Treatment of varicose veins in the legs.

Treatment of varicose veins at home: what is the danger?

Most patients with varicose veins of varying severity do not treat the vein disease or treat it at home. This leads to sad consequences: complications develop, the patient loses the ability to move with his own legs and becomes disabled. In reality, avoiding problems is not difficult: it is enough to treat varicose veins as soon as they are detected, without starting the disease.

There are several methods to treat vein disease; An experienced doctor will tell you which one is right for you.

Many people write about how to treat varicose veins in the legs with folk remedies, but not everyone talks about the dangerous consequences. It should be remembered that traditional methods were developed when other methods of treating veins simply did not exist. Now they exist and the problem can be solved much faster and easier.

• Treatment with apple cider vinegar.Apple cider vinegar is one of the most popular home remedies to treat varicose veins. On the Internet, readers are encouraged to dilute vinegar with honey and drink it on an empty stomach, dilute it with water and wipe their feet. But remember that apple cider vinegar is an acid. Taking it orally can negatively affect digestion. External use also raises questions, since with varicose veins the skin dries out and the acid dries it out even more. This can aggravate the course of the disease, especially if your legs itch due to varicose veins.
• Treatment with chestnut fruits.It is also recommended to take chestnut tinctures orally and rub them on the affected areas to relieve pain and eliminate itching due to varicose veins. Only horse chestnut is poisonous. Under no circumstances should it be consumed raw. Even when taking a tincture prepared from the fruits of this plant, signs of poisoning (vomiting, nausea, weakness) and cramps in the lower extremities may appear. Additionally, chestnut tincture increases blood pressure. External use of an alcohol solution dries out the skin on the legs, which is not very good for varicose veins and is simply unacceptable in the advanced stages of varicose veins.
• Treatment with leeches.Leeches bite the skin and introduce into the human body a mixture of useful substances that have a beneficial effect on the blood, thin it and have an antibacterial effect. However, it is better not to place leeches at home, but to entrust them to a certified specialist, since it is necessary to know exactly the places where leeches can be placed and where they cannot. In the first days after treatment of veins with leeches, itching is often observed. The bite sites are very itchy, the person cannot stand it and begins to scratch the itchy area, as a result of which an ulcer may form. Also, after leech bites, small triangular scars remain on the legs. For some, for life.
• Folk remedies that a doctor can prescribe.At the initial stage of venous insufficiency, the doctor may prescribe contrasting foot baths for the patient's veins. The alternating action of hot and cold water relaxes and contracts the veins in the legs. This type of gymnastic effect strengthens blood vessels, improves microcirculation and eliminates itching. The method can be used at home as many times as desired. Especially if it is not possible to visit the pool. The varicose veins stop progressing and the legs stop hurting.

  And, for example, clay can help to cope well with tired legs, eliminate itching and slight swelling at the initial stage of varicose veins. A heaping tablespoon of pharmaceutical clay is diluted with water until a thick paste is obtained. The paste is then applied on the pimples with a brush or cotton pad. It is important not to let the clay dry, you must constantly add a new layer or moisten the existing layer with water. After an hour, the clay should be carefully washed off and the feet allowed to dry without wiping them with a towel. Course – 12 sessions, can be repeated monthly.

But before treating varicose veins at home, consult your doctor. It is better not to waste time on procedures of dubious effectiveness. Rather, it will be possible not to cure the legs, but to wait for the severity to worsen and complications to develop.

Effective conservative treatment

It is ingrained in people's minds: if your legs hurt, your veins are bulging, your veins are very itchy, then you should prepare for surgery. In fact, it all depends on the stage of the disease, which is determined not only by the degree of bulging of the veins or the severity of the venous network in the lower extremities. In most cases, the doctor tries to cope with the disease using conservative and non-surgical treatment methods. For this, an integrated approach is used: physical activity, dietary changes, medication and physiotherapy treatment are prescribed; Compression garments are selected.

1. Physical activity.The modern man is sedentary: he sits at work and at home, he comes to the office sitting on the subway or on the bus. All of this leads to physical inactivity and venous incompetence. The veins in the legs become weak and cannot cope with their work, and varicose veins develop. Therefore, it is important to return the patient to an active lifestyle. The doctor may prescribe walking at least two hours a day, Nordic walking, swimming in the pool, or classes in a recreational sports training group. It is best to avoid working your legs at any stage of the disease.

2. Diet.It is not about diet, but about proper nutrition by limiting the consumption of certain food groups. Animal fats, margarines, mayonnaise and fast carbohydrates (candy, cakes, biscuits) are prohibited. It is recommended to consume more liquid foods and vegetables. Meals should be balanced, at least five times a day. Eating well is important to completely control your weight. Extra pounds put additional pressure on the veins in your legs and increase the risk of worsening chronic venous insufficiency at any stage of varicose veins.

3. Pharmacotherapy.If the situation is not advanced and the varicose veins progress without complications, drug therapy is used, more often at home. Drugs from several groups are usually used:

   • Venotonics (phlebotonics) are used in the form of tablets, ointments or gels. They help maintain the tone of the walls of the veins, facilitating the movement of blood through them. Particularly good for minor illnesses.
   • Antiplatelet agents prevent blood components from sticking together to form a clot, which minimizes the risk of developing blood clots in the lower extremities.
   • Anticoagulants usually contain or are based on glycosaminoglycan. Maintains optimal blood viscosity - slightly dilutes it so that it moves freely through the vessels of the legs.
   • Angioprotectors protect the walls of the veins, making them more elastic and invulnerable to internal damage.
   • Anti-inflammatories prevent the appearance of inflammatory reactions in the walls of blood vessels, especially in an advanced phase, and have an analgesic effect.
   • Products based on plant components (horse chestnut, lilac, melilot, white acacia, etc. ) are a substitute for traditional phytotherapy.

