Varicose veins on the legs, the initial stage how to treat

Today, a disease such as varicose veins is the most common. As a rule, a sedentary lifestyle leads to the development of a disease, and an untimely reaction to the signals of the body leads to rather serious consequences, which, in turn, harm health. In this article we will consider such a topic as varicose veins on the legs, photos, the initial stage of how to treat. I would like to emphasize that varicose veins are usually called a disorder characterized by stagnation of blood in the blood vessels of the lower extremities, as a result of which the peripheral veins are swollen. Swollen vessels have a dark blue color, in the absence of proper treatment, they acquire a purple hue, the formation of blood clots and ulcers begins, and severe pain appears.

Symptoms of the disease in the early stage of development

Varicose veins of the legs are a rather insidious disease - this is due to the fact that this disease is very difficult to diagnose at the initial stage of development. Symptoms of the disease are similar to many other diseases, such as osteochondrosis or flat feet. Often, patients with varicose veins seek professional medical help when sufficiently strong swelling and pain in the limbs appears.

Varicose veins of the legs

However, there are several common symptoms, noting that you should immediately contact a specialist to find out the cause of the ailment and find out what varicose veins on the legs are, photos, the initial stage of how to treat. The initial symptoms of the disease include an increase in the venous pattern, however, as a rule, swelling, pain and swelling of the blood vessels are not noted in this case.

Consider the most obvious symptoms that indicate the presence of a disease such as varicose veins:

  • the appearance of pain in the legs, which can appear at any time, moreover often these symptoms are accompanied by itching and cramps in the limbs during sleep;
  • the appearance of a feeling of fatigue and swelling in the legs;
  • the skin changes color, the skin in problem areas takes on a bluish tint, becomes drier;
  • swelling of the veins above the skin surface and appearance of characteristic spider veins.

Why varicose veins are dangerous

Note that, as mentioned above, such a topic as varicose veins on the legs photographs the initial stage of how to treat, is very relevant to many. This is due to the fact that varicose veins are a rather dangerous ailment, and a cosmetic defect in the form of swollen veins is just the tip of the iceberg. The disease can lead to quite serious complications, so varicose vein treatment is a must!

As you can see in the photo of the initial stage of the disease, its characteristic symptomatology is the swelling of the veins, which is far from harmless, we list the ailments that can provoke varicose veins.

  • Phlebitis- this disease implies the onset of an inflammatory process of the venous walls. As a rule, patients with phlebitis constantly experience quite strong aching pain. Also, painful lumps 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 the lack of adequate treatment for phlebitis. In addition to pain in the extremities, the patient feels general weakness, loses his appetite.
  • Trophic ulcers- this is another of the complications of varicose veins, which arises due to the lack of nutrition of the epidermis, which leads to the appearance of dermatitis, the consequence of which is difficult totreat trophic ulcers.

Preparations for varicose veins

Ointments

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

Anticoagulants. These drugs for the treatment of varicose veins are the most popular. The main task of the ointment is a complex effect, which helps to reduce the viscosity of the blood, the resorption of blood clots that appear, reduce the inflammatory process and reduce pain symptoms. The drugs provide the maximum positive effect when applied in the initial stage of the disease, improving blood circulation and strengthening the walls of blood vessels.

Ointment based on sodium heparin, prevents the formation of blood clots and reduces blood clotting.

Venotonics helps to effectively cope with the symptoms of varicose veins, strengthening blood vessels and inhibiting inflammatory processes.

Creme

Creams for varicose veins are also effective, as well as ointments thanks to their active ingredients that can effectively combat the unpleasant symptoms of the disease.

Creams based on ketoprofen actively suppress inflammatory processes in the vessels of the lower extremities. These drugs belong to the non-steroidal group, which indicates its effectiveness in removing swelling and eliminating 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 effect on the patient with varicose veins.

Rutin-based creams are effective at the cellular level thanks to which the inflammatory process is quickly suppressed. The drug has a decongestant effect, improves vascular tone, regulates intravenous pressure and quickly eliminates pain.

