The best treatments for varicose veins on the legs

Varicose veins are a serious disease that significantly impairs the quality of life, and without timely treatment it makes it simply unbearable.

That is why it is important that everyone who has faced such a problem knows the causes of varicose veins, their manifestations and, most importantly, studies the best methods of treating this disease.

the doctor examines the leg with varicose veins

General information

Varicose veins are a chronic vascular disease that develops as a result of blood stagnation (usually in the lower extremities). This is due to the failure of the vascular valves, which normally allow blood to flow exclusively upwards, from the lower extremities to the heart. Stagnant blood puts pressure on the walls of blood vessels, causing them to become thinner, lose elasticity, and deform, expanding significantly. On the legs of such a patient with the naked eye can be seen twisting "snakes" of blood vessels that rise above the skin, and in some places form dilated "knots. "

Causes of varicose veins

There are several reasons for the development of this disease. In particular, varicose veins can lead to:

  1. "Bad" heredity. Varicose veins are encountered by people with congenital weakness of the valve or valve apparatus.
  2. Increased venous pressure. Very often the factors that increase blood pressure lead to such a disease, namely, pregnancy, obesity, constant vertical loads (when a person stands on his feet for a day), sedentary lifestyle (sedentary work).
  3. Taking hormonal medications. Certain hormonal medications, such as pills with high estrogen levels, cause blood clots to form and can lead to varicose veins.
  4. Violation of blood circulation. These disorders can occur due to poor physical activity, smoking, wearing too tight shoes or chronic constipation.
  5. Hormonal disorders associated with age-related changes in the body.
pain in the legs with varicose veins

Manifestations and complications of the disease

Doctors note that varicose veins in themselves are not as terrible as their complications are dangerous. Indeed, in the early stages of the disease, varicose veins are an aesthetic problem for a person (from which women especially suffer). First, vascular networks appear on the skin - so-called "cobwebs". At the same time, the person begins to feel heaviness in the legs, notices swelling of the limbs and feels pain when walking. These are important symptoms of varicose veins, which should not be ignored in any case. If a person is in no hurry to visit a doctor and discover the cause of the disease, he risks running varicose veins and encountering a problem that cannot be solved without surgery.

With the development of varicose veins, the skin in the lower leg becomes thicker and becomes bluish. The patient's calves begin to "whine" even on a short walk, and swollen veins can be seen under the skin. Moreover, over time such veins become very painful.

But this is just the beginning of serious health problems. If a person does not start to fight the existing disease, irreversible changes begin to appear in the skin surrounding the affected veins, as a result of which lipodermatosclerosis develops, and later trophic ulcers appear. Moreover, without treatment, the inner walls of the veins become inflamed and cause blood clots to form. Thus thrombophlebitis developed. As the size increases, blood clots block the lumen of the vein and the clot may fall off at any time. And this condition is full of death.

It is therefore quite clear that varicose veins must be treated. And you need to start therapy as soon as possible. We will then consider methods of treating this serious disease.

Drug treatment

In the complex therapy of varicose veins, drugs are necessarily used. Most of these are capsules or tablets that have a versatile effect on the body. In particular:

  • Phlebotonics. These drugs increase blood flow, preventing the development of thrombosis, and at the same time increase the tone of the vascular walls. It will not be possible to remove varicose veins with such drugs, but they are quite capable of relieving swelling of the legs, removing burning and pain.
  • Blood thinners. Such drugs dilute the blood and promote better blood circulation, preventing the development of thrombosis. Medicines are prescribed only individually, and the time of application is determined by the doctor.
  • Anti-inflammatory drugs. These include pills, ointments and gels that relieve pain, relieve swelling and prevent platelet aggregation. More importantly, these drugs prevent the inflammation of the veins that leads to thrombophlebitis.
weight in the legs with varicose veins

Socks and tights from varicose veins

The fairer sex face varicose veins much more often than men. This is mainly due to hormonal changes that occur in the female body (menopause, pregnancy). Therefore, for them, the most optimal way to prevent varicose veins is to wear special tight socks or leggings. Such compression underwear compresses the legs and prevents varicose veins, which means that it is an excellent prevention of varicose veins. And in the case of an already developed disease, such underwear protects the feet from pain, swelling and fatigue.

Hydrotherapy

The treatment of varicose veins with water has been known since time immemorial. At different temperatures, the veins narrow and widen, which helps increase their elasticity. Knowing this, modern doctors use hydrotherapy in the early stages of the development of varicose veins, when vascular networks have only just begun to appear on the skin. Moreover, depending on the existing problem, baths can be local (for the feet only) or general (for the whole body). The water temperature in such a bath varies from 20 to 40 ° C.

knee compression stockings for varicose veins

Unconventional treatments

Non-traditional methods can also be used in the complex treatment of varicose veins. Here are a few examples.