   Pharmacological forms are differentiated by their specific action and predictable effect. They have practically no contraindications. It is used as part of complex therapy to reduce swelling and pain in the legs. Medicines are prescribed by the doctor after proper examination of the patient. Select not only the appropriate products, but also the form of release: injections, tablets, ointments, gels, foot compresses. The phlebologist recommends treating varicose veins at home or in the hospital, depending on the stage of the disease and the degree of development of complications.

4. Physiotherapeutic treatment (PTL).For varicose veins, physiotherapeutic devices help the drugs penetrate more quickly into the area of the affected vessels and improve the effect of the drugs. As a result, the treatment time is significantly reduced, the doctor has the opportunity to transfer the patient from therapeutic doses to maintenance doses and cancel some medications. Basic FTL methods:

   • electrophoresis helps deliver medications to varicose veins through the action of a weak electrical current;
   • darsonvalization increases the tone of the veins, reduces stagnation of interstitial fluid and, therefore, itching in varicose veins;
   • Magnetic therapy improves blood flow in the veins and significantly reduces tissue inflammation;
   • pneumomassage of the lower extremities increases the tone of the walls of the veins, reduces swelling, itching and improves blood flow;
   • laser therapy reduces the severity of inflammatory reactions, improves blood microcirculation and has a venoprotective effect;
   • cryotherapy (cold) tones blood vessels, improves lymphatic drainage and relieves itching;
   • hydrotherapy (water treatment) tones and has a general strengthening effect;
   • Mud therapy strengthens the walls of the blood vessels in the legs and has a beneficial effect on the skin, promoting its regeneration and minimizing itching.

   For some conditions, physiotherapy treatment cannot be prescribed. Additionally, different stages of varicose veins require different treatments. Therefore, FTL is prescribed by two doctors at once: a phlebologist and a physiotherapist. Some procedures, especially with the initial degree of vascular damage, can be performed at home; many FTL devices are now sold in pharmacies. We recommend a pocket electrostimulator of venous flow, which helps quickly and effectively cope with the symptoms of varicose veins.

Compression jersey

An auxiliary method that facilitates the movement of blood through the veins. The compression shirt is available for men and women.

Products may take the form of stockings, socks or pantyhose and vary in color, size and degree of compression. Outwardly, they seem normal, but they have a pronounced therapeutic and prophylactic effect. These are special elastic threads and a well-thought-out knitting pattern.

As a result, the veins receive external support and begin to cope with their work. Pain, itching and swelling in the lower extremities decrease and the disease stops progressing.

The doctor recommends compression stockings depending on the stage of the varicose veins. He also tells you how to put it on correctly and how long to wear it.

Correct use of the leg jersey determines its effectiveness. We consider Swiss compression knitwear to be the most reliable and highest quality.

Surgical treatment methods.

When conservative therapy does not help, surgical treatment is resorted to. The doctor has the opportunity to choose the most suitable method, which will be most effective and minimally traumatic at a certain stage of varicose veins.

• Sclerotherapy.The doctor injects a special solution into the lumen of the affected vein, which causes the walls to stick together and stops blood flow through the treated vessel. The vein stops protruding from the surface of the skin and is gradually replaced by connective tissue.
• Endovasal laser therapyknown under two names: EVLO (endovenous venous laser obliteration) and EVLC (endovasal venous laser coagulation). The essence is the same: with the help of a laser pulse, the affected vein is sealed and stops working. The intervention does not affect the surrounding tissues of the lower extremities and does not require general anesthesia. It can be done on an outpatient basis. Recovery is quick and does not leave marks on the leg. Laser therapy is possible at any stage of varicose veins, except for those accompanied by complications.
• Phlebectomy.A standard surgical procedure used for serious illnesses and performed under general anesthesia. The affected section of the vein is removed. After the operation, scars about half a centimeter long remain, almost invisible on the skin. The recovery period after phlebectomy is long. The patient spends about two weeks in the hospital. During this time, he wears compression stockings, takes medication, and visits a physical therapy room. Once the stitches are removed, the patient is discharged to continue treating varicose veins at home. Complications are rare.

Surgeries to remove varicose veins from the lower extremities are performed only when the patient has preserved blood flow through the deep veins. After the operation, blood should rise freely through the bypass vessels so that there are no complications.

Prevention of varicose veins in the legs after treatment.

After successful treatment of varicose veins in the legs, the patient should not lose vigilance. If the cause that caused the disease is not eliminated, another vein can expand and everything will happen again. First of all, you should give up bad habits, eat right, lead an active lifestyle, wear compression stockings during increased physical activity, choose shoes with low heels, periodically visit your doctor for a preventive examination and follow your recommendations.

The tips are simple and easy to follow. If you follow them, it is unlikely that you will ever encounter complications from varicose veins and the need to stay in a hospital. And if someone in your family joins you, they will also benefit. And remember: the best treatment for varicose veins is prevention. If you have suspicious symptoms or are at risk, contact your doctor immediately!