Varicose veins on the legs, the initial stage of treatment

Today, such a disease as varicose veins is the most common. A sedentary lifestyle usually leads to the development of disease, and an untimely reaction to bodily signals leads to quite serious consequences, which in turn is detrimental to health. In this article, we will consider such a topic as varicose veins on the legs, photos and the initial stage of treatment. I would like to mention that varicose veins are usually called a disease characterized by stagnation of blood in the blood vessels of the lower extremities, due to which the peripheral veins are swollen. Swollen blood vessels have a dark blue color, in the absence of adequate treatment, they take on a purple hue, blood clots and ulcers begin to form, and severe pain appears.

Symptoms of the disease in the initial stage of development

Varicose veins on the legs is a rather insidious disease - this is due to the fact that this disease is very difficult to diagnose in the initial stage of development. The symptoms of the disease are similar to many other diseases, such as osteochondrosis or flat feet. Often, patients with varicose veins seek professional medical help when there is enough swelling and pain in the limbs.

However, there are a few common symptoms, noticing that you need to contact a specialist immediately to find out the cause of the problem and find out what are varicose veins in the legs, photos, the initial stage of treatment. The initial symptoms of the disease include an increase in the venous pattern, however, as a rule, swelling, pain and swelling of the blood vessels are not recorded in this case.

Consider the most obvious symptoms that indicate the presence of such a disease as varicose veins:

• the appearance of leg pain, which can occur at any time, also often such symptoms are accompanied by itching and cramping of the limbs during sleep;
• the appearance of feelings of fatigue and swelling in the legs;
• the skin changes color, the skin in the problem areas takes on a bluish color, it becomes dry;
• bulging veins above the surface of the skin and the appearance of characteristic spider veins.

Why varicose veins are dangerous

Keep in mind that, as mentioned above, such a topic as varicose veins on the legs that represent the initial stage of treatment is very relevant for many. This is due to the fact that varicose veins are quite a dangerous disease, and a cosmetic defect in the form of swollen veins is just the tip of the iceberg. The disease can lead to quite serious complications, so treatment of varicose veins is necessary!

As you can see in the photo of the initial phase of the disease, the characteristic symptomatology is swelling of the veins, which is far from harmless, let's list the diseases that can cause varicose veins.

• Phlebitis- this disease involves the beginning of the inflammatory process of the venous walls. Patients with phlebitis, as a rule, constantly feel quite strong pain. In addition, painful lumps appear in the affected area.
• Thrombophlebitis- the disease is characterized by the formation of blood clots in inflamed and varicose veins. Keep in mind that thrombophlebitis occurs due to the lack of adequate treatment for phlebitis. In addition to pain in the extremities, the patient feels general weakness, loses appetite.
• Trophic ulcers- this is another complication of varicose veins, which is manifested by a lack of nourishing epidermis, which leads to dermatitis, which results in difficult healing of trophic ulcers.

Preparations for varicose veins

Fats

Today, the pharmaceutical market offers a wide range of drugs to treat diseases that include varicose veins, and varicose veins ointment deserves special attention.

Anticoagulants. These varicose vein medications are the most popular. The main task of the ointment is a complex effect that helps reduce blood viscosity, resorption of blood clots, reduce the inflammatory process and reduce pain symptoms. The drugs provide the maximum positive effect when applied in the initial stage of the disease, improving blood circulation and strengthening the walls of blood vessels.

Fats based on sodium heparin, prevent the formation of blood clots and reduce blood clotting.

Venotonics help to effectively deal with the symptoms of varicose veins, strengthen blood vessels and inhibit inflammatory processes.

Creams

Varicose vein creams are also effective, as are ointments because of their active ingredients that can effectively fight the unpleasant symptoms of the disease.

Ketoprofen-based creams actively suppress inflammation in the vessels of the lower extremities. These drugs belong to the non-steroidal group, which indicates its effectiveness in removing swelling and relieving pain.

Creams based on natural ingredients that effectively help solve varicose veins. The advantage of the cream is that it has no negative effect on the patient with varicose veins.

Routine-based creams are effective at the cellular level, which is why the inflammatory process is quickly suppressed. The drug has a decongestant effect, improves vascular tone, regulates intravenous pressure and quickly eliminates pain.

Tablets

The main effect of bioflavonoid-based tablets is to increase the properties of blood vessels such as elasticity and tone, which in turn improves blood circulation and prevents the formation of blood clots. Thanks to the intake of these drugs, such a phenomenon as venous congestion, permeability of venous vessels is eliminated.

