Varicose veins are a dangerous disease that involves many pathological processes. Treatment for varicose veins in the legs begins with lifestyle changes and medical interventions. They can: relieve the symptoms of varicose veins, prevent complications and improve the appearance of the lower extremities.
The doctor may recommend switching to a diet and losing excess weight if varicose veins in the legs do not cause many symptoms. If there are serious signs of venous expansion in the legs, therapeutic and surgical treatment is prescribed.
Compression jersey
Compression stockings against varicose veins have a positive effect on the pressure on the veins.
Types of compression stockings for varicose veins:
- Support tights. Apply the least amount of pressure to the veins. They sit securely on the leg and don't slip. The compression is distributed evenly.
- knee socks. Can be worn by both men and women. The compression is evenly distributed throughout the lower part of the limb.
- Elastic bandage.The compression is unevenly distributed, so the pressure on the vein can be strong or weak. However, many people use this type of therapeutic knitwear because it is affordable.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy of the leg veins is the most common treatment for spider veins and varicose veins. The doctor uses a needle to inject a liquid chemical into a vein. The chemical agent causes the vein walls to swell, they stick together and the closures close. This stops blood flow and the vein turns into scar tissue. After a few weeks, varicose veins should disappear. This procedure does not require anesthesia and can be performed in a doctor's office. You can return to your normal activities immediately after treatment.
Treatment for varicose veins on 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:
- Burning red areas of skin, bruising at the injection site. Brown-rimmed spots or a group of small red blood vessels around the treated vein.
- Blood clots that enter a vein and cause inflammation. That's not dangerous. Swelling can be relieved by applying heat and taking acetylsalicylic acid. During a follow-up examination, the doctor may remove blood clots with a small puncture.
All complications usually disappear soon after treatment.
For varicose veins there is ultrasound sclerotherapy (or echo sclerotherapy). This method is used in ultrasound imaging to ensure correct needle insertion. It may be useful in treating lower extremity veins 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, laser can effectively treat spider veins and small varicose veins. Laser treatment for varicose veins on the legs involves sending very strong bursts of light through the skin to the veins. No needles or incisions are used, but the heat from the laser can be very painful. Cooling helps relieve pain.
Laser treatment of varicose veins on the legs takes 15 to 20 minutes. Typically, 2 to 5 treatments are required to remove spider veins on the legs. You can return to your 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 that disappears within a few days.
- For fair skin, the side effects disappear within 1-2 months.
- Burns and scars from poorly performed laser surgery, although this is rare.
Subcutaneous methods
In most patients with severe varicose veins, subcutaneous techniques have replaced surgery.
The doctor inserts a very small tube, called a catheter, into the vein. A small probe is inserted through the tube. A device at the tip of the probe heats the inside of the vein and closes it. The device uses radiofrequency or laser energy to close the vein. This procedure can only be carried out under local anesthesia.
Healthy veins around the closed vein take over normal blood flow. Symptoms of varicose veins improve.
Operation
Surgical procedures are primarily used to treat very large varicose veins.
Surgical procedures for varicose veins include:
Surgical intervention. During this treatment, the problem veins are completely removed from the leg through small incisions in the skin. Removing a vein does not affect blood circulation in the lower extremity. This surgery requires general anesthesia and must be performed in an operating room. Recovering the 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.
- Heavy bleeding and pooling of blood.
- 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 blood clots can travel to the lungs and heart. To reduce the likelihood of these dangerous blood clots, anticoagulant medications may be used. But bleeding can also occur.
PIN removal. During this treatment, a so-called PIN stripper is inserted into a vein. The tip of the PIN puller is sewn to the end of the vein and upon removal the vein is pulled out. This procedure can be performed in an operating room or in an outpatient center.
Phlebectomy procedure.During a phlebectomy, tiny incisions are made in the skin and hooks are used to pull varicose veins out of the leg. The day after treatment, patients can return to their normal activities. Possible side effects include easy bruising and temporary numbness.
prevention
To prevent the first signs of varicose veins - spider veins on the legs - from appearing, there are many effective preventive measures:
- Exercise regularly to improve muscle tone, blood circulation and vein elasticity. Perform special exercises for the blood vessels and regularly engage in therapeutic walking or running.
- Control your weight to avoid putting too much pressure on your lower extremities.
- When sitting, you should not cross your legs for long periods of time.
- Avoid injuries that can increase the risk of varicose veins.
- While resting, raise your legs as high as possible.
- Do not stand or sit for long periods of time. If you need to stand for long periods of 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 little 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 lead to varicose veins. The diet should consist of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and bran. A salt-free diet helps prevent swelling that leads to varicose veins.
Modern treatments for varicose and spider veins on the leg have very high success rates compared to conventional surgical procedures. Ongoing treatment and prevention can help keep this problem under control.