Varicose veins are a dangerous disease that brings with it many pathological processes. Treatment of varicose veins in the legs begins with lifestyle changes and medical procedures. They can: relieve the symptoms of varicose veins, prevent complications, improve the appearance of the lower extremities.
Your doctor may recommend switching to a diet and losing excess weight if varicose veins in your legs are not causing many symptoms. When there are severe signs of dilated veins in the legs, therapeutic and surgical treatment is prescribed.
Compression shirt
Compression hosiery for varicose veins has a beneficial effect on the pressure on the veins.
Types of compression stockings for varicose veins:
- Supportive tights. Have the least amount of pressure on your veins. They are firmly fixed on the leg and do not slip. The compression is evenly distributed.
- Knee socks. It can be worn by both men and women. The compression is evenly distributed across the lower part of the limb.
- Elastic bandage.The compression is distributed unevenly, so the pressure on the vein can be strong or weak. However, many people use this type of therapeutic knitwear because it is convenient.
Sclerotherapy
Leg vein sclerotherapy is the most common treatment for varicose veins and varicose veins. The doctor uses a needle to inject a liquid chemical into a vein. The chemical causes the walls of the veins to swell, they stick together, and the seals close. This stops blood flow and the vein turns into scar tissue. After a few weeks, the varicose veins should disappear. This procedure does not require anesthesia and can be performed in a doctor's office. You can return to normal activities immediately after treatment.
Treatment for varicose veins in the legs is usually done every 4-6 weeks. Compression stockings may be worn after sclerotherapy to aid healing and reduce swelling. This procedure is very effective if done correctly.
Possible complications after sclerotherapy:
- Red and burning skin areas, bruising where the injection was given. Brown-outlined spots or a cluster of small red blood vessels around the treated vein.
- Blood clots entering a vein and causing inflammation. This is not dangerous. Swelling can be relieved by applying heat and taking acetylsalicylic acid. Your doctor can remove blood clots with a small prick during a checkup.
All complications, as a rule, disappear immediately after treatment.
There is ultrasound sclerotherapy for varicose veins (or echo sclerotherapy). This method is used in ultrasound imaging to ensure correct needle insertion. It may be useful in treating veins in the lower extremities that may not be visible on the surface of the skin.
Possible side effects: skin ulcers, swelling or deep vein thrombosis (a potentially dangerous blood clot).
Laser
In some cases, the laser can effectively treat varicose veins and varicose veins. Laser treatment for varicose veins on the legs sends very strong bursts of light through the skin into the veins. No needles or incisions are used, but the heat from the laser can be quite painful. Cooling helps reduce pain.
Laser treatment for varicose veins on the legs lasts 15 to 20 minutes. Typically, 2 to 5 treatments are needed to remove spider veins on the legs. You can return to normal activities immediately after treatment.
Laser coagulation is not an effective method for varicose veins in the legs larger than 3 mm.
Contraindications: Not all skin types can be safely treated with lasers.
Possible side effects after laser treatment of varicose veins:
- Redness or swelling of the skin immediately after treatment, which disappears within a few days.
- On light skin the side effects disappear within 1-2 months.
- Burns and scarring resulting from poorly performed laser surgery, although this is rare.
Subcutaneous methods
Subcutaneous techniques have replaced surgery for most patients with severe varicose veins.
The doctor inserts a very small tube, called a catheter, into the vein. A small probe is inserted into the tube. A device at the tip of the probe heats the inside of the vein and closes it. The device uses radio frequency or laser energy to seal the vein. This procedure can be performed using only local anesthesia.
Healthy veins around the closed one resume normal blood flow. Symptoms of varicose veins improve.
Operation
Surgery is mainly used to treat very large varicose veins.
Types of surgery for varicose veins include:
Surgery. In this treatment the problem veins are completely removed from the leg through small incisions in the skin. Removal of a vein does not affect blood circulation in the lower limb. This operation requires general anesthesia and must be performed in an operating room. Restoration of veins after surgery takes 1 to 4 weeks. This type of surgery is generally safe. Leg pain is the most common side effect. Other possible problems include:
- Breathing problems due to anesthesia.
- Severe bleeding and blood stagnation.
- Wound infection, inflammation, swelling and redness.
- Damage to the nerve tissue around the treated vein. This damage can cause numbness, burning, or changes in sensation around the scar.
- Formation of blood clots. These clots can travel to the lungs and heart. Anticoagulant medicine can be used to reduce the chance of these dangerous blood clots forming. But it can also cause bleeding.
Removing your PIN. In this treatment, an instrument called a PIN stripper is inserted into a vein. The tip of the PIN extractor is sewn to the end of the vein, and when it is removed, the vein is pulled out. This procedure can be performed in an operating room or in an outpatient center.
Phlebectomy procedure.In phlebectomy, small incisions are made in the skin and hooks are used to extract varicose veins from the leg. Patients can return to normal activities the day after treatment. Possible side effects include mild bruising and temporary numbness.
Prevention
To prevent the first signs of varicose veins from appearing, varicose veins on the legs, there are many effective preventive measures:
- Do physical activity regularly to improve muscle tone, circulation and vein elasticity. Perform special exercises for blood vessels and regularly engage in therapeutic walking or running.
- Watch your weight to avoid putting too much pressure on your lower limbs.
- Don't cross your legs for long periods of time when sitting.
- Try to avoid injuries that can increase the risk of varicose veins.
- Raise your legs while resting as much as possible.
- Do not stand or sit for long periods of time. If you have to stand for a long time, shift your weight from one leg to the other every few minutes. After sitting for a long time, you need to get up and move around a bit or take a short walk.
- Avoid wearing tight clothing that restricts your waist or puts pressure on your groin and legs.
- Avoid wearing high heels for long periods of time.
- Eat healthy, fiber-rich foods. Eating fiber reduces the chance of constipation, which can contribute to the development of varicose veins. The diet should consist of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and bran. A salt-free diet will help prevent the swelling that leads to varicose veins.
Modern treatments for varicose veins and varicose veins of the legs have very high success rates compared to traditional surgical procedures. Continued treatment and prevention can help keep this problem under control.