Varicose veins of the lower extremities: symptoms, photos and treatment of deep veins

The deep vein is a very unpleasant and quite dangerous lesion in the venous vessels of the circulatory system.

Deep vein varicose veins of the lower extremities are pathologies that extend to blood vessels passing through the muscle structure of the legs. Elongation and dilation of venous blood vessels significantly impairs blood flow and becomes the cause of the onset and progression of thrombosis.

The risk of this disease is that a thrombus formed in the vessel wall is likely to appear and enter the pulmonary artery.

When this disease occurs, an irreversible process of vein vasodilation and dilation occurs. As the process progresses, a thinning of the venous wall is observed and nodules are formed that impede the transport of blood through the free vessel.

Most people aged 30-40 and older are susceptible to this disease.

Causes of lower limb varicose veins

There are a number of harmful factors that can cause a disease to appear and develop. Varicose veins are the result of severe circulatory disturbances in a specific area of ​​the lower extremities.

With the onset of the disease, the patient may develop trophic ulcers at the site of circulatory disorders, which may provoke the appearance of gangrene - a condition that requires amputation of the affected part of the limb.

In addition, VRV can cause deformity of the muscles of the lower extremities, and blood clots can lead to death by possible subsequent separation and transport to the pulmonary artery.

The main factors in the appearance and progression of the disorder are:

• the presence of a genetically determined hereditary predisposition leading to congenital pathologies and weakness of venous vessel wall cells;
• no - women get sick much more often than men, which is associated with the occurrence of hormonal changes during pregnancy, the onset of menopause, and the use of hormonal drugs and contraceptives;
• the patient results in increased venous pressure due to decreased mobility and increased static overload with the body remaining in a long, upright position and overweight;

In addition, the cause of the disease may be:

1. Regularly increased load on the limbs.
2. Severe damage to the immune system.
3. Constant tightening of blood vessels in the legs when wearing tight shoes.
4. Overweight or obese.
5. Development of various forms of dermatitis.
6. Consequences of surgical interventions.
7. Increased static load on the lower extremities.
8. Alcohol and smoking abuse.

In addition, cellulite may be the cause of the pathology.

Timely identification of the disease allows a qualified phlebolg to visit if the disease is first suspected.

Main signs of deep vein varicose veins

Most often, in the early stages of progression, the disease manifests as a feeling of mild fatigue after prolonged static exertion in the legs or long walks. In addition, a small swelling of the tissues of the limbs appears during this period.

The most common symptoms of the disorder appear at the end of the day and gradually disappear with long rest. When these signs appear, a phlebologist should be consulted and special studies should be performed to identify and clarify the presence of the pathology.

Laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods allow us to identify the extent of the disease and to decide on the timely and appropriate treatment of the disease. As the disease progresses, it enters more advanced stages, characterized by the appearance of a full spectrum of symptoms and signs characteristic of progressive disease.

In the advanced stages of the pathology, the following symptoms are typical:

• severe pain in the legs in the evening and at night;
• persistence of persistent soft tissue edema and difficulty in the lower extremities;
• Constant swelling of soft tissues leads to an increase in limb size;
• the patient has frequent seizures in the calf area, most often at night;
• in the affected areas, the skin acquires a bluish tinge on the limbs;
• The protrusion of the affected venous vessels is seen on the legs, thighs and lower legs when we train the legs.

Further progression of the disease leads to the appearance of small wounds that cannot heal for a long time and then turn into trophic ulcers.

Without proper and timely treatment, the development of the disease can be fatal for the patient. The progression of varicose veins leads to a gradual deformation of the muscle structures and the appearance of negative changes in the skin and bone mass.

With prolonged progression, the patient expresses signs of eczema and forms trophic ulcers that can become gangrene. Which leads to sepsis or death.

The process of thrombus formation in the veins affected by varicose veins. As a result of this process, the formed thrombus is able to rupture and transport through the circulatory system.

When a blood clot enters the pulmonary artery, it becomes clogged and a person dies.

Basic diagnostic methods

An experienced phlebologist can determine the presence of varicose veins in the lower extremities on the basis of characteristic symptoms that are clearly visible even in the photo of the legs, but the methods of treating the disease are selected individually after examining the patient.

Laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods are used to identify the presence and stage of development of the disease. Laboratory methods include general analysis of blood and urine.

The most common method of instrumental diagnosis is ultrasound examination of the venous veins in the legs. This technique makes it possible to visualize the vascular system and identify the degree of progression of the pathological process.

In addition, if necessary, your doctor will prescribe the following:

1. Phlebography.
2. Photoplethysmography.

Venous occlusive plethysmography makes it possible to explore the amount of blood in the veins of the lower extremities.

Only after a comprehensive examination and obtaining results will the patient be prescribed appropriate treatment.

Modern medicine offers many options for treating the disease - pharmacological, non-pharmacological and surgical.

In parallel, you can use non-traditional and alternative home treatment methods after consulting your doctor.

Varicose veins management

Surgery is the most reliable way to treat a disease. The use of drug therapy in the form of tablets, special ointments, and gels for external use may play a complementary role and is actually a supportive therapy.

Medication involves the use of several types of medication during treatment - anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, venotonic and fibrinolytic effect

Anticoagulants dilute the blood and prevent blood clots from forming. Anti-inflammatory drugs help to relieve inflammatory processes in the walls of venous vessels. Venotonics allows you to increase the tone of the vein wall, and fibrinolytics help dissolve small blood clots and clean the venous bed.

Due to the use of drugs, the most common manifestations of the disease, such as the disappearance of edema, as well as the improvement of the condition of superficial skin. The main condition for the use of drugs is strict adherence to the doctor's recommendations and adherence to the doses of conventional drugs.

Surgery is recommended for complete healing of varicose veins.

In addition, surgical methods are used in the absence of positive dynamics during drug therapy.

The most common methods of surgical treatment of pathology:

• slotherapy;
• phlebectomy;
• laser coagulation.

Sclerotherapy involves the use of special substances in the procedure - sclerosants, which are injected into the lumen of the affected vein and lead to adhesion of the vessel wall. This procedure allows the venous vessel to be removed from the circulatory system, which prevents the development of pathology. This technique is very rarely used for high expectations.

Phlebectomy consists of the removal of the affected area of ​​a venous vessel. This method is most commonly used to identify superficial vein lesions, but in some cases it can be used to treat deep veins in the extremities.

Laser coagulation is a type of minimally invasive surgical procedure performed with a laser. This allows the affected area of ​​the vein to be removed from the circulatory system by gluing its walls under the influence of laser radiation. This method of treatment has received the most positive feedback from patients, due to the fact that it is virtually painless and does not require a long recovery period.

The use of surgical treatment methods allows you to completely get rid of the symptoms of varicose veins. The choice of surgical technique depends on the degree of development of the pathology, the individual characteristics of the patient and is performed by the attending physician.