Varicone Official site
Share this

Treatment of varicose veins

treatment of varicose veins by a phlebologist

Varicose veins (varicose veins) are a very common vascular disease that has been known to people since ancient times.It is mentioned in the papyri of Ancient Egypt;even a mummy with manifestations of varicose veins in the legs was excavated.They find information about pathology in Hippocrates, Galen and Avicenna.Modern doctors also often encounter varicose veins in patients and are looking for effective treatment methods.

The term "varicose vein" is of Latin origin, the word "varix" is translated as "expansion".That is why the disease began to be called "Varicose veins".With this disease, the peripheral veins increase in volume, become long, twisted, deformed and knotted.Blood stagnates in the lower parts of the leg because the valves begin to work poorly and the walls weaken.Most often, damage to blood vessels is observed in the legs, since there is the greatest load on the vessels, you have to pump large volumes of blood and overcome the force of gravity.

Varicose veins are diagnosed in approximately 17-25% of people.Among young people, both boys and girls are equally affected.In mature and elderly women, this pathology appears with a frequency 2-3 times greater than in men of the same age.This is due to the constant hormonal changes in the female body that occur throughout life.

How are the leg veins arranged?

The legs have two sets of venous vessels: superficial and deep or deep.The first are located in the subcutaneous tissue, that is, on the surface of the foot.The latter are located deeper, in the thickness of the muscles, near the arteries and tendons.Deep and superficial vessels are connected by perforating or perforating veins.Their wall consists of collagen and elastin fibers, with weak and few smooth muscles.

The venous wall has a three-layered structure:

  • At the top is the adventitia, which consists of loose connective fibers, smooth muscle cells extending along the walls, surrounded by small capillaries and nerves responsible for the trophism of the vessel.
  • In the middle is the media, consisting of circular smooth muscle fibers.
  • Intima is located inside.The basis of the intima is the endothelium;between its cells there are longitudinal smooth muscle fibers.  The inner shell is folded, the thickenings are opposite each other and resemble swallows' nests or patch pockets.They are called valves and are responsible for the proper direction of blood flow.

Venous valves direct blood from peripheral parts to the heart, as well as from superficial to deep veins.They prevent backflow and increase venous pressure.In addition to the valves, smooth muscles, tendons and muscles of the leg participate in maintaining normal tone.When any of the layers (usually the middle and inner layers) are damaged, the veins lose their tone and dilate, and varicose veins appear.

There are several superficial veins:

  1. The great saphenous vein is located on the inside of the leg;its walls are equipped with several valves;blood from the anterior surface of the femur collects in this vein through a series of smaller vessels.
  2. The small saphenous vein is located on the outside of the leg, equipped with valves and collects blood from the veins in the front and back of the leg.

Communication between large and small veins occurs through connecting vessels.

The deep veins are the posterior and anterior tibial veins, the popliteal vein, and the femoral vein.  Varicose veins develop in them in advanced stages, when the disease is not treated for a long time.

For what reason do varicose veins appear and who is at risk of getting sick?

It's hard to say why people have varicose veins at this point.Only a number of risk factors have been identified, due to which the valves weaken and the elasticity and tone of the walls of the superficial and perforating veins decrease.

Here are the factors that lead to the development of the disease:

