Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a chronic disease manifested by a violation of the mechanism of blood outflow in the veins. Because of this, the venous walls are under constant pressure, gradually thinning, and nodular enlargements form in the veins.
As a result of blood stagnation, varicose veins form in the veins of the lower extremities. This is manifested by swelling of the peripheral veins of the legs and protrusion under the skin. The blood vessels are tortuous and give a bluish tinge. There are severe painful pains in the legs.
Varicose veins progress without treatment, complicated by thrombophlebitis and trophic ulcers. Treatment of varicose veins should be started at the first symptoms to prevent the development of the disease.
First, doctors use conservative methods to treat leg varicose veins. If these do not work, surgery is used.
Physiotherapy treatment
Physiotherapy methods play an important role in the treatment of leg varicose veins. The main ones are:
- Electrophoresis;
- Lymphatic drainage;
- Hyperbaric oxygenation;
- Plating;
- Magnetic therapy;
- Darsonvalization;
- Exposure to ultraviolet radiation;
- UHF and others.
The most popular procedure is darsonvalization. This is done with a special device that generates a weak electrical discharge. Walking from the bottom up along the legs for 15 minutes on each limb. The process of treating varicose veins is about 20 sessions (depending on the stage of the disease). As a result, vascular tone normalizes, lymph outflow, and leg microcirculation improve.
Pulsed magnetic therapy is performed with a generator of magnetic fields that induce eddy currents in the tissues of the lower extremities that have a therapeutic effect. Due to this effect, the muscle fibers in the vessel wall of the legs are stimulated and toned. This improves blood circulation to the limbs, reduces swelling and reduces pain. Depending on the stage of development of the varicose veins, the session lasts 10-20 minutes.
Pneumatic compression also helps to restore the tone of veins and blood vessels through a form of massage. A boot-like device is placed on the patient’s foot. The gas supply is under pressure. However, the method should be discarded in patients who have varicose veins and are prone to thrombosis.
Balneotherapy is an effective method of treating the varicose veins of the leg, which consists of running baths with mineral water. Spas are designated local or general. Hydrotherapy is a contrasting local spa. These methods are particularly effective in the early stages of the disease. Manifestations of varicose veins are quite effective in treating these methods at this stage.
Oxygenation
In addition to local physiotherapy procedures, others are performed that affect the entire body. For example, the oxygen in the bubble bath improves blood circulation, relieves the symptoms of varicose veins in the foot. Hyperbaric oxygenation is useful. During the session, the patient inhales pure oxygen at a pressure of more than one and a half atmospheres.
Ozone therapy is associated with this method. Inhalation of ozone activates a number of processes in the patient's body: microcirculation is improved, metabolism is normalized and regeneration is accelerated. At therapeutic doses, ozone also prevents thrombus formation, slightly diluting the blood. Ozone treatment of varicose veins is 5-10 procedures with an interval of 2 days.
Physiotherapy is especially effective in the early and middle stages of the disease. Physiotherapy procedures should be prescribed by a phlebologist.
Drug treatment
Medication to overcome varicose veins on the legs is of secondary importance. These are the key to successful treatment and the main method is high efficiency. Medications are prescribed after physiotherapy and other conservative treatments, as well as after surgery.
There are several drugs available to treat varicose veins. They can be used in combination or separately. The phlebologist should designate an appropriate one. Each drug can be divided into several groups:
- Phlebotonics;
- Anticoagulants;
- Decongestants;
- Decomposers;
- Antioxidants
- Fibrinolytics.
Phlebotonics make it possible to increase the tone of the walls of blood vessels and veins, so they are effective in treating varicose veins in the foot. The walls become stronger and denser. The effect of treatment with other methods was recorded. The blood circulation in the legs improves, the lymphatic outflow improves. These are prescribed to prepare for surgery and subsequent rehabilitation to relieve inflammation in the varicose veins.
Anticoagulants are drugs that reduce the ability of the blood to clot. This prevents the formation of blood clots, which is of great importance for the varicose veins of the foot. They can be taken as tablets or injections. Taking them without consulting a doctor is dangerous because they have side effects - bleeding that is difficult to stop.
Decongestants can be taken orally in the form of tablets or topically as gels and ointments. In the form of tablets, diuretics are mainly used. Such medications significantly reduce leg pain with varicose veins and put additional pressure on the vein wall. Their use improves blood circulation.
Disintegrants - drugs that also affect blood clotting, but are not anticoagulants. They stop the clotting process only in the earliest stages and are therefore not anticoagulants. They have no significant effect on overall coagulation indices. When used as adjunctive therapy for varicose veins, they have the same effect as anticoagulants.
Antioxidants work by detoxification. As a result of the restoration of the chemical bonds of the cells, the sound of the walls of the blood vessels and veins is strengthened. As a result, the varicose veins in the foot heal much faster.