Effective folk remedies against varicose veins

Cabbage.Even our ancestors used various folk remedies to treat such a disease as varicose veins. One of them is the treatment with cabbage leaves. The effectiveness of this vegetable lies in the fact that cabbage is able to quickly alleviate inflammation, thanks to the vitamins and trace elements it contains. White cabbage leaves are generally used to treat varicose veins in the form of compresses. To make a medical compress, you will need a cabbage leaf that must first be properly discarded. After that, one side of the leaf is smeared with vegetable oil and applied to the inflamed area for one day (fastened with a bandage). The course of treatment is 1 month.

Ginger.This herb, used in cooking, can be used to treat varicose veins as an external and internal remedy. Ginger tea will help cope with almost any disease at any stage of its development, including varicose veins. You can also make ginger wraps. To do this, you need to grate a piece of ginger root, mix it with natural honey and apply on the affected area for 3-4 hours.

Kalina.Like ginger, viburnum can be used to treat varicose veins as an enhanced drink and as an effective compress. To prepare the compress, the berries should be rubbed to a mushy state, put the prepared bandage or gauze and applied to the problem area. It is best to do such a compress at night.

Initial stage of varicose veins - first symptoms

Today, varicose veins are one of the most common dangerous diseases, both among women and men. According to WHO statistics, varicose veins of the lower extremities can lead a person to death from thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers and related cancerous tumors.

Every patient must know about the causes, symptoms and stages of the disease in order to prevent the serious consequences of this pathology.

Reasons and stages of development

Varicose veins occur as a result of pathologies of the venous walls and malfunction of venous valves, whose task is to transfer carbon dioxide-enriched blood from the lower extremities to the lungs to exchange gases.

As a result of improper blood flow and valve dysfunction, blood accumulates in the vessels, increasing the pressure in the veins in the legs, which leads to bulging of the weak venous wall. This is how varicose veins develop.

There are a number of factors that can cause the disease. These include:

1. Heredity.
2. Obesity.
3. Have bad habits.
4. Pregnancy.
5. Long taking hormonal medications.
6. Cardiovascular diseases that lead to the formation of blood clots.
7. Sedentary lifestyle that causes blood stagnation.
8. Long-term occupations.
9. Walking in high heels.

Under the influence of these factors, foot disease develops which takes place in several stages. Each of them is characterized by specific clinical manifestations.There are 4 stages of varicose veins in medical practice:

• varicose vein at an early stage, pictured above, passesvirtually asymptomatic. The person has only a predominant feeling of heaviness in the legs, slight swelling and pain. Small spider veins begin to appear on the skin of the thighs and legs;
• grade 1 varicose veins, also shown in the photo, are characterized by frequent cramps in the muscle leaves, a burning sensation that spreads from the lower leg to the soles, and swelling of the ankles;
• for the second degreecharacterized by an abundance of spider veins, severe edema, constant pain in the legs, increased surface area of ​​protruding veins;
• third degreeindicates the involvement of the skin in the disease process: it becomes scaly, thin, often pigmented near the ankle. The risk of thrombosis is very high. the veins are greatly enlarged and dilated. In addition to pain, the patient is haunted by a constant burning sensation, eczema and dermatitis on the skin of the lower extremities, deep ulcers occur when the skin is injured.

IMPORTANT! If treatment is not started in the early stages, the disease will be very difficult to treat conservatively in the future and threatens the patient with mortal danger!

First symptoms of varicose veins

It is difficult to diagnose the first symptoms of varicose veins in the legs.The patient confuses them for a while with fatigue and muscle strain. With such sensations, especially if there have been no serious strains on the legs before, you need to contact a specialist, because you can cure the disease at an early stage, without resorting to surgery and exhausting procedures. Phlebologists and surgeons are engaged in the treatment of varicose veins.

The following symptoms indicate the first signs of varicose veins:

1. Constant weight in the legs. This is due to impaired circulation in the legs due to venous valve dysfunction. As a result, the pressure in the vein rises sharply, stretches even more and causes pain.
2. Swelling of the lower extremities. The symptom is manifested as a result of a large load on the venous system. If the pain in the vein and the redness of the skin above it join the swelling, we can talk about the development of thrombophlebitis - an extremely dangerous complication of varicose veins.
3. An increase in shin circumferenceup to 1 cm in the evening is associated with edema.
4. Feelings of painintensify with exertion and disappear by the next morning.
5. Spider veinson legs and hips. Some patients consider them a cosmetic defect. Their appearance indicates the pathology of the large varicose vein that feeds them. Only ultrasound diagnostics can confirm or refute this.
6. Protruding veins.

