Varicose veins in the legs, the initial stage of how to treat

Today, a disease like varicose veins is the most common. As a general rule, a sedentary lifestyle leads to the development of disease, a premature reaction to body signals leads to rather severe consequences, which in turn are detrimental to health. In this article, we consider topics such as varicose veins on the legs, photos, the initial stage of treatment. I would like to note that varicose veins are commonly referred to as a disease characterized by stagnation of blood in the vessels of the lower extremities, which causes the peripheral veins to swell. The swollen blood vessels are dark blue in color, get a purple tinge if not treated properly, start to form blood clots and ulcers, and cause severe pain.

Symptoms of the disease in the early stages of development

Varicose veins of the legs are a rather insidious disease - this is because this disease is very difficult to diagnose in the early stages 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 attention if there is sufficiently severe swelling and pain in the limbs.

He's back on his feet

However, there are a number of common symptoms that, if noticed, contact a specialist immediately to find out the cause of the disease and find out what the varicose veins in the legs are, photos, the initial stage of treatment. The initial symptoms of the disease include an increase in the venous pattern, but usually this does not include swelling, pain, and swelling of the blood vessels.

Examine the most obvious symptoms that suggest the presence of a disease such as varicose veins:

  • the appearance of pain in the legs, which can occur at any time, is also often accompanied by such symptoms accompanied by itching and cramps in the limbs during sleep;
  • feeling tired and swollen in the legs;
  • the skin changes color, the problem areas get a bluish tint, become drier;
  • Appearance of veins bulging above the skin surface and characteristic spider veins.

Why varicose veins are dangerous

Keep in mind that, as mentioned above, a topic like varicose veins in the legs at an early stage of treatment is very relevant to many. This is due to the fact that varicose veins are a rather dangerous disease, and the cosmetic defect in the form of swollen veins is just the tip of the iceberg. The disease can lead to quite serious complications, so treating varicose veins is essential!

As you can see in the photo of the initial stage of the disease, the characteristic symptom is swelling of the veins, which is by no means harmless, we list the diseases that can cause varicose veins.

  • Phlebitis- this disease marks the beginning of the inflammatory process in the venous walls. As a general rule, patients with phlebitis constantly experience severe enough painful pain. In addition, painful seals appear in the affected area.
  • Thrombophlebitis- the disease is characterized by the formation of blood clots in inflamed and dilated veins. Note that thrombophlebitis occurs due to a lack of proper treatment for phlebitis. In addition to limb pain, the patient feels general weakness, losing appetite.
  • Trophic ulcers- This is one of the complications of varicose veins that results from a lack of nutrition in the epidermis, leading to the appearance of dermatitis, which results in a difficult-to-heal trophic ulcer.

Varicose veins

Ointments

Today, the pharmaceutical market offers a wide range of drugs for the treatment of varicose veins, and varicose vein ointments deserve special attention.

Anticoagulants. These drugs for the treatment of varicose veins are the most popular. The main function of the ointment is a complex effect that helps reduce the viscosity of the blood, the absorption of blood clots that appear, reduces the inflammatory process and reduces the symptoms of pain. When used in the early stages of the disease, the drugs have a maximally positive effect, improving blood circulation and strengthening the walls of blood vessels.

Sodium heparin-based ointment prevents blood clots and reduces blood clotting.

Venotonics are effective in dealing with varicose veins, strengthening blood vessels and suppressing inflammatory processes.

Creams

Varicose veins are also effective, and because of the active ingredients they contain, ointments can be effective in combating the unpleasant symptoms of the disease.

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

Creams based on natural ingredients that effectively help get rid of varicose veins. The advantage of the cream is that it has no negative effects on varicose veins.

Routine-based creams are effective at the cellular level, causing the inflammatory process to be suppressed rapidly. The drug has a decongestant effect, improves vascular tone, regulates intravenous pressure and quickly relieves pain.

Pills

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

Effective folk remedy for varicose veins

Cabbage.Even our ancestors used various folk remedies to treat such a disease as varicose veins. One is treatment with cabbage leaves. The effectiveness of this vegetable lies in the fact that cabbage is able to quickly relieve inflammation due to the vitamins and trace elements it contains. As a general rule, white cabbage leaves are used to treat varicose veins in the form of a compress. To make a medical compress, you will need a cabbage leaf that must first be beaten properly. Then lubricate one side of the leaf with vegetable oil and lubricate the inflamed area for one day (fixed with a bandage). The course of treatment is 1 month.

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

Kalina.Like ginger, viburnum can be used as a fortified drink to treat varicose veins and as an effective compress. To prepare for compaction, the berries should be ground to a paste, a prepared bandage or gauze placed on top, and applied to the problem area. It is best to do such compression at night.

Initial Varicose Veins - First Symptoms

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

All patients should be aware of the causes, symptoms, and stages of the disease in order to prevent the severe consequences of this pathology.

Causes and stages of development

Varicose veins result from pathologies of the venous walls and malfunction of the venous valves, which are responsible for transporting carbon-enriched blood from the lower extremities to the lungs for gas exchange.