Pills

The main effect of bioflavonoid tablets is to increase such properties of the blood vessels as elasticity and tone, which in turn improve blood circulation and prevent the formation of blood clots. Thanks to the intake of these drugs, a phenomenon such as venous stasis, the permeability of venous vessels, is eliminated.

Effective folk remedies for varicose veins

Cabbage.Even our ancestors used a variety of folk remedies to treat such ailment as varicose veins. One of them is the cabbage leaf treatment. The effectiveness of this vegetable lies in the fact that cabbage is able to quickly relieve inflammatory processes, thanks to the vitamins and microelements it contains. Typically, white cabbage leaves for the treatment of varicose veins are used in the form of compresses. To make a medical compress, you will need a cabbage leaf, which must first be properly disposed of. After that, one side of the leaf is smeared with vegetable oil and applied to the inflamed area for a day (fixed with a bandage). The course of treatment is 1 month.

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

Kalina.Like ginger, viburnum can be used to treat varicose veins as a fortified drink and as an effective compress. To prepare the compress, the berries need to be rubbed in a pasty state, put on a prepared bandage or gauze and applied to the problem area. It is better to do such a compress at night.

The initial stage of varicose veins - the first symptoms

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

Each patient needs to know the causes, symptoms and stages of the disease to prevent serious consequences of this pathology.

Reasons and stages of development

Varicose veins occur as a result of pathologies of the venous walls and malfunction of the venous valves, whose task is to transport blood enriched with carbon dioxide from the lower limbs to the lungs for gas exchange.

Due to improper blood flow and dysfunction of the valves, blood accumulates in the vessels, the pressure in the leg veins increases, which leads to the swelling of the weak venous wall. This is how varicose veins develop.

There are a number of factors that can cause disease. These include:

  1. Inheritance.
  2. Obesity.
  3. Having bad habits.
  4. Pregnancy.
  5. Taking hormonal drugs for a long time.
  6. Cardiovascular disease leading to blood clots.
  7. Sedentary lifestyle which causes stagnation of blood.
  8. Long-term occupations.
  9. Walking in high heels.

Under the influence of these factors, a disease of the legs develops, which proceeds in several stages. Each of them is characterized by specific clinical manifestations.There are 4 stages of varicose veins in medical practice:

  • early stage varicose veins, pictured above, passeswith virtually no symptoms. A person has only a predominant feeling of heaviness in the legs, slight swelling and pain. Small spider veins begin to appear on the skin of the thighs and legs;
  • Grade 1 varicose veins, also seen in the photo, is characterized by frequent cramps in the calf muscles, a burning sensation that spreads from the lower leg to the sole of the foot, as well asswelling of the ankles;
  • for the second degreecharacterized by an abundance of varicose veins, severe edema, constant pain in the legs, increased area of ​​protruding veins;
  • third degreeindicates the involvement of the skin in the disease process: it becomes scaly, thin, often pigmented near the ankle. The risk of thrombosis is very high. the veins are greatly enlarged and dilated. The patient, in addition to pain, is haunted by a constant burning sensation, eczema and dermatitis on the skin of the lower limbs, when the skin is injured, deep ulcers are formed.

IMPORTANT! If treatment is not started in the early stages, the disease is very difficult to treat conservatively in the future and threatens the patient with a fatal danger!

The first symptoms of varicose veins

The first symptoms of varicose veins on the legs are difficult to diagnose.The patient confuses them for some time with fatigue and muscle tension. With such sensations, especially if there was no serious load on the legs before, you should contact a specialist, because you can cure the disease at an early stage, without resorting to surgery and exhausting procedures. Phlebologists and surgeons are engaged in the treatment of varicose veins.

The following symptoms indicate the first signs of varicose veins:

  1. Constant heaviness in the legs. This is due to impaired circulation in the legs due to the dysfunction of the venous valves. Because of this, the pressure in the vein increases sharply, stretches even more and causes pain.
  2. Swelling of the lower limbs. The symptom manifests itself as a result of a heavy load on the venous system. If pain in the vein and redness of the skin above it are combined with swelling, we can talk about developing thrombophlebitis, an extremely dangerous complication of varicose veins.
  3. An increase in the circumference of the lower legof up to 1 cm in the evening is associated with edema.
  4. The painful sensationsintensify with effort and disappear the next morning.
  5. Spider veinson the legs and thighs. Some patients consider them a cosmetic defect. Their appearance indicates the pathology of the large varicose vein that feeds them. Only ultrasound diagnostics can confirm or deny it.
  6. Protruding veins.