Initially, the first signs of varicose veins on the legs quickly disappear if the legs are allowed to rest in a comfortable position. However,this should alert the patient, as it is a sure symptom of the onset of the disease.

Then the patient may feel a burning sensation in the veins. If you do not pay enough attention to these symptoms, the patient may feel cramps in the sheets of muscle at night and the appearance of fatigue in the legs below the knees.

WARNING! The symptoms of early varicose veins are similar to other diseases - straight legs and osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. That is why it is so important to seek advice from a phlebologist to rule out other diagnoses and start treatment on time!

Diagnosis and treatment

As a rule, varicose veins in the initial stage, as shown in the photo,is ​​painless. The patient, and according to statistics, women suffer from varicose veins twice as often as men, seeks the help of a doctor regarding the vascular network. The doctor conducts an examination and prescribes the necessary studies to assess the degree of damage to the venous circulation.

A general blood testmay be prescribed for this, which will show the presence or absence of thrombocytopenia, a biochemical blood test to detect liver problems, as well as vascular ultrasound.

Displays vascular wall pathology. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient is referred for X-ray phlebography, which determines the location of the venous lesion.

After the research, the doctor prescribes a treatment that can prevent the transition of the initial phase of varicose veins to the next.

Therefore, the underlying diseaseis ​​treated - endocrine, cardiovascular, etc. Then the risk factors are eliminated, only then is the patient offered a change in lifestyle, diet and giving up bad habits.

Early stage medical treatment ofvaricose veins is not provided. Experts believe that it is enough to usecompression underwear - either special socks and tights, or elastic bandages, which must be applied to the legs after waking up and worn during the day. This therapy can evenly distribute the load on the legs and improve blood circulation.

Forms of the disease

The type of vascular insufficiency depends on the veins that have affected the disease, the prevalence of the process and the localization. There are varicose veins:

• reticular (small vascular);
• segmental (focal);
• perforation (connective vein lesion);
• main (pathology of a small or large vein under the skin).

Each type of varicose vein has characteristic features in terms of external manifestations. The presence of complications depends on the stage of the disease.

Reticular shape

Of all the known types of varicose veins, this is the easiest. The disease mainly affects women's legs; this pathology rarely affects men.

In the photograph of varicose veins in the initial phase, the reticular shape can be determined only by strengthening the vascular pattern. This is a bluish network of small fragments of veins no more than 3 mm in diameter. It is more often localized on the thighs in the area of ​​the lateral surfaces. Several star-like fragments appear first, and then more extensive areas are affected.

This form of varicose veins is often called cosmetic; it is not dangerous for blood flow, but it creates aesthetic inconveniences for women. Reticular varicose veins of the legs can be caused by:

This pattern is the most treated form. One of the most effective methods of treating such varicose veins is microscopic sclerotherapy. It is not dangerous and painless. But often patients do not consider the manifestations of spider veins a serious reason to contact a phlebologist. In this case, the disease turns into a chronic pathology. May cause bleeding from superficial vessels.

The reticular form of varicose veins requires mandatory medical advice. This will prevent complications.

Segment Pattern

This type of varicose veins can appear in the early stages of the disease. In segmental form, larger vessels with a diameter of 3 mm or more are affected. But the disease is focal, only one or a few tributary veins lose tone. This type of pathology is characterized by the absence of reverse bleeding, which facilitates therapy.

If you look at a photo of varicose veins on the legs in a segmental shape, you can see swollen branches from the main vein on the lower leg. These are tributary ships.

Treatment of the disease is conservative. With late treatment and the formation of tributary nodules, miniphlebectomy may be used. Segmental varicose veins are localized in the anteromedial and posterior surface of the leg and in the popliteal fossa.

Trunk

This pathology affects the great and small main veins. Large, suffers several times more often than small. The photograph of the varicose veins on the legs clearly shows the bulge of the large veins in the lower leg, side thighs and feet. The vascular wall on the legs is tense and nodular formations are visible.

The disease passes with characteristic symptoms of chronic circulatory failure. Due to damage to the vascular valves, reflux occurs (reverse discharge). Usually the blood moves in one direction. If the valves are insufficient, they do not close completely and the vessels are overloaded. For this reason, the veins stretch and lose their elasticity.

Varicose veins of the trunk require serious treatment. Smaller surgeries and conservative methods are more commonly used.

In the absence of adequate therapy, the main varicose veins on the legs are complicated by thrombophlebitis and thrombosis.

