Varicose veins or varicose veins are a pathological process faced by many people. In most cases, the disease affects the foot canal, which leads to elongation, deformation, thinning of the vascular wall. In addition, the valve located in the vein stops completely performing its function, which disrupts systemic circulation and blood stagnates in the vein.
Under the influence of the factors described, vessels increase in size, appear on the surface, show through the skin. As a result, the entire vascular network is visible on the surface of the skin, often with nodules and trophic ulcers. However, in addition to aesthetic disturbances, the problem goes deeper and is often accompanied by painful sensations.
The nature of pain with varicose veins
First of all, it is important to understand that the concept of "very frequent" does not mean that pain is accompanied by 100% of varicose vein cases. Much depends on several factors, individual characteristics of the patient's body, and even in the final stages of development of the pathological process, there may be no pain.
If we classify painful sensations, we will first consider their localization:
- In most cases, the pain syndrome is localized directly at the site of the vascular lesion, its deformation.
- In second place in terms of frequency of localization is the gastrocnemius muscle area, while the pain itself is localized closer to the popliteal area of the foot.
- The lowest probability of localization of the pain syndrome goes to the ankle area.
Of course, the likelihood of experiencing pain in the legs increases as the pathological process progresses. This is due to the deteriorating condition of blood vessels, their increase, the development of stagnant processes and, consequently, an increase in vascular pressure. Eventually, the pressure can increase so that the vessel wall will not withstand, this threatens with internal bleeding, hematoma formation and trophic ulcers.
Therefore, the nature of pain depends on the stage of disease development:
- In the early stages, a painful or somewhat unpleasant pulling or squeezing sensation is caused by swelling of the feet. It is important to understand that along with disturbances in blood flow, fluid is retained in the feet, which causes swelling. In the early stages, edema is periodic, appearing more frequently in the evening, and discomfort due to fatigue, walking in shoes during the day, in extreme cases by skin tension.
- The fact of fatigue deserves special attention. With varicose veins, the legs become tired faster. Initially, this is expressed during prolonged physical exercise during the day (if the patient stands for a long time, walks a lot, etc. ). However, as the disease progresses, fatigue makes itself more frequent and stronger, due to the characteristic painful sensations felt. In this case, the pain is of a dull nature, also exciting or painful.
- At about the second stage of the disease, with worsening vascular conditions, more serious deformities and valve dysfunction of moderate severity, the patient complains of the effects of severity. In this case, the pain is characterized as rupture, in some cases it is called acute. This is due to an increase in pressure in the vessel, and if at first it is enough to lie down and put your feet on the hill so that the pain subsides, in the future you will have to deal with it by using medications.
- Most likely is the development of pain syndrome, as well as an increase in intensity in the case of the development of varicose veins to the final stage, the fourth. At this stage, vascular deformation and vascular pressure reach a peak.
It is difficult to describe more accurately the characteristics of the painful sensation with varicose veins in the legs. This is due to the individual characteristics of the organism of each patient, as well as the characteristics of the course of the disease. However, the pain can be felt as:
- Stupid.
- Attract.
- heartache.
- Meletop.
- Compressed.
- sharp.
- Similar to rezi.
Also in the second stage, and more often the third stage of pathological development, the pain is accompanied by muscle spasms, which bother the patient especially during night sleep.
The cause of the painful sensation
Understanding where varicose vein pain comes from can help you deal with this problem more effectively or prevent the pain from occurring. Therefore, pain arises under the influence of the following reasons:
- Pathological changes in the vascular bed slow blood circulation in certain areas of the veins. This leads to a decrease in blood flow, which causes a lack of oxygen to begin, and pain to occur.
- Blood circulation promotes the removal of waste products, which are constantly produced by the body in small quantities. Due to the decrease in blood outflow and its stagnation, the decomposition products are released slowly, which leads to the appearance of toxins that poison living cells, this process also causes a painful sensation.