At first, the first signs of varicose veins on the legs quickly disappear if the legs can rest in a comfortable position. However,this should alert the patient, because it is a sure symptom of the onset of the disease.

Then the patient may experience a burning sensation in the veins. If these symptoms are not paid enough attention, the patient may experience muscle cramps in the calf and fatigue in the legs below the knees at night.

ATTENTION! Symptoms of early varicose veins are similar to other diseases - flat feet and osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. That is why it is so important to seek advice from a phlebologist to rule out other diagnoses and start treatment in a timely manner!

Diagnostics and treatment

As a rule, varicose veins in the initial stage, which is illustrated in the photo,are painless. The patient, and according to statistics, women suffer from varicose veins twice as often as men, seek the help of a doctor for the vascular network. The doctor performs an examination and prescribes the necessary studies to assess the degree of impaired venous circulation.

Diagnostics

For this, a general blood test may be prescribed, which will show the presence or absence of thrombocytopenia, a biochemical blood test to detect liver problems, as well as avascular ultrasound.

Shows the pathology of the vascular wall. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient is referred for X-ray venography, which determines the location of the venous lesion.

After the research, the doctor prescribes a treatment that can prevent the transition from the initial stage of varicose veins to the later ones.

For this, the underlying disease is treated- endocrine, cardiovascular, etc. Then the risk factors are eliminated, only then the patient is offered to change his lifestyle, diet and give up bad habits.

Medical treatment in the initial phase of varicose veinsis ​​not provided. Experts believe that it is enough to use compression underwear- special stockings and tights or elastic bandages, which must be applied to the legs upon waking and worn during the 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 veins that affected the disease, the prevalence of the process and the localization. There are varicose veins:

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

Each type of varicose veins has characteristic features in terms of external manifestations. The presence of complications depends on the stage of the disease.

Lattice shape

Of all the known types of varicose veins, this is the simplest. The disease mainly affects female legs; men are rarely affected by this pathology.

In the photo of varicose veins in the initial stage, the reticular shape can only be determined by strengthening the vascular pattern. This is a bluish network of small venous fragments with a diameter of no more than 3 mm. Most often it is localized on the thighs in the area of ​​the lateral surfaces. First, several asterisk-like fragments appear, then larger areas are affected.

This form of varicose veins is often called cosmetic, it is not dangerous for the blood flow, but it gives women an aesthetic inconvenience. The reticular varicose veins of the legs can cause:

This module is the most manageable. One of the most effective methods of treating such varicose veins is microscopic sclerotherapy. It is not dangerous and painless. But often patients do not consider the manifestations of varicose veins a serious reason to contact a phlebologist. In this case, the disease turns into a chronic pathology. It can cause bleeding from superficial vessels.

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

Segment module

This type of varicose veins can appear already in the early stages of the disease. In the segmental form, larger vessels with a diameter of 3 mm or more are affected. But the disease is focal in nature, only one or more tributary veins lose their tone. This type of pathology is characterized by the absence of reverse blood discharge, which facilitates therapy.

If you look at the photo of varicose veins in the legs in segmental form, you can see swollen branches from the main vein in the lower leg. These are the tax ships.

Treatment of the disease is conservative. With late treatment and the formation of tributary nodes, miniflebectomy can be used. Segmental varicose veins are located in the anteromedial and posterior surface of the leg and in the popliteal fossa.

Treatment of varicose veins

Trunk

This pathology affects the main large and small veins. Big, it suffers many times more often than the little one. In the photo of varicose veins on the legs, the protrusion of the large vessels in the lower leg, lateral thighs and feet is clearly visible. The vascular wall of the legs is stretched and nodular formations are visible.

