Guest_Tatiana_V 2.12.2008 — 20:49
Hello. My mother (73 years old) fell ill on June 16, 2008. Diagnosis: stage 2 dyscirculatory encephalopathy of mixed origin with moderate vestibulopathy syndrome, stable course, subcompensation. Condition after an ischemic stroke in the vertebrobasilar system on June 16, 2008 in the form of moderate left-sided hemiparesis, ataxic syndrome. Stage III hypertension, crisis course of coronary artery disease. Atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis. Hyperpterism on the left. (from the extract)
Treatment took place at the Central City Hospital in Khimki and at the 6th Central Clinical Hospital in Moscow.
Treatment provided: diet, exercise therapy, normodepine, concor, thrombo ass, phenotropil, insthenon, cerebrolysin, akatinol, semax, massage, magnetic therapy, electromagnetic stimulation, HBO.
Currently taking: akatinol, thrombo ass, normodipine, fezam, concor, trental.
After being discharged from the hospital, the arm began to function, he walks, climbs the stairs (the elevator often does not work), but recently pain has appeared in the shoulder joint - it hurts to raise the arm and move it to the side. The leg swells greatly, heaviness, stiffness, a feeling of “woodiness” have appeared, it has become difficult to walk. We asked a surgeon for advice - he sent me to a neurologist, and the neurologist sent me to a surgeon.
Tell me what can cause leg swelling, how to relieve heaviness and pain in the limbs.
FatCat 3.12.2008 — 15:30
A stroke cannot directly cause swelling.
You need to think about the indirect effect: due to impaired muscle tone or sensitivity disorders, the limb is constantly in a non-physiological position, pinching the veins and thereby causing a disturbance in the outflow of blood and the appearance of edema.
There is sensitivity in the leg, but lately my mother says that there is a feeling of heaviness and tingling. He places his feet correctly and walks with a slight limp. Sometimes he walks around the apartment without a cane. Bending the joints does not cause pain. During the massage, the leg is at rest, but previously there were involuntary movements. Moves his toes freely. When your leg starts to hurt, you lie down and lift your leg, and the discomfort decreases.
In nutrition, he follows diet No. 10
. Diabetes was suspected, but it was ruled out (we continue to measure sugar levels now).
Please advise: in my mother’s condition, I can try fasting diets, will they do any harm? We read about a rice fasting day - we want to start with it.
There were no serious problems with the veins, but we will try to act in this direction.
There are no diuretics among the medications - perhaps this is partly the problem.
You need to look not so much at the position of the leg when walking, but at the small displacements of the hip at rest, primarily near the hip joint. As a rule, edema occurs due to hypertonicity of the adductor muscle of the thigh; this has almost no effect on the gait and is not very noticeable from the side, the leg seems to be shifted literally one centimeter relative to the pelvis, a centimeter closer to the center - a varus position. To train leg abduction, you can use a simple exercise: crumple a handkerchief, place it between your thighs while standing, and you need to learn to relax your hips without spreading your feet so that the handkerchief falls.
Everything requires a reasonable approach - if important vitamins and microelements are excluded from food, irreparable harm can be caused to a weakened body. Rice fasting day, if not abused, is useful. But in any case, consult a nutritionist.
Tatiana_V 6.12.2008 — 21:07
Thanks for the exercise, we included it in our training.
Maybe we can get a massage, the break in massage is more than a month - since Prof.’s stroke. The massage was done with a break of 2 weeks and there were no problems with swelling or numbness.
I would also like to get your advice regarding medications and injections.
You can now start taking Huato Boluses (doctors did not recommend combining it with akatinol, and the last dose is this week).
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Fighting swelling of the arms and legs after a stroke
After a stroke, trophic (nutrition) disturbances occur in the affected limbs due to impaired blood circulation and innervation.
A stroke with a focus in the left hemisphere of the brain leads to complete or partial paralysis of the right side. In this case, there is a persistent violation of sensitivity and muscle tone.