Perforated shape

Deep and saphenous veins are present on the legs. They are interconnected by vessels, which are called perforating vessels.

These veins are no less important than trunk veins. Their defeat leads to insufficient blood circulation in the legs. The blood is not completely directed into the bloodstream. This contributes to stagnation and thrombus formation.

• a picture of varicose veins on the legs with lesions of the perforating veins clearly shows the presence of swollen veins;
• Irregularities and bruises are visible in some places; the skin becomes darker;
• rash and scratches may occur.

The localization of this form is different and depends on the location of the affected vein. These are the legs, thighs and joints. Sometimes the vessels bulge even in the Achilles tendon and below the knee. Treatment is often surgical, but minimally invasive methods are possible in individual foci.

Stages of varicose veins in the legs

Phlebologists around the world hold forums and seminars dedicated to varicose veins every year. The types and forms of the disease are constantly changing. Experts describe the stages of varicose veins in different ways. Their number is constantly changing. The last approved classification contains seven ratings:

• First or Null. It is not manifested by external signs. Patients complain only of weight, fatigue and swelling. It can sometimes irritate the recurrence of seizures.
• Other. In the second stage photograph, you can clearly see the vascular network in the popliteal cups and thighs. The symptomatology does not change.
• Third. The protrusions of the veins are clearly visible, especially during exercise or in a sitting position. In addition to the veins, blue nodules can be seen on the legs. Patients feel pain and tension.
• Fourth. The appearance of edema is added to the swollen veins. By evening, the legs become full, and in the morning everything returns to normal. Swelling can cause numbness or tingling in the legs.
• Fifth. Metabolic processes are disturbed. There is not enough tissue nutrition, and trophic changes are created on the skin. They can appear as dry spots, redness and scratches. The skin around the veins becomes darker in color. Thrombophlebitis may develop.
• Sixth. The photography of this phase is different from the others. It shows pronounced trophic ulcers in the veins of the lower extremities. As a result of massive healing, wounds heal with primary intent.
• Seventh. The last stage. In other classifications it is called decompensation. The most negative outcome of the disease. Healing ulcers form on the legs. They can get wet and surprised. This degree requires urgent inpatient treatment. It can be complicated by sepsis and thromboembolism.

Types of varicose veins on the legs, complicated by violation of the integrity of the skin and the addition of a secondary infection, can endanger the life of the patient.

There is another classification that provides three stages of varicose veins:

• Fee. It is manifested only by local symptoms (pain, convulsions, heaviness). External changes in blood vessels are not noticed.
• Undercompensation. External signs of moderate varicose vein develop. Spider veins and signs of segmental lesions appear.
• Decompensation. Severe consequences of chronic venous insufficiency. Trophic lesions, ulcers and thrombosis.

General characteristics and causes of varicose veins

In healthy people, venous blood grows from the legs to the heart under the influence of pressure, which in the normal state is quite enough to overcome gravity. When this mechanism is disrupted, the body is forced to increase the pressure to push the blood upward.

As a result of this process, valvular insufficiency occurs, which is characterized by blood flow to the superficial veins from the deep. As the pressure inside the vessels increases, their walls lose elasticity, stretch and become exhausted, leading to the formation of visible bluish subcutaneous nodules.

Reasons for the development of varicose veins of the lower extremities:

• Increased progesterone levels in the female body. This hormone negatively affects the condition of the venous walls and valves, making them weak and unprotected.
• Congenital malformations of the valves or walls of the veins, lack of connective tissue, poor patency of the deep veins, genetic predisposition.
• Neoplasms located on the legs, in the abdominal cavity.
• Lower limb injuries.
• Diseases of the endocrine system.
Thrombophlebitis.
• Joint diseases - osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
• Long-term use of hormonal contraceptives.
• Sedentary lifestyle that often leads to stagnant processes in the legs.
• Increased intra-abdominal pressure. It usually occurs with lung diseases or frequent constipation.
• Overweight.
• Wearing tight clothing and footwear.
• Presence in the diet of large amounts of high-calorie and fatty foods, absence of plant fibers.
• Smoking, frequent alcohol consumption.

During pregnancy, BPVD occurs especially often, because during this periodglobal changes in the hormonal background occur, as well as weight gain.

Men suffer from this disease if theirlifestyle is associated with hard physical workor prolonged posture - machine operators, loaders, etc. Varicose veins on the legs can also occur as a result of some sports activities.

Varicose veins need urgent treatment, the absence of which can result in serious consequences: the development of thrombophlebitis, bleeding from venous nodes and a trophic ulcer that can cause amputation of the leg.