  • Inheritance.The structure of the walls of blood vessels is determined genetically;with some changes in the gene, they are weakened and the valves do not close properly.As a result, with the slightest increase in pressure in the veins, a reverse outflow of blood occurs, the vessels fill and expand.
  • Hormonal changes in the body in women.  This situation is typical for pregnant women or for the second half of the cycle, when the amount of progesterone increases and the level of estrogen decreases.As a result, blood rheology changes (coagulability increases), vascular tone decreases, elastin and collagen fibers are destroyed and the risk of blood clotting increases.
  • Obesity.Overweight people move less, which slows blood circulation throughout the body.Excess subcutaneous fat in the abdomen leads to increased pressure in the abdominal cavity and compression of the main veins.This leads to stagnation of blood in the vessels of the legs, and further to varicose veins.
  • Diabetes mellitus.Sugar, the level of which increases in this disease, damages the endothelium of blood vessels, which increases the risk of blood clots.
  • Alcoholism.When you drink large doses of alcohol, dehydration occurs, blood thickens, clots form, blocking small blood vessels and causing congestion.
  • Occupational static loads, such as heavy lifting, standing or sitting.In such a situation, muscle tone decreases, blood moves worse from the lower extremities to the heart, stagnation occurs, and the veins in the legs expand because of this.  
  • Congenital pathologies of blood coagulation.Hypercoagulation, in which many factors are produced that are responsible for the formation of blood clots, provokes thrombosis and prevents the movement of blood through the vessels.
  • The wrong diet.A diet deficient in a number of vitamins (C, E, PP) and plant fibers leads to disturbances in the structure of the endothelium and other structural elements of the vascular walls.
  • Tight underwear.When you wear tight underwear, some of the veins tighten, which causes the blood flow from the lower half of the body to be obstructed.
  • Frequent constipation.People suffering from this problem have to push constantly, this increases the pressure inside the abdomen, as a result, blood flow becomes difficult.
  • High heel.Overworking the calf muscles and insufficient contraction causes blood to stagnate in the veins.
  • Hot climate.In summer, during the heat, the body dehydrates.If you do not compensate for the problem by drinking a sufficient amount of liquid, the risk of blood clots in the vessels will increase.
  • Heart and kidney pathologies.These can be congenital or acquired heart defects, renal failure.
  • Exceeding the doses of drugs that affect coagulation.In this case, blood vessels can be blocked by blood clots.
  • The operation.The risk of thrombosis in this case increases due to blood loss and vein compression during the intervention.

How can varicose veins be complicated?

  • Thrombosis due to blood stagnation.
  • Vascular thromboembolism as a result of blood clot detachment.
  • Thrombophlebitis or inflammation of the venous wall.
  • PE (pulmonary embolism).In this case, the blood flow in the pulmonary circulation is significantly interrupted, which leads to death.Small blood clots can lodge in small pulmonary arteries and cause a heart attack or pulmonary edema.  
  • Trophic ulcers, eczema on the skin of the legs due to tissue malnutrition.With poor blood circulation, little oxygen and nutrients enter the tissues, which impairs regeneration or causes massive cell necrosis.
  • Edema syndrome.As a result of impaired blood flow and stagnation, fluid flows through the walls of blood vessels into the intercellular space.The swelling is soft in consistency, elastic and most often appears near the affected vein, regardless of the time of day.  
  • Dermatitis.The inflammatory process in the skin develops due to impaired blood flow and tissue nutrition. 
  • Hyperpigmentation, cyanosis of the affected skin areas.
  • Consolidation of subcutaneous fat due to swelling and hemorrhage.

How to diagnose varicose veins

  • Using functional tests (application of a tourniquet), the condition of the valves is studied.They are named after the authors - Troyanov-Trendelenburg, Pratt, Sheinis, Delbe-Perthes, etc.For the Troyanov-Trendelenburg test, you need to lie the patient horizontally, then offer to raise the leg 450. In this position, the doctor hits the limb from the leg up to empty the superficial veins.The next step is to apply a tourniquet to the upper half of the thigh, after which the patient gets out of bed.Healthy leg veins should fill in 15 seconds.  
  • Duplex ultrasound scanning of the veins (ultrasound angioscan) provides the most information and allows you to visualize the vessels and the blood flow through them.
  • Dopplerography is a method for assessing blood flow through the vessels.
  • Phlebography or X-ray examination using contrast, which helps to study the internal structure of the vessel.
  • Phleboscintigraphy is a technique that uses radioactive substances with further study in a special device for their distribution.

To study superficial veins, they are examined and palpated.The first three methods are used as additional examinations.The last two methods are necessary to study the condition of deep or deep veins.