Potato juice

Damaged veins should be lubricated with freshly squeezed potato juice in the morning, afternoon and evening, and bandages with a bandage dipped in this juice should be applied at night. In addition, 100 ml of potato juice should be drunk 3 r / day. Varicose veins should be treated with such a drug for 3-4 months.

Apple vinegar

It is called "medicine number 1" for varicose veins, and all because apple cider vinegar improves blood circulation, strengthens vascular walls and improves skin tone. It is very easy to use: 2-3 r / day you need to lubricate the skin in the area of the affected veins with vinegar. In parallel, you should drink a glass of water in which 1 teaspoon is diluted. vinegar. The duration of therapy is 2 months.

Kalanchoe leaves

This is another effective remedy for treating varicose veins. Fill a half-liter bottle with chopped Kalanchoe leaves to half full, and fill the raw material with 40% alcohol to make the bottle full. After letting the product infuse in a dark place for a week, strain it and rub the tincture on the affected areas 2 r / day. The treatment should be supplemented with a light massage of swollen veins. This treatment lasts 4 months.

Willow bark

Baths with white willow bark will be a good help in fighting this disease. For such a procedure it is necessary to grind the bark, followed by 2 tbsp. l. pour 400 ml of water over such raw materials and cook on low heat for 15 minutes. Add the finished product to buckets of water, then lower your feet and hold for 30 minutes. And immediately after the procedure, put on compression stockings and let your feet rest. Procedures should be performed every other day for 3 months. By the way, to enhance the effect, a decoction of willow bark can be diluted with a decoction of oak bark.

All of these methods are excellent means of preventing this disease and provide good help in treating varicose veins in the early stages of the disease. However, practice shows that in 80% of cases, people with affected veins go to doctors with advanced disease. In such a situation, neither compression underwear, nor creams and ointments, nor folk remedies can in any way affect the development of the disease. Drastic measures are needed. Fortunately, modern medicine is ready to offer effective methods to solve this complex problem.

pain with varicose veins

Sclerotherapy

This is a non-surgical method of treating varicose veins, in which the doctor injects a special substance into the affected vein - sclerosant - with a thin needle. Such a substance sticks to the vein from the inside, causing it to dissolve, and blood flow begins to flow through the healthy veins. The number of sclerosant applications may vary depending on the severity of the lesion. The patient must wear compression underwear throughout the treatment.

As a result of such therapy, a person almost forever forgets about annoying varicose veins. Relapses occur in only 25% of cases and are usually associated with advanced disease. True, it should be understood that sclerotherapy is not performed for pregnant women and obese people.

Laser treatment

This is one of the modern advances in medicine that allows you to get rid of varicose veins without surgery. The radiation created by the laser "solders" the affected vein from the inside, closing its lumen and cutting the path of blood flow, which begins to travel through deeper veins. Over time, connective tissue forms from the glued vessel, which later dissolves.

This method of problem solving is more effective than sclerotherapy. It is low-trauma, the operation does not take more than 40 minutes, and the patient can leave the clinic literally 2 hours after the operation. No wonder laser treatment of varicose veins is called "surgery". In this case, skin incisions must be made only when large veins are eliminated, while small varicose veins are removed without damaging the tissue. It is only necessary to remember that the costs of such an operation are quite high.

laser treatment of varicose veins

Radiofrequency ablation

Recently, the most modern method of removing affected veins, called radiofrequency ablation, has started to be used in our country. It is used to treat the main veins affected by varicose veins. In this case, a radiofrequency catheter is inserted through a puncture in the skin into the affected vein, which "drains" the vein from the inside using microwave ovens. In addition, the catheter has sensors that allow you to monitor the effectiveness of the procedure.

This method can compete with laser treatment as it also does not require skin incisions, leaves no hematomas and is performed in just 30 minutes. On the day of the operation, the patient can return to his duties. However, the cost of such a procedure is high even compared to laser coagulation.

Surgical removal

It is important to understand that in the case of eczema, thrombophlebitis, as well as trophic ulcers, treatment with the above methods is not carried out. Neglected varicose veins can only be removed by surgical removal of the veins together with sclerotherapy. However, not everything is so critical here either. In the arsenal of modern surgeons there are low-trauma microsurgical methods that allow you to remove the diseased vein through a small incision, and after the procedure there will simply be no scars. In addition, new technologies allow the removal of painful veins in just 30-40 minutes.

You don't have to be afraid of varicose veins. On the contrary, the disease requires attention to itself, and the sooner the better. Timely identification and properly chosen method of treatment will allow you to easily remove the disease and live a full life.

Good health to you!