Due to improper blood flow and valve dysfunction, blood accumulates in the blood vessels, increasing pressure in the veins of the legs, leading to a bulging of the weak venous wall. This is how varicose veins form.

There are several factors that can cause illness. These are:

  1. Inheritance.
  2. Obesity.
  3. Bad habits.
  4. Pregnancy.
  5. Take hormonal drugs for a long time.
  6. Cardiovascular diseases leading to blood clots.
  7. A sedentary lifestyle that triggers blood stagnation.
  8. Long-term occupations.
  9. Walking in high heels.

These factors cause foot disease that progresses in several stages. Each is characterized by specific clinical manifestations.In medical practice, the varicose vein has 4 stages:

The
  • early-stage varicose veinsshown in the image above pass throughwith virtually no symptoms. A person only has leg heaviness, mild swelling and pain. Tiny poker begins to appear on the skin of the thighs and legs;
  • Also seen in the photo is
  • Grade 1 varicose veinscharacterized by frequent cramps in the calf muscles, a burning sensation from the lower leg to the sole, and swelling of the ankles;
  • second degreeabundance of spider veins, severe edema, persistent leg pain, increased area of ​​protruding veins;
  • third degreeindicates the involvement of the skin in the disease process: flocculating, thin, often pigmented near the ankle. The risk of thrombosis is very high. the veins enlarge and dilate greatly. In addition to the pain, the patient is followed by a constant burning sensation, eczema and dermatitis on the skin of the lower extremities, with deep ulcers when the skin is damaged.

IMPORTANT! If treatment is not started at an early stage, the disease will be very difficult to treat in a conservative way in the future and puts the patient at death!

First symptoms of varicose veins

The first symptoms of varicose veins on the legs are difficult to diagnose.The patient confuses them with fatigue and muscle tension for a while. With such feelings, especially if you have not had a severe load on your legs before, you should consult a specialist because you can cure the disease at an early stage,without surgery and exhaustive procedures. Phlebologists and surgeons deal with the treatment of varicose veins.

The following symptoms indicate the first signs of a varicose vein:

  1. Constant difficulty in the legs. This is due to a disturbance in the circulation of the legs due to dysfunction of the venous valves. 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 high load on the venous system. If the pain in the vein and the redness above it join the swelling, we can talk about the development of thrombophlebitis - an extremely dangerous complication of the varicose veins.
  3. An increase in tibial diameterup to 1 cm in the evening is associated with edema.
  4. The pain sensationintensifies with effort and disappears the next morning.
  5. Spider veinson legs and thighs. Some patients consider them a cosmetic defect. Their appearance indicates the pathology of the large varicose veins that feed them. Only ultrasound diagnostics can confirm or refute this.
  6. Protruding veins.

At first, the first signs of varicose veins quickly disappear on the legs when the legs rest in a comfortable position.However, this should alert the patient as it is a definite symptom of the disease.

The patient may then experience a burning sensation in the veins. If you do not pay enough attention to these symptoms, the patient may experience cramps in the calf muscles at night and fatigue of the legs below the knee.

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

Diagnosis and treatment

As a general rule, the varicose vein in the initial stage illustrated in the photo ispainless. The patient, and statistics show that women have varicose veins twice as often as men, seek medical help from the vascular system. The doctor will perform an examination and prescribe the necessary tests to assess the extent of the damaged venous circulation.

Diagnostics

This may require a general blood testshowing the presence or absence of thrombocytopenia, a biochemical blood test for liver problems, and vascular ultrasound.

Shows the pathology of the vessel wall. 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 will prescribe a treatment that can prevent the transition from the initial stage of the varicose veins to later.

To do this, treat the underlying disease- endocrine, cardiovascular, etc. Risk factors are then eliminated, and only then is the patient offered to change their lifestyle, diet, and give up bad habits.

Medical treatment in the early stages ofvaricose veins is not provided. Experts believe that it is sufficient to use compression underwear - either special tights and stockings, or elastic bandages that should be worn on the feet when waking up and worn all 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 blood that struck the disease, the prevalence of the process, and its localization. There are varicose veins:

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

All types of varicose veins have 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 the female legs, men are rarely affected by this pathology.

In the initial stage, the reticular shape in the varicose vein photograph can only be determined by strengthening the vasculature. It is a bluish network of small venous fragments up to 3 mm in diameter. It is more often localized on the thighs in the area of ​​the lateral surfaces. A fragment similar to several stars appears first, then touches larger areas.

This form of varicose vein is often called a cosmetic; it is not dangerous for blood flow but causes aesthetic discomfort to women. Reticular varicose veins of the legs can cause:

This form is the most manageable form. One of the most effective methods of treating such varicose veins is microscopic sclerotherapy. Not dangerous and painless. But often patients do not see spider vein manifestations as a serious reason to contact a phlebologist. In this case, the disease becomes a chronic pathology. May cause bleeding in superficial blood vessels.