Fibrinolytics prevent blood clots. This is due to the destruction of the fibrin that is part of the blood clot. The use of a drug from this group allows the plasmin form of blood plasminogen (an inactive protein) to cause blood clot death. However, taking this drug does not prevent further thrombosis of varicose veins.
The pharmaceutical company has developed a whole range of drugs that combine the properties of several of the groups described. Such medications should be prescribed by a physician and taken strictly under his or her supervision. This is due to the fact that they have quite a few side effects.
The use of medications for varicose veins on the legs should not be the only measure. These are prescribed along with other treatments.
Laser therapy
This is an effective way to treat varicose veins in the legs. The principle of laser operation lies in its effect on hemoglobin in this disease. Hemoglobin absorbs laser light and produces heat in the blood. As a result, the damaged vessel is "sealed. "The laser also indirectly affects the tone of the walls of blood vessels and veins, as it causes these walls to spasm. The advantage of such an effect is its accuracy. It only affects certain tissues without affecting the surrounding tissues in any way.
After contact with the laser, the blood stops moving through the treated area. The blood supply to this part of the limb will be produced by deeper veins. A connective tissue forms in the "non-functioning" part of the vessel, which dissolves over time.
The advantage of this method of getting rid of varicose veins is minimal trauma. After the procedure, patients do not feel any discomfort or pain. In addition, there are other benefits:
- The method does not require skin incision, unlike surgery. That way, there are no scars left behind. There are no bruises after the procedure;
- The procedure is performed under short local anesthesia. In view of this, it is as safe as possible for health, as opposed to surgery, which is performed under general anesthesia;
- From a financial point of view, laser treatment of varicose veins is similar to surgery. Although it seems more expensive, it should be kept in mind that after that, the patient does not have to go through a period of rehabilitation and has to stay on sick leave for a long time or spend money on recovery.
Many diseases can be cured with a laser. It has become a good alternative for a wide variety of procedures. Minimal trauma, painlessness and efficiency - all of which make laser treatment beneficial in many situations.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a popular method of treating varicose veins in the legs, sometimes called physiotherapy. Essentially, special drugs are injected into the veins. The method is not traumatic and effective, so it is popular. The effectiveness of this method is sometimes comparable to that of a laser and even surgery. After such a procedure, the walls of the vessel are glued and reinforced, which makes it possible to overcome the varicose veins of the legs. And the drug is absorbed by the body.
The main advantage of the method of getting rid of the disease is the absence of scars and bruises after the procedure. It is also important that it is not too painful and can be performed under local anesthesia. After the procedure, the integrity of the circulatory system is not compromised because the veins are not removed. Such an intervention may be ideal if the use of surgical methods is dangerous - in the case of thrombophlebitis, periflebitis, and in the treatment of recurrence of the disease when the veins are fragile and twisted.
The method has several contraindications. First, it is pregnancy and breastfeeding. Serious diseases of the cardiovascular system, diabetes, chronic liver and kidney diseases, allergies - all this is also a contraindication to the use of sclerotherapy, it is better to think about how to treat the varicose veins of the legs differently.
If your doctor prescribes sclerotherapy, you should be notified of any contraindications. If a patient has any type of chronic illness, the possibility of using sclerotherapy remains questionable.
Surgery
Surgery is a traumatic and painful method of effectively treating severe varicose veins in the legs. However, only its efficiency reaches 100%. In addition, it sometimes takes significantly less time than any other. Among the disadvantages are large wounds and scars, a long rehabilitation period. There are several types of surgery:
- Stripping involves removing part of the veins with a thin probe. The injection is given at the beginning of the vein and is withdrawn at the end. In this case, the area attached to the probe seems to turn and become easily removable;
- Phlebectomy is a traditional surgical method for treating varicose veins, which involves cutting the tissue with a scalpel. This is done when minimally invasive intervention is impossible, such as when significant areas are affected or severe inflammation is present, and for other indications;
- Microflebectomy is considered a minimally invasive procedure. Helps effectively treat varicose veins. The type of implementation is similar to the previous method, only the incisions in the skin are very small. This makes it less traumatic. It can be done when the injury is not as severe and it is not necessary to remove most of the vein.
There are several indications and contraindications to this method. So pregnant women and recently parents can’t intervene. You must wait at least a month and a half after giving birth. Also, do not use this method in the early stages of varicose veins.
Surgery is not a guarantee that varicose veins will not occur on the leg. You need to take care of your health.
There are many methods for treating varicose veins on the legs that allow the doctor to select the best one for each case. However, the more they start the disease, the more radical a method must be chosen. Therefore, do not delay seeing a doctor if you notice the first symptoms of a varicose vein in your leg.