What are varicose veins and how does it manifest? What happens if you do not treat varicose veins and how to 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 does it manifest?
Veins have special valves that prevent blood from flowing through the vessels. But with varicose veins, these valves do not close completely - blood pools in the vein and stretches it.
Symptoms of varicose veins in the initial stages:
- The veins of the legs become brighter, more visible;
- On the inner surface of the legs and thighs, varicose nodes begin to appear;
- If you stand, sit or walk for a long time, there is heaviness in the legs, a feeling of fullness (most often in the evening, in the calves);
- In places of venous expansion, aching or sharp pains appear, in the evening and at night - cramps in the calf muscles;
- The legs are very swollen at the end of the day, but in the morning the swelling disappears.
Important!
Already at this stage it is necessary to consult a doctor.
With progression, varicose veins become chronic (chronic venous insufficiency). Symptoms:
- Very tortuous dark blue intradermal veins appear: they protrude from the surface of the legs and feet, they look like bunches of overripe red grapes;
- There are arching pains in the legs and calves, a feeling of warmth in the legs, night cramps in the calf muscles, severe swelling;
- The skin becomes dry, pigmentation appears, it becomes darker, brown spots appear.
Important!
Do not trigger the disease! With varicose veins, tissue nutrition is disturbed. There is not enough nutrition for the vessels and the skin - sores, eczema and even ulcers appear, which heal very poorly.
Treatment of varicose veins
There are two ways to treat varicose veins: conservative and surgical.
- Conservative: compression therapy. Compression underwear compresses the affected leg - the diameter of the superficial veins decreases, the correct pressure in the vein is restored. The return of blood decreases, the walls of the vessels remain in good condition, the valves close, the blood does not stagnate and circulates well, the speed of blood circulation in the deep veins increases. The volume of stagnant blood decreases, lymphatic outflow improves.
- In advanced cases, when conservative treatment does not help, the doctor will suggest a surgical way: varicose nodes 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 on the lower leg and loosen as they move up the thigh. This improves blood circulation and stimulates blood flow from the lower limbs to the heart.
Compression stockings are selected individually, so consult a phlebologist first: you cannot choose the stockings yourself.
The phlebologist will examine the tone of the vein, in which particular valve there is a problem with the valves not closing. The problem can be, for example, at the level of the thigh: then you must wear compression stockings. If there is a problem with the closure of the valve below the knee, socks or stockings are selected.
Important!
For maximum effectiveness, compression stockings should be worn at all times - removed only at bedtime.
How to put on compression stockings?
- After waking up, put your legs on the wall and lie down like this for a while - so that the blood flows as much as possible to the hips;
- Without getting up, put on compression stockings.
In this position (lying down, legs raised), the blood flow is regulated, the blood does not stagnate. When the compression stockings are on the legs, the veins are in good condition and the valves close well and push the blood further through the vessels.
What happens if varicose veins are left untreated?
If you do not start treatment for varicose veins in 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 warm;
- an inflamed vein hurts a lot.
If timely treatment is started, the thrombus will stop growing. Residual blood clots can go away 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 vascular wall of the leg and leaves with the bloodstream. It clogs the pulmonary artery or its branches - this is fatal. Unfortunately, even having suspected this complication in time, there is nothing doctors can do about it.
Symptoms:
- chest pain;
- accelerated heart rate;
- dyspnea;
- unreasonable anxiety and unreasonable feeling of fear.
Deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs. This is a serious and dangerous complication of varicose veins. The internal veins are clogged, because of this the outflow of blood almost completely stops - all the tissues of the leg do not receive nutrition 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 blood does not flow, gangrene forms: the leg, in fact, dies - starting with the fingers.
Trophic ulcers- long-term non-healing ulcers due to tissue malnutrition. Lymph stagnates in the lymphatic vessels, they experience a large load and cannot cope with the amount of lymph. As a result, droplets of lymph begin to break through the skin. Due to this, the epidermis begins to exfoliate - an ulcer forms with dense, jagged edges. Any contact with it causes severe pain.
Bacteria quickly grow in ulcers: an infection joins, 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, drugs, physiotherapy and surgery.
The management of trophic ulcers includes four steps.
The first stage - antiseptics
- Antiseptic solution for the treatment of wounds. 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 infections and prevents scarring.
- An aqueous solution of an antiseptic from the halogen group or benzyldimethyl-myristoylamino-propylammonium.
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 softened. This is done with the help of special gels.
The third stage is the formation of an optimal 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 work:
Alginate Dressings:
- An alginate dressing that turns to a soft gel on contact with wound secretions, providing optimal conditions for moist 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 environment in the wound;
- Alginate sponge dressing composed of calcium alginate and hydrocolloid;
- Sterile self-absorbable coating based on sodium alginate, well suited to wounds and burns, accelerates healing;
- Hydroactive dressing for deep wounds. Cleans the wound, accelerates its healing, maintains an optimal environment in the wound for up to three days without changing the dressing.
Sponge dressings:
- Double-sided foam bandage. It protects the wound, absorbs wound secretions, 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 composed of a sponge polyurethane layer and a silver alginate matrix.
Fourth stage - wound healing
When the wound has been cleaned and an optimal environment has formed in it, it begins to heal, the edges of the wound narrow. For safe and rapid healing, use special dressings.
Mesh Ointment Bandages:
- A Peru balsam ointment dressing to be applied when fresh skin appears on the wound;
- Ointment dressing based on triglycerides, which promotes healing and cares for the edges of the wound;
- The dressing, which looks like a square of wax, is soft and quite dense. Can be on the wound for up to seven days;
Film dressings that can be used to secure dressings to wounds:
- Film (but breathable) water-repellent bandage, protects the wound from microorganisms. It can be used to fix previous bandages and as an independent bandage.
- Transparent film polyurethane bandage, the skin underneath does not sweat, breathe.
Important!
These dressings are suitable not only for the healing of trophic ulcers, but also for all long-healing wounds.
Prevention of varicose veins
- Move as much as possible: the more you move, the better the blood circulates in the veins;
- Give up bad habits;
- Contact a phlebologist in time at the first symptoms of the disease;
- Periodically do an ultrasound of the vessels - the doctor will notice the first changes;
- After a day of work, go home and lie down with your feet against the wall for about 15 minutes.
Prevention of trophic ulcers
- Watch your weight: it puts pressure on your legs, strains the vascular and lymphatic systems. If necessary, follow the diet;
- Walk as often as possible;
- If possible, raise your legs, keep them in a raised position as often as possible. In the evening, you can lie down on the sofa and raise your legs by resting them against the wall: you must lie down like this for at least 15 minutes;
- Treat the veins of the lower limbs in time;
- Quit smoking - it significantly reduces blood supply to tissues and contributes to the development of trophic ulcers;
- Take care of your feet: wear suitable shoes so that they do not sting or rub;
- Examine your feet regularly: check the skin color of your feet. If the legs turn blue in the evening and veins are visible on the legs, contact a phlebologist;
- Moisturize the skin with softening, moisturizing, nourishing creams;
- Keep your feet warm, dress for the weather;
- Try not to hurt the skin.