- Also contributing to the onset of pain are trophic disorders that appear in the final stages of the development of varicose veins and with the progression of the disease only intensify, causing more and more acute pain.
The pain increases with physical exertion, leg fatigue, in most cases it becomes very intense in the afternoon or evening.
Methods of dealing with pathology
For complete elimination of pain, it is necessary to direct all forces to the treatment of pathological processes. To do this, you need to consult with a doctor who will conduct a diagnosis, based on which he will prescribe the most appropriate treatment for a particular patient.
Treatment will take some time, during which the patient will be tormented by pain. Therefore, it is important to understand not only how to deal with varicose veins, but also know the methods of pain relief.
First aid in the fight against pain
Elimination of pain is only part of the symptoms of treatment, in most cases it does not affect the solution of the main problem - varicose veins.
However, it is very important to eliminate pain, consider the main methods of dealing with unpleasant and painful sensations:
- In the early stages of disease development, the pain is unstable, its intensity is relatively low and it occurs mainly in the evening. In such cases, it is enough to take a lying position and place your feet on the pillow or just place it on the wall so that the feet are above body level. This position facilitates blood flow, thus reducing pain and swelling.
- It is also very useful for doing light massages, kneading the lower limbs with massaging and rubbing movements. Remember, you can stretch your legs during the day, which is very useful in the final stages of the development of the disease.
Traditional methods of pain relief
If severe pain bothers you constantly, as well as in cases where there is no way to massage yourself or relax, you should use the help of medications. Of course, only a doctor should prescribe medication, but in most cases the following medications are used:
- Special means in the form of gels-in particular we are talking about non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that effectively relieve pain, as well as have a significant moderate anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effect.
- In some cases, you can use painkillers, but with varicose veins, the effects are insignificant and short -lived. These are primarily analgesic and antispasmodic.
- If a painful sensation is accompanied or exacerbated by seizures, it is advisable to talk to your doctor about the use of muscle relaxants, which help reduce muscle spasms.
- Also, traditional methods of dealing with the painful sensation of varicose veins in the legs include wearing special compression stockings, stockings or tights. This method is considered the most effective in terms of pain relief, and the effect is the longest. The underwear mentioned must be purchased only at the pharmacy, and since they have different levels of compression, consult your doctor first.
Restoration of the people
In folk medicine, there are also many ways to eliminate or prevent pain caused by the development of varicose veins. Consider some of the most effective methods and recipes:
- horse chestnut - alcohol tincture must be prepared from the fruit of this tree. To do this, grind 100 grams of peeled chestnuts, place in a glass dish and pour 500 milliliters of vodka. Place the container in a dark place and leave for 7-8 days at room temperature, stirring once a day. After that, the tincture is filtered and the feet are rubbed with it before bed or even during the day if the pain bothers during the day.
- Products based on beeswax or propolis show high efficiency in combating pain with varicose veins. To prepare the drug, take 80-90 grams of propolis, grind and pour 300 milliliters of medical alcohol in a glass container. The agent is infused for 30 days or until the propolis is completely dissolved, during which time it is also kept in a dark place, shaking it periodically. When the medicine is ready, you can rub your feet or apply a lotion.
Pain prevention
It is also important to understand that in the early stages of the disease, when the pain is not intense or rarely bothersome, but treatment has been started, it is enough to follow the recommendations that reduce the likelihood of painful sensations:
- Avoid wearing high -heeled shoes.
- Make sure your shoes are comfortable.
- In winter, when working indoors, it is important to change from boots to lighter and more comfortable shoes.
- Try to reduce the pressure on your feet.
- It is not possible to maintain a static position for long periods of time. If you stand a lot, try to sit more, but if you sit a lot, it’s important to take regular walks or at least warm up.
- During the day, try a lower leg massage, 5 minutes of light massage will protect you from pain during the day.
- It is also important to lead a healthy lifestyle, start doing light sports, eat right, quit bad habits, etc.