What are varicose veins and how do they manifest? What happens if you don't treat varicose veins and how can you prevent them? We talk about the complications of varicose veins, explain in detail why trophic ulcers appear and why compression stockings are needed.
What are varicose veins and how do they manifest?
Veins have special valves that prevent blood from flowing through the vessels. But with varicose veins, these valves don't close completely - blood pools in the vein and stretches it.
Symptoms of varicose veins in the early stages:
- Leg veins become brighter, more visible;
- On the inner surface of the legs and thighs, varicose nodules begin to appear;
- If you stand, sit or walk for a long time, there will be heaviness in the legs, a feeling of fullness (most often at night, in the calves);
- At the sites of expansion of the veins, pain or sharp pain appears, at night and at night - cramps in the calf muscles;
- The legs are very swollen later in the day, but in the morning the swelling is gone.
Important!
At this stage it is necessary to consult a doctor.
With progression, varicose veins become chronic (chronic venous insufficiency). Symptoms:
- Strongly tortuous dark blue intradermal veins appear: they project above the surface of the legs and feet, they look like bunches of ripe red grapes;
- There is arcing pain in the legs and calves, feeling of heat in the legs, nocturnal cramps in the calf muscles, severe swelling;
- The skin becomes dry, pigmentation appears, it becomes darker, brown spots appear.
Important!
Don't get the disease! With varicose veins, tissue nutrition is disrupted. There is not enough nutrition for the vessels and the skin - wounds, eczema and even ulcers appear, which heal very poorly.
varicose veins treatment
There are two ways to treat varicose veins: conservative and surgical.
- Conservative: compression therapy. Compression underwear tightens the affected leg - the diameter of the superficial veins decreases, the correct pressure in the vein is restored. Blood return decreases, vessel walls remain in good shape, valves close, blood does not stagnate and circulates well, the speed of blood movement through the deep veins increases. Stagnant blood volume decreases, lymphatic flow improves.
- In advanced cases, when conservative treatment does not help, the doctor suggests a surgical path: varicose nodules are removed, the affected veins are excised. To restore functions, shunts are placed or the mobility of the valve is restored so that its leaflets close.
Compression knits for varicose veins and ulcers
Compression stockings are special stockings that fit snugly to the lower leg and become looser as they travel up the thigh. This improves blood circulation and stimulates blood flow from the lower extremities to the heart.
Compression stockings are selected individually, so consult a phlebologist first: you cannot choose stockings yourself.
The phlebologist will look at the tone of the vein, on which specific valve there is a problem with the valves not closing. The problem may be, for example, in the thigh: so you need to wear compression stockings. If there is a problem with the valve closing under the knee, socks or stockings are selected.
Important!
For maximum effectiveness, compression stockings should be worn at all times - only removed at bedtime.
How to put on compression stockings?
- After waking up, put your legs on the wall and lie like that for a while - so that blood flows to your hips as much as possible;
- Without getting up, put on compression stockings.
In this position (lying down, legs raised), blood flow is balanced, blood does not stagnate. When the compression stockings are on the legs, the veins are in good shape and the valves close tightly and push blood further through the vessels.
What happens if varicose veins are not treated?
If you do not start treating varicose veins on time, life-threatening complications can occur:
thrombophlebitis- inflammation of the vein due to the formation of blood clots in it. Symptoms:
- redness;
- the place where the thrombus is located becomes hot;
- an inflamed vein hurts a lot.
If timely treatment is started, the thrombus will stop growing. Residual blood clots can resolve for a long time - sometimes months. If left untreated or done incorrectly, the clot can grow.
Pulmonary embolism.The thrombus that appeared with thrombophlebitis detaches from the vessel wall in the leg and exits with the bloodstream. It obstructs the pulmonary artery or its branches - this is fatal. Unfortunately, even having suspected this complication in time, doctors can't do anything about it.
Symptoms:
- chest pain;
- accelerated heartbeat;
- dyspnea;
- irrational anxiety and irrational feeling of fear.
Deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities. This is a serious and dangerous complication of varicose veins. The internal veins are clogged, because of this, the flow of blood almost completely stops - all the tissues in the leg do not receive nourishment and turn blue.
Venous gangrene of the extremities- severe deep vein thrombosis, in which there is no nutrition of the limb, arterial blood flow is disturbed. Due to the fact that the blood does not flow, gangrene forms: the leg, in fact, dies - starting with the fingers.
trophic ulcers- long-term non-healing ulcers that occur due to tissue malnutrition. Lymph stagnates in the lymph vessels, they experience a great load and cannot handle the amount of lymph. Therefore, lymph droplets start to stick out through the skin. Because of this, the epidermis begins to exfoliate - an ulcer is formed with dense, irregular edges. Any touch on it causes severe pain.
