Symptoms and signs of disease
- Heaviness in the legs and a feeling of fullness in the legs.
- Calf muscle spasms, foot and finger spasms.
- Feeling very tired after walking for a long time.
- Ankle swelling at night.
- Embossed pattern of veins on skin, spider veins, spider veins.
- Symptoms accompanying this disease are cellulite, itching of the legs, dryness of the ankles and calves, thinning and sagging of the skin, long-healing ulcers, uneven pigmentation - ranging from dark spots to colorless areas, noticeable nodule formation, Color ranges from blue to deep purple or burgundy, trophic ulcers.
- Unstable blood pressure, hypertension, and hypotension.
- Feelings of chronic fatigue and apathy occur.
- Arrhythmia, tachycardia.
- Shortness of breath, a common disease of the respiratory system.
Diagnosis of disease
The following methods are most commonly used for diagnosis:
- Dual or triple ultrasound vascular scan;
- contrast venography;
- MRI and venography;
- Contrast angiography.
- Check for venous compression at different segments.
- Valsalva maneuver or strain test.
- The unbalanced Parana test evaluates veins in the calf area.
- Walking test at different intensities.
- Plethysmography can determine venous return and obstruction.
- CT, MRI are used to visualize the tissues and structures of the affected area.
- Infrared thermography assesses the temperature balance in affected areas of the body.
- Intravascular ultrasound uses a catheter to view the walls of blood vessels from the inside.
Clinical laboratory tests of blood and urine can complement the picture of the disease and can indicate accompanying pathological conditions.
How are varicose veins treated?
- In the early stages of varicose vein treatment, medications are limited to intravenous injections.
- To reduce the risk of thrombosis and occlusion, injectable anticoagulants and low-molecular-weight heparin, Fazmin, may be administered.
- New oral anticoagulants.
- For inflammation of blood vessels and surrounding tissues, it is recommended to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory topical drugs such as diclofenac and indomethacin.
- You should be careful with water and heat therapies, as hot baths and showers, and beach holidays sunbathing in the sun can worsen the condition. Blood vessels need to be strengthened, and when warm and cold water are poured on the legs alternately, hardening through contrast showers can promote the strengthening of blood vessels.
- For pain, inflammation and heaviness in the legs, a daily cool foot bath with a decoction of oak bark, chamomile, calendula, birch leaves, St. John's wort, white acacia flowers and horse chestnut is recommended.
- Freshly squeezed aloe vera leaf juice is useful when rubbed into the skin; it softens the skin and prevents inflammation.
- It's worth changing your habits and quitting smoking. The diet should be based on foods rich in vitamins and high in fiber, fresh vegetables, citrus fruits and seafood.
- You need to adjust your water drinking habits by drinking enough water (1. 5 to 2 liters) every day. At the same time, the intake of coffee, strong tea, chocolate and alcohol should be reduced.
disease cause
- Congenital defects in the valve system;
- physical inactivity, lack of activity;
- Pregnant;
- Working conditions involving long-term pressure on the legs, standing for long periods of time, and in static positions;
- treatment with certain hormonal medications;
- Uncomfortable shoes, high heels;
- obesity;
- Tight underwear, clothing that tightens the hips and knees (e. g. , very tight jeans, shapewear);
- Lift weights regularly;
- systemic pathology of the kidneys, heart, and blood vessels;
- diabetes;
- Frequent intestinal problems, frequent diarrhea or constipation.
disease type
- C1 – Initial stage, manifested by a network of capillaries and spider veins on the skin.
- C2 – Thickening of subcutaneous veins can be seen, with a blue line-like pattern of veins in the lower extremities.
- C3 – Swelling of the legs due to prolonged standing or resting (nighttime sleep).
- C4 – Changes in the surface of the skin with areas of uneven pigmentation, venous eczema with itching and ulceration, lipodermatosclerosis.
- C5 – Venous ulcers on the surface of the skin that will heal over time.
- C6 – Non-healing venotrophic ulcer.
- Congenital, manifesting itself in infants;
- acquired;
- Secondary, arising in the context of other illnesses or injuries;
- Idiopathic, unknown cause.
Although varicose veins in the lower extremities are the most common, they are not the only manifestation of varicose veins. There are also esophageal varices, sublingual veins, retina, scrotum (varicose veins in men), stomach, rectal corpus cavernosum (hemorrhoids), pelvic veins, female reproductive organs - vulva, labia, uterus.
Surgical treatment of varicose veins
- This procedure does not require general anesthesia; local anesthesia is sufficient;
- Maximum safety for patient health
- RFA requires no special preparation;
- The patient will not feel pain or discomfort during the procedure;
- Radiofrequency ablation of lower extremity veins is very effective;
- The likelihood of complications is low, and nearly all patients tolerate the procedure well;
- Radiofrequency ablation can be combined with tributary venectomy or sclerotherapy;
- No scars or marks are left after radiofrequency ablation;
- A few days after surgery, patients can return to their normal lifestyle.
Let’s see how RFA works step by step:
- Before surgery, the lower limbs were thoroughly treated with antiseptics. The doctor then uses a marker to mark the veins that are prone to varicose veins. The doctor then inserts a radiofrequency catheter into the vein and treats the desired area with radiofrequency waves.
- At the end of the procedure, the catheter is removed and the doctor applies a bandage and helps the patient put on a compression garment.
- This process lasts 30 to 50 minutes. To stop blood flow through a fragile blood vessel, it must be destroyed. The body itself then redirects the blood to healthy veins. As a result, after ablation, the vein walls stick together and scar tissue forms inside (safe and unnoticeable), and the varicose veins disappear.
- Increased physical activity and heavy lifting are prohibited for one week;
- Need to walk more and stay in the same position as little as possible (except when sleeping);
- You need to stop taking hot baths and only shower within 3-4 weeks;
- Must stop going to bathhouses for at least a month;
- Try to drink as much plain water as possible, about 2. 5 liters on average, and try to reduce salt intake as much as possible;
- One week after surgery, you will need to start physical therapy, your doctor will tell you;
- It is possible that your doctor will prescribe some medications after radiofrequency ablation of the veins in your lower extremities.
- Venipuncture. Performed under ultrasound guidance.
- Light guide positioning. The light guide is a thin optical fiber. Laser radiation is supplied to its end. A light guide is inserted into the diseased vein. Its end is installed at the point where varicose veins flow into healthy deep veins, that is, the anastomosis.
- Tumescent anesthesia. A "cushion" of anesthetic is formed around the vein to better press the vein against the light guide and avoid damaging surrounding tissue.
- Laser vein coagulation. Laser radiation is provided to the working part of the light guide.
- At the same time, the light guide is slowly pulled out of the vein. As a result, the vein is heated uniformly by the laser to 85°C. Like any protein, heated veins shrink when exposed to heat. The vein lumen disappears and blood stops flowing.
- Increased physical activity and heavy lifting are prohibited for one week;
- Need to walk more and stay in the same position as little as possible (except when sleeping);
- You need to stop taking hot baths and only shower within 3-4 weeks;
- Must stop going to bathhouses for at least a month;
- Try to drink as much plain water as possible, about 2. 5 liters on average, and try to reduce salt intake as much as possible;
- One week after surgery, you will need to start physical therapy, your doctor will tell you;
- Your doctor may prescribe medications after surgery.
- Absolute outpatient care, no additional preparation required,
execution speed, - No anesthesia required,
- There are no complications commonly associated with surgical treatments, such as nerve damage.
- There is no "heat-induced phlebitis" characteristic of coagulation methods, and is accompanied by persistent pain along the coagulated veins.