on the symptoms and treatment of varicose veins in the legs, since this variety of the disease is considered the most common: according to statistics, more than 80% of all cases of varicose veins are precisely in the lower extremities. However, despite this, for most patients, the diagnosis of varicose veins is a surprise, and its detection occurs in the posterior stages. All this indicates an insufficient consciousness of people about the dangers that the varicose veins carry.

Characteristics, causes and mechanism for the development of varicose veins

The main characteristic of the varicose veins of the legs is its immensity. The changes are subject to superficial and deep veins that work in large length. Since there is a fairly large and long feet load, the valves in the circulatory system can begin to weaken in childhood. Therefore, the detection of varicose veins in the legs often occurs in young people and girls.

They are the lower extremities characterized by a phenomenon such as hidden varicose veins: in the context of the changes pronounced in the unpleasant veins and symptoms, there are no visible signs of the disease. Therefore, in approximately one third of all cases, the disease is detected in advanced stages.

To carry out an effective treatment of varicose nodes in the legs, the doctor will have to find out the causes of his occurrence. Since even when radical methods are used in 80% of patients, a relapse of varicose veins occurs, special attention should be paid to the reduction of the effect on the processes of factors that cause varicose veins. These include:

• Hereditary predisposition is a really uncontrolled factor that, however, can be restricted by standard preventive measures;
• Physical influences: a greater load on the legs (long position and sitting, the habit of crossing the legs, excess weight, weightlifting);
• Physiological effects: hormonal changes and drinking hormonal drugs (more frequently contraceptive), metabolic disorders, lack of physical activity;
• Pathological causes are chronic liver diseases, kidneys, lesions and systematic pulling of soft tissues of the lower extremities, tumors, pressing the veins in the abdominal cavity.

Depending on the location of the veins, doctors distinguish several types of varicose veins in the legs:

1. Surface. It is expressed by the appearance of a bluish or red varicose grid on the legs, which first resembles a network, and then the plexus of quite thick winding lines.
2. Deep. It is expressed by a defeat that is not visible during the external examination of the vascular plexus. The pain in the veins of the lower extremities with the varicose expansion of this type is more intense, a greater risk of complications.
3. Combined when deep and superficial veins are subject to changes.

The establishment of the causes of the varicose veins and their elimination are in close relationship. First, it is important to exclude the factors that have the greatest negative impact on the state of the veins.

When diagnosing venous changes, it is important to differentiate them with other diseases. For example, varicose veins under the knee look the same as Becker Quist, and accompanied by similar symptoms.

Stages

The appearance of the first signs of varicose veins in the legs occurs in the progressive stages, when venous valves perform their functions in less than 50%. In the first or zero stage of the varicose veins, which is known as a "compensation stage", there are no discomfort, as well as visible changes. The detection of the initial stage of the varicose veins in the legs occurs with a careful examination of the extremities by a pharmoton.

In the second stage of the varicose veins, which is known as "subcompensation", the changes are expressed quite well:

• Big veins contours are visible under the skin, but may not excel on the surface of the skin;
• On the surface of the skin on the hips and under the knees, a thin varical grid pattern of the blue or red capillaries is clearly visible;
• At night, the legs swell;
• At night, calf muscles are tight.

This stage of the varicose veins of the lower extremities is distinguished by increasing the symptoms, which weakens after the break.

In the final stage of the varicose veins, decompensation occurs: the body cannot replace the needs of the tissues in oxygen, and the valves in their veins in 90% lose their functions. The condition of the limbs worsens due to insufficient blood supply. This stage of varicose veins is characterized by a decrease in tissue capabilities to regeneration. The abundance of complications worsens the general condition of the patient. Symptoms in the final stage of varicose veins are constantly preserved.

Symptoms

The most common and early symptom of varicose veins is leg pain at the end of the working day. It appears with a change in deep and superficial vessels, and is a sign of insufficiently good blood supply to soft tissues. In some cases, pain is the only symptom of the varicose veins of the deep veins of the lower extremities. With a change in superficial vessels, the appearance of varicose veins in the legs, which often creates only aesthetic inconveniences, says the development of the disease.

The nature of pain with varicose veins in different stages of the development of the disease may differ:

• In the initial stage, there is a slight discomfort that resembles ordinary fatigue;
• With the progression to the second stage, there is a sensation of burning in the legs of the varicose veins, which is often located under the knee;
• Tiring pain with the varicose veins of the lower extremities is accompanied by 2 and 3 stages of the disease, along with this, a calf muscle can occur;
• The acute pain caused by chromium occurs in the final stages of the disease.

In addition to obvious physical discomfort, the disease is accompanied by external changes. Most patients complain that their legs scratch, with varicose veins, this is considered a normal phenomenon that indicates ischemic processes. A thin varicose grid, which practically does not bother in the early stages, over time stands out stronger, becoming a thick intertwined of thickened vessels. Any physical activity, including coughing, sneezing or long walking, can cause a breakdown of enlarged and sometimes veins. Blood is poured under the skin, forming bruises.

The presence of bruises in the legs with varicose veins indicates a stable progression of the disease, excessive stretching and thinning of the veins.

The appearance of red spots on the legs with varicose veins, peeled from the skin, their thinning and exposure to injuries indicates atrophic processes that are characteristic of the final stages of the disease. The complications are indicated by the redness of the lower part of the leg, which is accompanied by acute and limp pain. Such symptom is characteristic of phlebitis and thrombophlebitis. If the patient is blackened by the leg, this indicates a serious blockade of the veins and the beginning of the necrotic processes.