Bacteria quickly develop into ulcers: an infection gathers, a bleeding ulcer begins to fester. This can lead to very serious complications, including blood poisoning.
Trophic ulcers are of two types:
- venous, when the subcutaneous and deep veins of the limb are affected;
- arterial, when the arteries of the leg are affected and the natural nutrition of the limbs is disturbed.
Treatment of trophic ulcers
Trophic ulcers are treated with elastic compression, medications, physical therapy, and surgery.
Treatment of trophic ulcer includes four steps.
The first stage - antiseptics
- Antiseptic solution for wound care. It is applied to the surface of a trophic ulcer, if cavities have formed under the skin, they are also filled with gel.
- The gel, which has an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect, improves microcirculation, reduces redness and swelling of the skin, reduces pain, relieves itching and peeling of the skin, blocks the spread of infection and prevents scarring.
- An aqueous solution of an antiseptic of the halogen or benzyldimethyl-myristoylamino-propylammonium group.
The second stage - gels to soften dead tissue
Dead tissue is necrosis: hardened black tissue on the surface of the ulcer. If not removed, the ulcer will not heal. To do this, the necrosis is first smoothed out. This is done using special gels.
The third stage is the formation of an ideal environment for wound healing.
Healing is facilitated by creating a moist wound environment. If there is no necrosis, use bandages for quick healing. Here are some bandages that will fit:
Alginate dressings:
- An alginate dressing that transforms into a soft gel upon contact with wound secretions, providing ideal conditions for moist wound healing;
- A dressing that fills the wound cavity and creates a microenvironment that promotes rapid healing;
- Sponge bandage with hydrogel layer. Its structure absorbs secretions and maintains a moist wound environment;
- Alginate sponge dressing composed of calcium alginate and hydrocolloid;
- Sterile self-absorbable sodium alginate based coating, suitable for wounds and burns, accelerates healing;
- Hydroactive dressing for deep wounds. Cleans the wound, accelerates its healing, maintains an ideal wound environment for up to three days without changing the dressing.
Sponge bandages:
- Double-sided foam bandage. Protects the wound, absorbs wound discharge, creates an optimal water balance in the wound;
- Hydrophilic polyurethane sponge dressing;
- A dressing with a complex of enzymes and chitosan is suitable for infected wounds (if there is pus in the wound);
- A breathable antimicrobial sponge dressing consisting of a polyurethane sponge layer and a silver alginate matrix.
Fourth stage - wound healing
When the wound has been cleaned and an ideal environment has formed in it, it begins to heal, the edges of the wound shrink. For safe and fast healing, use special dressings.
Mesh ointment bandages:
- An ointment dressing with balm from Peru to be applied when fresh skin appears on the wound;
- Triglyceride-based ointment dressing, which promotes healing and cares for the wound edges;
- The dressing, which looks like a square of wax, is soft and quite dense. It can stay in the wound for up to seven days;
Film dressings that can be used to secure dressings to wounds:
- Film water-repellent bandage (but breathable), protects the wound from microorganisms. It can be used to fix anterior dressings and as a standalone dressing.
- Transparent film polyurethane bandage, the skin under it does not perspire, it breathes.
Important!
These dressings are suitable for healing not only trophic ulcers, but also any long-healing wounds.
varicose veins prevention
- Move as much as possible: the more you move, the better the blood circulates in your veins;
- Abandon bad habits;
- Contact a phlebologist in time at the first symptoms of the disease;
- Periodically perform an ultrasound of the vessels - the doctor will notice the first changes;
- After a day at work, come home and lie down with your feet up against the wall for about 15 minutes.
Prevention of trophic ulcers
- Watch your weight: it puts pressure on your legs, overloads your vascular and lymphatic systems. If necessary, follow the diet;
- Walk whenever possible;
- If possible, lift your legs, keep them in an elevated position as quickly as possible. At night, you can lie on the sofa and lift your legs, placing them on the wall: you need to stay like that for at least 15 minutes;
- Treat the veins of the lower extremities in time;
- Quitting smoking - greatly reduces the blood supply to the tissues and contributes to the development of trophic ulcers;
- Take care of your feet: wear suitable shoes so they don't burn or rub;
- Examine your feet regularly: Check the skin color of your feet. If the legs turn blue at night and veins are visible on the legs, contact a phlebologist;
- Hydrate the skin with smoothing, moisturizing and nourishing creams;
- Keep your feet warm, dress for the weather;
- Try not to injure the skin.