The reticular form of varicose veins requires mandatory medical consultation. This prevents complications from occurring.

Segment Shape

This type of varicose vein can appear in the early stages of the disease. In segmental form, larger vessels with a diameter of at least 3 mm are affected. But the disease is focal, with only one or more adrenals losing tone. This type of pathology is characterized by a lack of reverse blood draw, which facilitates therapy.

If we look at the photograph of varicose veins on the legs in segmental form, we can see that the swollen branches on the lower leg originate from the main vein. These are the branches.

Treatment of the disease is conservative. Miniflebectomy can be used with late treatment and the formation of side branches. Segmental varicose veins are localized on the anteromedial and posterior surfaces of the foot and in the popliteal fossa.

Varicose veins treatment

Trunk

This pathology affects the large and small main veins. Large, suffering several times more often than small. The back map on the legs clearly shows the protrusion of the lower leg, side thighs and large vessels of the legs. At the legs, the vessel wall is tense and nodular formations are visible.

The disease has characteristic symptoms of chronic circulatory failure. Reflux (reverse discharge) occurs due to damage to the vascular valves. Normally, the blood moves in one direction. If the valves are insufficient, they will not close completely and the vessels will be overloaded. As a result, the veins lengthen and lose their elasticity.

Trunk varicose veins require severe treatment. Minor surgery and conservative methods are used more often.

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

Perforating shape

There are deep veins and saphenous veins in the legs. They are connected to each other by vessels called perforating vessels.

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

  • The image of varicose veins in the legs with changes in the perforating veins clearly shows the presence of swollen blood vessels;
  • bumps and bruises appear in places; the skin becomes darker;
  • Rash and scratches may occur.

The localization of this form is varied and depends on the location of the vein involved. These are the legs, thighs and ankles. Sometimes the vessels bulge even in the Achilles tendon and below the knee. Treatment is often surgical, but minimally invasive methods are possible with a single foci.

Stages of leg varicose veins

Phlebologists around the world hold annual forums and seminars on varicose veins. 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 most recently approved classification has seven levels:

  • First or Null. It is not manifested by external signs. Patients only complain of severity, fatigue, and swelling. Sometimes it can annoy the recurring appearance of seizures.
  • Second. The photograph of the second stage clearly shows the vascular network in the popliteal cups and thighs. The symptoms do not change.
  • Third. The protrusions of the blood vessels are clearly visible, especially during exercise or in a sitting position. Next to the veins, blue lumps can be seen on the legs. Patients feel pain and tension.
  • Fourth. The appearance of edema is added to the swollen veins. In the evening the legs are full and in the morning everything normalizes. Swelling can cause numbness or tingling in the legs.
  • Fifth. Metabolic processes are interrupted. There is not enough tissue nourishment and trophic changes develop in 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 photo in this section is different from the others. It shows pronounced trophic ulcers in the veins of the lower extremities. As a result of massive treatment, the wounds heal with primary intent.
  • Seventh. The last stage. In other classifications, it is called decompensation. The most negative outcome of the disease. Non-healing ulcers form on the legs. They can get wet and humpy. This grade requires urgent inpatient treatment. Sepsis and thromboembolism can complicate it.

Varicose veins in the legs, complicated by a violation of skin integrity and a secondary infection, can be life-threatening.

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

  • Compensation. It only occurs with local symptoms (pain, cramps, severity). No external changes are observed in the vessels.
  • Subcompensation. External signs of moderate varicose veins 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 a healthy person, venous blood rises from the legs to the heart under pressure, which is normally enough to overcome gravity. If this mechanism is disrupted, the body is forced to increase the pressure to push the blood upwards.

As a result of this process, valve failure occurs, characterized by blood flowing from the depths to the surface veins. The pressure inside the blood vessels increases, the walls lose their elasticity, stretch and become exhausted, leading to the formation of visible bluish subcutaneous nodules.

Causes of lower limb varicose veins:

  • Increased levels of progesterone in a woman's body. This hormone has a negative effect on the condition of venous walls and valves, making them weak and unprotected.
  • Congenital anomalies of valves or blood vessel walls, lack of connective tissue, poor permeability of deep veins, genetic predisposition.
  • Tumors in 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.
  • A sedentary lifestyle that often leads to stagnant processes in the legs.
  • Increased intra-abdominal pressure. It usually occurs with lung disease or frequent constipation.
  • Overweight.
  • Wear tight clothing and shoes.
  • The presence of large amounts of high-calorie and fatty foods in the diet, lack of vegetable fiber.
  • Smoking, frequent alcohol consumption.

BPVD is particularly common during pregnancy because during this period,global changes in hormonal levels occur as well as body weight increases.

Men suffer from this disease if theirlifestyle involves heavy physical workor prolonged standing on foot - operators, loaders, etc. Varicose veins in the legs can also occur as a result of certain sports activities.

Varicose veins require urgent treatment, the absence of which can have serious consequences: the development of thrombophlebitis, bleeding from venous nodes, and a trophic ulcer that can trigger amputation of the foot.

10.11.2020