Many people mistakenly believe that varicose veins are just a threat to the appearance of the legs. In fact, it is becoming more serious - this disease is quite often complicated by thrombosis and inflammation of the deep veins, and in advanced cases, chronic venous insufficiency, which is manifested by pronounced trophic changes in the tissues. Therefore, it is necessary to diagnose this pathology in the initial stages in order to prevent the development of dangerous conditions.
Varicose veins are a pathological change in the walls of venous vessels, which occurs under the influence of blood accumulated in them. This process usually develops in the veins of the legs and small pelvis. Normally, the blood through the veins is directed only to the heart, which is helped by the venous valves and muscles, which by their contractions seem to "push" the blood through the veins. Varicose veins, for several reasons, cause abnormal blood flow. It begins to stagnate first in the deep veins, and then in the superficial ones, which increase, creating varicose veins under the skin.
Symptoms of varicose veins of the lower extremities
The first signs of this disease are non-specific (they are also found in other diseases), they are united under the term "heavy leg syndrome". It is characterized by increased and progressive fatigue of the lower extremities, pain in the legs, feeling of heaviness, tingling and cracking in the leaves, night cramps of the leaf muscles. These symptoms occur at the end of the day, especially if the person has been standing or sitting for a long time during the day. After that, with the development of pathology, the described manifestations of the disease are added to the evening swelling of the back of the foot and ankle. After rest, the condition of sore feet usually improves.
Visual changes in the early stages of the disease are not always noticeable, as varicose veins in the legs begin with deeper veins. The only external sign of an ongoing problem may be vascular networks. Of course, they do not always indicate varicose veins, but it is better to consult a phlebologist, a specialist in venous diseases, when they appear.
But in the later stages of varicose veins, cyanotic subcutaneous veins and dilated nodules already appear - these are dilated and tortuous superficial veins resembling grapes. They are usually located on the inside of the lower leg and thigh.
In addition, as the pathology progresses, the legs begin to swell more. Chronic venous insufficiency is gradually formed, in which venous outflow and microcirculation in tissues are disturbed. All this is reflected in the condition of the skin of the feet: it darkens, peels, itches, then trophic ulcers appear on it, which heal very poorly. This is how varicose veins form. A similar outcome of varicose veins can be prevented by timely treatment, therefore, if there is even a slight but systematic discomfort in the legs, and vascular networks or "stars" on the skin, you should consult a doctor.
Symptoms of varicose veins of the pelvis
In the pelvis, varicose veins are less common than in the legs, mostly in young women. The trigger for the development of this pathology is pregnancy (both hormonal and mechanical factors play a role). After childbirth, the signs of the disease usually disappear, and only about 10% of women notice periodic recurrence of unpleasant symptoms after prolonged standing, hypothermia and physical exertion.
Varicose veins of the small pelvis are manifested by chronic pain in the pelvis, as well as the spread of superficial venous formations in the perineum and vulva. Such patients often fail to treat inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs, because pain in the lower abdomen, characteristic of varicose veins of the pelvis, is sometimes mistakenly associated with chronic oophoritis, salpingitis, endometriosis, etc.
How is varicose veins diagnosed?
When varicose nodes become clearly visible on a patient’s feet, the doctor can diagnose "varicose disease" even without the results of instrumental studies. If the pathology is just beginning to develop or is localized in the small pelvis, an in-depth examination is necessary.
The main method for diagnosing varicose veins is Doppler ultrasound. This study is informative for venous lesions in any part of the body. With the help of ultrasound, the doctor can study the condition of the walls and the anatomy of deep and superficial veins, valves, assess the blood flow in the veins, detect the return flow of blood, etc. The classification of varicose veins and, accordingly, the choice of treatment method is based on the results of ultrasound.
Another diagnostic method used in this pathology is rheovasography. Its application allows you to determine how much the tissues of the lower extremities are filled with blood and with it nutrients. These data help the doctor to determine the stage of the disease: the stage of compensation, subcompensation, etc.
Phlebography is less commonly used for varicose veins - this is a contrast-enhanced X-ray of the veins.
In addition, a comprehensive examination of patients with varicose veins usually includes various blood tests: doctors are particularly interested in the levels of hemoglobin, erythrocytes, platelets, coagulogram parameters. These data make it possible to estimate the density of the blood and the tendency of the patient's body to form blood clots.