Treatment of varicose veins

Conservative treatment options

  • Drug therapy does not cure varicose veins, but with the help of drugs, valve function, vascular trophism, blood circulation are partially improved and the risk of thrombosis is reduced.Venotonics are used for this purpose.They can be prescribed for any type of varicose veins.Ointments with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are indicated for thrombophlebitis.Anticoagulants are also used in this situation, which effectively dissolve blood clots.The treatment must be chosen by a doctor, after a complete diagnosis and taking into account the characteristics of the patient.
  • Herbal medicine and complementary techniques have adjunctive value.It is recommended to wear compression stockings, do gymnastics, skiing, cycling and swimming.The "bicycle" exercise in the lying position, bending and stretching the legs, gives good results;improves blood flow from the limbs.You can do the exercises if there are no complications.  It is also recommended to take a contrast shower in the morning (wash the leg first with warm water, then gradually reduce the temperature to cold).  Cold baths with decoctions of oak bark, horse chestnut, chamomile, St. John's wort, rubbing the skin with a solution of white acacia flowers, Kalancho leaves and apple cider vinegar help.Leeches help to get rid of thrombophlebitis.
  • Mode.You should get out of bed slowly, 5-10 minutes.Legs should be raised 10-15⁰ at night;to do this, place a pillow under the heels.You should walk calmly, it is undesirable to cross your legs when you are sitting and do not work too much.All patients are advised to wear compression stockings.
  • You should eat properly, include coarse fiber and vitamin-rich foods in your menu.  Citrus fruits, tomatoes, rose hips, black currants, nuts, legumes, liver, onions, eggs and seafood will be beneficial.It is important not to drink alcohol, not to smoke and drink enough water during the day.For persistent constipation, it is recommended to drink a laxative.

Surgical treatment

Phlebectomy or complete removal of veins

The indication for such a radical operation is varicose veins, which include a large number of veins.At the same time, there are complications - trophic ulcers that are difficult to treat, thrombophlebitis, constant swelling in the legs, general symptoms (fatigue, dizziness, fainting).

The operation is contraindicated in case of ischemic heart diseases, severe infections, in very old patients, in the second half of pregnancy, in case of local inflammation of the legs (erysipelas, pustular rash, eczema).

Only surgery can radically free the patient from varicose veins and restore the function of the valves.If the situation is very severe, untreated and neglected, this method of treatment remains the only one.Disadvantages of the intervention are the need for anesthesia and keeping the patient in the hospital for several days under observation, postoperative trauma with scars.

Laser therapy (endovascular microthermocoagulation)

Laser treatment of varicose veins is used if the pathology is combined with diseases of the cardiovascular system (CHI, hypertension), changes in peripheral vessels (phlebitis, thrombophlebitis), diseases of the respiratory system (asthma, chronic bronchitis, pleurisy), pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.system (Chronic injuries, meningitis, encephalitis and their consequences), genitourinary system (inflammation of the kidneys, prostate, pathology of the uterus with appendages), with skin diseases (furunculosis, dermatitis, psoriasis, etc.).

Contraindications for laser use are oncology, decompensated kidney, liver, heart pathology, cerebral sclerosis, pregnancy.

The main advantages of laser therapy are its effectiveness in eliminating the expansion of superficial veins, speed (the duration of manipulation is 15-20 minutes), the absence of the need to go to the hospital and low trauma.
Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting the poor accessibility of the technique;not all clinics have the right equipment.Treatment is expensive and of little use for severely affected and deep veins.If the laser is used incorrectly, you can get a thermal burn and sometimes depigmentation occurs in the places of exposure.

Radiofrequency coagulation (ablation)

The operation is indicated for extensive lesions of the saphenous veins, trophic ulcers resulting from long-term and untreated varicose veins.

Radiofrequency coagulation is contraindicated in acute thrombophlebitis, limited patient mobility, pregnancy and mental disorders.

The main advantages of the method are its painlessness, lack of injury and the need for a hospital stay.Patients can return to normal activities the next day.

The disadvantage is the high cost of the intervention.

Sclerotherapy

It is indicated for varicose veins of small and large superficial veins (in large vessels it is performed under the control of duplex doppler ultrasound) in the initial stage and without complications.