Diagnosis

The ease of diagnosis of varicose veins in the legs is exaggerated, since the vessels do not always go to the surface. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor must perform an external exam and carry out a series of instrumental investigations:

• Duplex or ultrasound scan in the lower limb: for varicose veins, it is first used to determine the degree of stretching of vascular walls, the nature of the blood flow in them and detect blood clots;
• Radiography of the limbs with contrast: the standard of functional examination for the varicose veins of the lower extremities, which allows it to determine the permeability of the blood vessels;
• Magnetic resonance is the gold standard of modern diagnosis of varicose veins in the lower extremities, which allows it to evaluate the functionality of venous valves, identify ischemia spotlights in soft tissues, detect blood clots and other pathological changes that arise in the context of varicose veins.

To clarify the complete image of the disease, laboratory studies are prescribed: a coagulogram to assess the risk of thrombosis, a general and biochemical blood analysis.

Treatment characteristics

The treatment of varicose veins in the legs is dedicated to a phlebologist. After determining the degree of pathological changes, the doctor selects the most effective methods, in his opinion, of therapy. Unfortunately, it will not work to get rid of varicose veins in the legs forever, since the disease is systematic, and even modern treatment methods give a long -term result but not 100% stable.

According to statistics, even after using radical methods to treat varicose veins of the lower extremities in 80% of patients, relapse occurs for 5 years.

In the initial stages of the varicose veins in the legs, the treatment is preferably conservative. Its base is the use of local and systemic drugs:

• Anticoagulants that reduce blood viscosity and improve tissue nutrition;
• Anti -saggers that reduce the risk of thrombosis and improve trophic tissue;
• Venotonics to avoid greater vein stretching, reduce inflammatory processes and swelling.

With discomfort pronounced for varicose veins on the legs, NSAIDs are prescribed. The preparations for this group help reduce pain, prevent the development of complications.

What to do if itches on varicose legs does not allow sleeping, doing family things and makes you nervous? It is worth trying ointments or gels with a cooling effect. They will not affect the veins and will not help to deal with the disease, but will quickly relieve the symptoms.

In addition to conservative therapy, doctors often use the complex treatment methods of the varicose veins of the lower extremities, when the minimally invasive and surgical operations are used simultaneously with medical effects. Such scheme is used for intense symptoms and extensive extension of venous networks. What measures to take and what to do if the varicose veins in the legs begin to progress suddenly, decides a phlebologist. At the same time, it takes into account all aspects of the development of the disease, the individual characteristics of the body and health problems, which can become contraindications of certain procedures.

What methods are used to eliminate pathological vessels:

1. Laser coagulation. It is used if the varicose veins did not change to 2 and 3 stages, that is, in the presence of small "stars" on the skin surface. The method is painless and effective, but expensive. There is no 100% cure guarantee, since the elimination of visible vessels occurs, while the causes of the disease are preserved. Apply in the early stages to eliminate cosmetic defects.
2. Sclerotherapy. In thin and medium thicknesses, the vessels are introduced by a sclerosantes, which seals the veins light, excluding from the blood flow system. The procedure is practically painless and relatively economic, but has many contraindications. It is used at 1. 2 and sometimes 3 stages.
3. Flebectomy is a classical split of pathological veins through punctures or cuts in the skin. This method eliminates the varicose veins of the surface in the hips and legs. After surgery, visible scars remain, but the operation is the only effective one with advanced forms of varicose veins.

The realization of a surgical or minimally invasive intervention does not mean completely getting rid of varicose veins. The patient will have to regularly visit a phlebologist, take medications to maintain the tone of the vein and use compression linen.

Contraindications

Experts attribute to the contraindications for varicose veins in the legs any action that may cause additional stagnation in the lower extremities vessels. These include:

• long stay in static poses;
• weightlifting;
• Sitting with bending or crossing your legs.

In addition, patients should avoid drinking alcohol, which helps increase blood viscosity and weaken the walls of blood vessels. Smoking can negatively affect the course of the disease. Therefore, after making a diagnosis, it is necessary to abandon bad habits.

Complications

Thrombosis and inflammatory processes on the walls of the veins, which were mentioned above, is far from being the only thing that varicose veins in the legs is dangerous for the patient in terms of complications. Due to circulatory disorders, not only blood vessels, but also soft tissues suffer, therefore, among the consequences of varicose veins on the legs, problems with muscles and skin are mentioned:

• Dermatitis, accompanied by eruptions with itching, skin ulceration, itching;
• Eccema, accompanied by skin cracks;
• Necrotic changes in the skin to gangrene formation;
• trophic ulcers;
• Muscle atrophy.

Often, with the progression of the disease and the excessive stretching of the walls of the blood vessels, the patient runs the risk of finding bleeding from the varicose veins of the lower extremities. It can be closed when blood accumulates in the muscles and under the skin and hematomas, or open. The second option is loaded with a large amount of blood and the arrival of a coma, especially if the patient takes anti -agents and anticoagulants.

This complication of the varicose veins of the veins of the lower extremities can lead not only to the lesions, but also to a slight physical effort, for example, cough or acute movement.

The most dangerous complications of the varicose veins of the lower limb are the thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery and the myocardial infarction. They are produced due to the decomposition of the blood clot in the femoral artery and its migration according to the blood flow system in the coronary and pulmonary vessels. Mortality in such processes is extremely high, so it is important that the patient always follows the well and urgently see a doctor with difficulty breathing and opaque chest pain.