Under varicose veins, or varicose veins, implying the pathological process leading to excessive blood filling of the venous bed. In this case, the venous wall becomes thinner with the appearance of hillocks and formation of specific nodes, or lumps along the vein.
What are the General principles of treatment of varicose veins?
This process can affect veins of different localization – esophageal, hemorrhoidal, veins of the spermatic cord. But most often, this pathology develops in the veins of the lower extremities.
This is due to the characteristics of the structure and functioning of the veins in this anatomical region. Exactly the lower limbs, especially the tibia, are experiencing the maximum static and dynamic load.
The outflow of venous blood goes in an upward direction, against the forces of gravity. This is achieved with the help of the chest, the pumping function of the heart, tension of the muscles of the diaphragm, lower limbs and also smooth muscle with the presence of specific entities, bicuspid venous valves. These valves prevent the backflow of venous blood.
Veins of lower extremities presents superficial and deep venous network. Under the influence of various provoking factors (overweight, endocrine disorders, "standing" nature of the work, or pregnancy) develops an insufficiency of the venous valves, leading to the overflow of deep vein blood.
The excess of blood from deep vein is reset in the surface. Surface veins are also overfilled with blood, their walls are stretched, the length increases, resulting in a pathological disease with the presence of specific nodes. Since forming varicose veins.
Treatment of varicose veins is aimed at:
- The strengthening of the venous wall
- Improvement of venous valves
- The elimination of local inflammatory manifestations in the form of eczema and dermatitis
- Improvement of venous blood flow of the microcirculation of blood in the lower extremities
- Strengthening the muscles of the legs
- Prevention of complications of varicose veins – vein thrombosis, venous ulcers and pulmonary embolism
Treatments
Medicines
The use of drugs in the treatment of varicose veins is a leader in the conservative therapy of varicose veins. The main focus of medication treatment is to medicines of group of protectors that reinforce the venous wall.
Equally effective fruit extract of horse chestnut. Among the drugs, for the treatment of varicose veins play an important role vitamins. One of them, Vit. P (rutin) also strengthens the vascular wall.
In General, drug treatment of varicose veins should be combined, and to combine the preparations for injection, for internal and external use. Among the latter group are creams and gels with non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In addition to relieving inflammation NSAIDs reduce the risk of thrombosis, which is also important for varicose veins.
Compression therapy
During compression (compression) of the veins is a narrowing of the lumen. This saves the current venous blood, eliminates congestion in the superficial veins.
The simplest form of compression – tight bandaging elastic bandage, which is carried out from the bases of the toes with the transition to the foot, tibia and femur.
It is important that tours of the bandage was smooth, and the following round overlap of not less than 2/3 of the previous one. Recently, elastic bandaging gradually decline. The fact that there were more efficient, convenient and attractive accessories in the form of a specially-made stockings, socks, and even treads.
Physical therapy
Among the physical treatments to treat varicose veins shown:
- darsonvalization,
- magnetotherapy,
- electrophoresis,
- phonophoresis,
- UHF,
- muscle electrical stimulation.
During these procedures, strengthening the muscles of the lower leg, venous vascular wall, improves venous valves. However, these methods are contraindicated in cases when varicose veins are accompanied by severe pain. You can not use them with any skin pathological processes, including with trophic ulcers.
The physiotherapeutic methods include and medical (oxygen, mineral) bath and stay at mud cure resorts.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy and Therapeutic physical culture. Dosed physical loads are accompanied by a strengthening of the muscles of the lower limbs, improve venous valves, which in turn facilitates venous outflow.
Among the exercises up and bending the legs at the knees, rolling from toe to heel. Effective Jogging, playing in the swimming pool.
Physiotherapy is not indicated for thrombotic complications of varicose veins. Also not a desirable jumping, skiing, playing sports and weightlifting.
Folk remedies
Perhaps, among all types of treatment, traditional medicine offers the richest Arsenal of means for treatment of varicose veins.
Mostly it's herbs used as infusions, decoctions, compresses. In this capacity use a horsetail, celandine, hops, nettle.
In folk recipes for the treatment of varicose veins popular and some food – potatoes, honey, Apple cider vinegar, vegetable oil and butter.
It should be noted that folk remedies for the treatment of varicose veins should be considered only as a Supplement to standard techniques. However, to completely ignore this type of treatment should not be.
Some folk remedies, such as horse chestnut, found good use in the manufacture of modern medicines for the treatment of varicose veins.
Hirudotherapy
Another unconventional method of treatment by leeches. Contained in the saliva of leeches substance reduces blood clotting, and thus prevents thrombosis in the veins. The substance also has anti-inflammatory action.
In addition, when collecting blood leech is reduced blood circulation in the veins. It should be noted that the treatment uses only disposable medical leeches, is not dangerous in terms of infectious complications.
Phlebectomy
The classic method of surgical treatment of varicose veins of the legs, which is to remove the dilated superficial saphenous veins of the plots.
Although trauma surgery are low, it resorted to only in extreme cases of varicose veins running, when the above conservative methods are ineffective.
Sclerotherapy
A relatively new method of treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Its essence lies in the fact that the varicose vein entered the special substance.
Under the action of this substance of the wall of the varicose vein stick together, and its lumen is reduced.
As a result, the place of veins formed painless cord. To achieve the result required several injections of sclerosing substances.
This method of treatment requires the experience and skill of the doctor who performs it. Similar sclerotherapy effect is achieved with laser coagulation. In this case, the bonding of the veins occurs under the action of the laser beam.
In the treatment of varicose veins is almost never used with only any one of the above methods. For example, physiotherapy exercises should be combined with medication and physical treatments.
And after sclerotherapy, it is mandatory to use compression tool. In any case, the methods of treatment of varicose veins and their sequence should be determined by the doctor – a narrow specialist in the treatment of venous pathology.