Many people mistakenly believe that varicose veins are only a threat to the appearance of the legs. In fact, everything is more serious - this disease is often complicated by thrombosis and inflammation of the deep veins, and in advanced cases - chronic venous insufficiency, which manifests itself with pronounced trophic changes in the tissues. Therefore, it is necessary to diagnose this pathology in the early stages 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. Most often this process develops in the veins of the legs and small pelvis. Usually the blood through the veins is directed only to the heart, this is facilitated by venous valves and muscles, which with their contractions seem to "pass" the blood through the vessels. , and then in the superficial ones, which increase, forming varicose veins under the skin.
Symptoms of varicose veins of the lower extremities
The first signs of this disease are non-specific (they also occur in other diseases), they are combined together under the term "heavy leg syndrome". It is characterized by increased and progressive fatigue of the lower extremities, pain in the legs, heaviness, burning and cracking in the calves, night cramps in the calf muscles. These symptoms appear at the end of the day, especially if a person has been standing or sitting for a long time. Subsequently, with the development of the pathology, evening swelling of the back of the foot and ankles is added to the described manifestations of the disease. After a break, the condition of the diseased legs usually improves.
Visual changes in the early stages of the disease are not always noticeable, as varicose veins in the legs begin with deeper vessels. The only external sign of a problem may be vascular networks. They, of course, do not always show 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 varicose veins already appear - these are varicose and convoluted superficial veins that resemble 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 gradually develops, in which venous outflow and microcirculation in the tissues are disrupted. All this affects the condition of the skin of the feet: it darkens, flakes, itches, then trophic ulcers appear on it, which heal very poorly. This is how varicose veins develop. Such an 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
Varicose veins in the pelvis are less common than in the legs and mostly in young women. The trigger for the development of this pathology is pregnancy (both hormonal and mechanical factors play a role here). After childbirth, the signs of the disease usually disappear and only about 10% of women notice a periodic recurrence of unpleasant symptoms after prolonged standing, hypothermia and exercise.
Varicose veins of the pelvis are manifested by chronic pelvic pain, as well as dilation of superficial venous formations in the perineum and vulva. Such patients often fail to treat inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs, because the pain in the lower abdomen, characteristic of varicose veins of the pelvis, is sometimes mistakenly associated with chronic oophoritis, salpingitis, endometriosis and others.
How is varicose veins diagnosed?
When varicose veins become clearly visible on the patient's legs, the doctor can diagnose "varicose disease" even without the results of instrumental tests. If the pathology is just beginning to develop or is localized in the pelvis, a thorough examination is indispensable.
The main method for diagnosing varicose veins is Doppler ultrasound. This test is informative for lesions of the veins in every part of the body. With the help of ultrasound, the doctor can study the condition of the walls and the anatomy of the deep and superficial veins, valves, assess blood flow in the vessels, detect reverse blood flow and more. 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 implementation allows you to determine how well the tissues of the lower extremities are full of blood and nutrients. This information helps the doctor to determine the stage of the disease: the stage of compensation, subcompensation, etc.
Phlebography in varicose veins is less commonly used - this is an X-ray examination of the veins using contrast.
In addition, the overall examination of patients with varicose veins usually includes various blood tests: doctors are particularly interested in the level of hemoglobin, erythrocytes, platelets and coagulogram parameters. These data make it possible to assess the density of the blood and the tendency of the patient's body to form blood clots.