Pregnant and nursing mothers, drug allergies, deep vein thrombosis, infectious and inflammatory lesions of the skin on the legs are not treated with this method.

The main advantages are the low price, quick recovery, no need for hospitalization.The procedure does not leave marks and does not cause injuries.

The disadvantage is the risk of the sclerosing drug entering a deep vein, reduced effectiveness in contact with blood and the ability to be used only in the initial stages.

Is it possible to cure varicose veins at home?

At home, it is allowed to use auxiliary methods for the treatment of varicose veins, which relieve symptoms.They use ointments from pharmacies or those prepared by themselves, baths and creams based on herbs, compresses, drink decoctions and infusions to improve blood flow and relieve swelling.Below are some recipes.

Chestnut tincture

Take about 200 g of ripe and peeled chestnuts.Pass through a meat grinder or grind with a blender.Fill everything with a liter of vodka, put it in a dark corner and leave it for a few weeks.To give the product a good aroma, add a few drops of peppermint oil.In the evening, rub the legs with the solution to get rid of heaviness and itching, strengthen blood vessels and prevent their fragility.It is also recommended to make a compress from the tincture.If there are no chestnuts, replace them with nutmeg, the recipe remains the same.Musk nut tincture can be used not only to rub sore feet;it is recommended to drink 20 drops per day.Once the bottle is finished, a new solution is made.But there should be a break of 2 weeks between taking the next portion.

Calendula-based ointment

An infusion is made from calendula flowers - pour a tablespoon of boiling water, put on fire, cook for a few minutes, leave for 3 hours in a thermos.Strain the infusion and add it to some kind of fat;lanolin, vaseline, badger fat are suitable.For the aroma, it is recommended to add a drop of aromatic oil (rose, bergamot, citrus, sage, lavender, etc.) Rub the ointment in the morning and evening, with gentle movements from the bottom of the leg to the knee, until it is completely absorbed.Thyme, hop cones and nettles are also added to the calendula infusion.

Chamomile oil

Medicinal chamomile flowers are placed in a half-liter glass jar of a dark shade so that the container is filled to the top.Pour half a liter of any type of vegetable oil, for example, from olives, corn, hemp.  Leave for a month, shaking or stirring occasionally.After that, the oil infusion is filtered.For fragrance, add a few drops of tea tree, peppermint, lavender, and grapefruit essential oils.Apply chamomile oil to your feet early in the morning and late in the evening, doing a light massage at the same time.You can also make night compresses from the infusion.

Wormwood-based compression

Take a package of kefir or fermented baked milk, 3 tablespoons of dried wormwood.The grass is crushed and mixed with kefir (ryazhenka).When the grass is wet, place it in cheesecloth along with a thick liquid.Then a compress is applied to the leg, covered with wax paper on top (cellophane film is not used), and everything is fixed with several layers of bandage.  Keep your feet up and remove the compress after half an hour.It is recommended to perform the procedure twice a day.Instead of wormwood, you can take hops, chamomile flowers, string, clover, oak or birch leaves, St. John's wort, horsetail, tricolor violet flowers, yarrow.Combinations of different plants give a good effect.To improve the effect of the compress after the procedure, it is recommended to lie down for a while with your legs elevated.All the herbs listed can be injected and used to make a foot bath.The water in such a bath should be warm, the duration of the procedure is about 25 minutes.It relieves fatigue, swelling, reduces itching and skin pain.

Traditional recipes for internal use

Various herbal infusions improve blood flow in the veins.The following herbs are used:

  • Clover
  • continuously
  • Leaves and berries of lingonberries, grapes, strawberries, raspberries
  • Coltsfoot
  • Calendula
  • Japanese sophora
  • Melissa
  • Schisandra
  • hawthorn

The grass is dried, then crushed and made into a mixture of different types of herbs.Then take 3 tablespoons, pour a liter of boiling water, leave overnight in a thermos and drink 1/3 of the glass before meals.

Varicose veins are well treated with bee pollen and honey.Pollen must be consumed internally.Honey can also be eaten, but it still makes good compresses.It is recommended to add infusions of various plants to honey.