The disease proceeds with characteristic symptoms of chronic circulatory failure. Due to damage to the vascular valves, reflux (reverse discharge) occurs. Normally, blood moves in one direction. If the valves are insufficient, they do not close completely and the vessels are overloaded. For this reason the veins stretch and lose their elasticity.

Varicose veins of the trunk require serious treatment. Minor surgery and conservative methods are used more often.

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

Perforated shape

The legs have deep veins and saphenous veins. They are connected to each other by vessels, which are called perforating vessels.

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

  • an image of varicose veins on the legs with lesions of the perforating veins clearly shows the presence of swollen vessels;
  • bumps and bruises are visible in some places; the skin becomes darker;
  • rashes and scratching may occur.

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

Stages of varicose veins of the legs

Phlebologists from all over the world hold forums and seminars dedicated to varicose veins every year. 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 last approved classification contains seven votes:

  • First or Null. It does not manifest itself with external signs. Patients only complain of heaviness, fatigue and swelling. Sometimes it can annoy the recurring appearance of seizures.
  • Second. In the photo of the second stage, you can clearly see the vascular network in the popliteal cups and thighs. The symptomatology does not change.
  • Third. The protrusions of the vessels are clearly visible, especially during exercise or in a sitting position. In addition to the veins, blue nodules 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 become full, and in the morning everything returns to normal. The swelling can cause numbness or tingling sensations in the legs.
  • Fifth. Metabolic processes are disrupted. There is not enough nutrition of the tissues, and trophic changes are formed on the skin. They can appear as dry spots, redness and scratches. The skin around the veins becomes darker in color. Thrombophlebitis can develop.
  • Sixth. The photo of this stage is different from the others. Shows pronounced trophic ulcers in the veins of the lower limbs. As a result of massive treatment, wounds heal by primary intention.
  • 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 suppurate. This degree requires urgent hospital care. It can be complicated by sepsis and thromboembolism.

Types of varicose veins on the legs, complicated by a violation of the integrity of the skin and the addition of a secondary infection, can threaten the patient's life.

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

  • Compensation. It occurs only with local symptoms (pain, convulsions, severity). No external changes are observed in the blood vessels.
  • Undercompensation. External signs of moderate varicose veins develop. Spider veins and signs of segmental lesions appear.
  • Reward. Serious 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 the influence of pressure, which in a normal state is enough to overcome gravity. When this mechanism is disturbed, the body is forced to increase the pressure to push the blood upwards.

As a result of this process, valvular insufficiency occurs, which is characterized by the flow of blood in the superficial veins from the deep ones. As the pressure inside the vessels is increased, their walls lose elasticity, stretch and become exhausted, which leads to the formation of visible bluish subcutaneous nodules.

Reasons for the development of varicose veins of the lower limbs:

  • Increased levels of progesterone in a woman's body. This hormone has a negative effect on the condition of the venous walls and valves, making them weak and unprotected.
  • Congenital malformations of the valves or vein walls, lack of connective tissue, poor patency of deep veins, genetic predisposition.
  • Neoplasms located on the legs, in the abdominal cavity.
  • Injuries to the lower limbs.
  • Diseases of the endocrine system.
  • Thrombophlebitis.
  • Joint diseases - osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
  • Long-term use of hormonal contraceptive drugs.
  • A sedentary lifestyle which often leads to stagnant processes in the legs.
  • Increased intra-abdominal pressure. It usually occurs with lung disease or with frequent constipation.
  • Overweight.
  • Wear tight shoes and clothes.
  • The presence in the diet of a large amount of high-calorie and fatty foods, the absence of vegetable fibers.
  • Smoking, frequent consumption of alcohol.

During pregnancy, BPVD occurs especially often, as global changes in hormone levels, as well as an increase in body weight, occur during this period.

Men suffer from this disease if theirlifestyle is associated with hard physical workor with prolonged standing - machine operators, loaders, etc. Varicose veins in the legs can also occur as a result of certain sports activities.

Varicose veins need urgent treatment, the absence of which can lead to serious consequences: the development of thrombophlebitis, bleeding from the venous nodes and a trophic ulcer that can provoke amputation of the leg.

10.11.2020