Treatment of varicose veins in pregnant women

Carrying a child is associated with a hormonal storm in the female body and overload, which often provokes varicose veins.Treatment during this period is carried out conservatively, using local creams, ointments and gels.

The most effective ointments have a decongestant effect and eliminate heaviness in the limbs. Apply them in a thin layer, moving from the bottom up, with soft massage movements.The frequency of manipulations is 1-3 times a day.

Folk remedies also help.It is recommended to prepare baths with herbal decoctions (from chamomile, thyme, hop cones, calendula, wormwood, mushrooms, oak bark, birch leaves, etc.).

You can fight swelling by applying cabbage leaves or raw grated potatoes to your feet.You should cover the compress with thick waxed or regular paper, not cellophane, so that the skin can breathe.The procedure is done before going to bed and the lotion is left overnight.

Doctors also prescribe medications for internal use to pregnant women.There are venotonics that do not adversely affect the development of the fetus and the health of the mother.Most often they are based on plant extracts.

After taking the drugs, the tone of the veins increases, the walls become elastic, they do not stretch as much, the lymphatic flow improves, the liquid part of the blood stops flowing into the intercellular space, and the swelling goes away.You cannot take these drugs without a doctor's prescription.

Traditional methods of treating varicose veins

There are many popular recipes for infusions, decoctions, creams and compresses.A number of remedies are advised to be taken internally as well.Below are some options for treating varicose veins using traditional methods.

Lilac tincture

Take a container with a volume of one and a half liters, pour flowers and lilac leaves into it.Then everything is filled with vodka or medical alcohol so that the liquid completely covers the grass (up to the edge of the container).Steep for a week, shaking occasionally, then filter and rub the solution into your feet daily.Rub the skin with gentle massage movements, from toes to knees.

With the help of the tincture, they fight inflammation, swelling, cramps and pain in the legs.

Garlic ointment

Garlic cloves from a whole head are peeled, ground in a meat grinder or pressed through a garlic press.After that, you should take butter (unsalted) and mix it with crushed garlic in a 1:2 ratio (2 parts butter and 1 part garlic).Apply this mixture to the affected leg, cover it with wax paper, bandage, the compress can be kept overnight.

The compress eliminates pain and burning sensation, has antiseptic properties, softens the skin and helps heal wounds.

Honey with garlic

You need to take a head of garlic and 250 ml of honey (preferably sturgeon or buckwheat).Both ingredients are mixed well and left for a week.Drink one tablespoon three times a day, before meals.
The product relieves swelling and fatigue, pain and varicose veins become less visible.

Potato juice

Raw potatoes are crushed on a grater or in a blender, and the pulp is applied to sore spots.Keep the compress for about half an hour;you can leave it all night if you want.To increase efficiency, drink half a glass of potato juice at the same time.The product relieves swelling and discomfort in the legs, eliminates heaviness, reduces fatigue and inflammation.

What is the effect of wearing compression garments for varicose veins?

Compression garments cannot cure varicose veins.But wearing it slows down the disease, relieves many of the symptoms caused by it and improves well-being.

After placing the compression stockings, the lumen of the saphenous veins narrows, blood and lymph flow better and do not get stuck in the limb.At the same time, the swelling eases, the convulsive contractions of the calves disappear, the legs are less tired and there is no feeling of heaviness.

The main types of compression garments prescribed for varicose veins are leggings, socks, stockings and tights.It is recommended to wear the products every day;you must put them on in the morning, before getting out of bed, always lying down.

There are different degrees of compression of knitted clothing, they are chosen depending on the stage of varicose veins.Only the right underwear will have the right therapeutic effect.It is best to have it prescribed by a doctor, but low compression stockings or tights for prevention are easy to buy yourself.

Before you buy, you need to determine exactly what compression class you need.Ask about the product labeling features of your chosen company.Reputable companies always use the word "compression" to define the class and specify it in mmHg.If "DEN" is written on the packaging, then this product has nothing to do with medical underwear.