After a stroke with a focus on the left side of the brain, logical thinking and speech are impaired, and a tendency to depression may appear. In addition, there are symptoms such as headache, vomiting, dizziness, and impaired consciousness. Paralysis of the right side of the body is usually quite pronounced. The distribution and severity of paralysis is determined by the location of the lesion and its size.
If damage occurs in the internal capsule of the left side of the brain, then during the acute period, three-hemi syndrome may develop. This is complete right-sided paralysis, or hemiplegia, when there is no movement in the right leg and arm. It is usually combined with hemihepisthesia, in which all types of sensitivity on the paralyzed side are impaired, and with hemianopsia - half blindness, or loss of half the visual field in each eye. A stroke affecting the right side of the body results in pronounced paralysis in combination with neurological signs in the form of an asthenic-depressive state.
The further the focus of the stroke is from the internal capsule of the left hemisphere, the less pronounced the motor disorders are. Only certain areas of the upper or lower extremities are affected, proximal or distal, that is, those that are located closer to the center of the body or, conversely, remote from it. In this case, paralysis predominates in the right leg or arm.
When the lesion is localized in the white matter at the site of the central convolutions of the brain, paresis usually develops in the distal (remote from the center) parts of the right arm or leg. Such disorders are often more pronounced in the arm than in the leg.
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The outcome of treatment is more favorable the earlier the patient was hospitalized. A stroke in which the right side is paralyzed requires the following measures:
When the blood supply to the brain is disrupted as a result of a blocked vessel, an ischemic stroke occurs. Treatment involves first removing the cause of the blockage, which is often caused by thrombosis of the arteries in the brain or thromboembolism.
For ischemic stroke with right-sided paralysis, neuroprotective drugs, anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, thrombolytic agents, and defibrinizing enzymes are prescribed.
A hemorrhagic stroke is a cerebral hemorrhage due to a rupture of the vessel wall, which occurs under the influence of high blood pressure. Therapy for the hemorrhagic form is more intensive. This type of stroke is considered the most severe and quite often leads to death.
Recovery after paralysis of the right side of the body
With left-sided hemorrhage in the brain, severe paralysis of the right half of the body is observed. The primary task of doctors in this case is to normalize hemostasis, prevent the formation of plasmin, and reduce the permeability of the vascular walls. In case of significant bleeding, surgical intervention is not excluded.
For right-sided paralysis caused by a hemorrhagic stroke, antifibrinolytic agents and coagulants are indicated as medications. It is necessary to limit the use of antiplatelet agents (indomethacin, aspirin), corticosteroids, calcium antagonists, antispasmodics, barbiturates.
Restorative measures after any stroke begin no earlier than three weeks after the acute condition has been managed. Rehabilitation depends on the location of the lesion, the severity of the lesion, the patient’s well-being, and the presence of other pathologies.
For patients whose right side is paralyzed, complex therapy is indicated, which includes drug treatment, massages, physiotherapy, physical therapy, conversations with a psychologist and a speech therapist.
Statistically, recovery from a stroke that paralyzes the right side of the body occurs faster because cell death in the left hemisphere occurs more slowly than in the right.
In the first few weeks after a stroke, you may encounter swelling of the patient's paralyzed limbs. Swelling is quite common and can result in the extremities becoming cold, purple and swollen.
Causes of swelling of the limbs after a stroke.
One of the reasons leading to swelling of the limbs is insufficient activity in the arms and legs. This leads to disruption of blood and lymph circulation in the extremities.
Another, no less rare cause is deep vein thrombosis. With deep vein thrombosis, the limbs become hot, and the patient experiences pain when palpated. In this case, you must consult a doctor.
There are also cardiac edemas. Cardiac edema begins in the legs and lower abdomen. If the patient is lying down, then such swelling can be located symmetrically at the lower back and sacrum. Cardiac edema develops over weeks and months, has an increased density, and leaves a hole when pressed.
Renal edema, on the contrary, is very fast and develops within even one night. First of all, this type of swelling appears on the face and under the eyes, the swelling is soft and loose, the skin in this area is pale.
Allergic edema. They occur as a result of an insect bite or contact with an allergen.
Patients after a stroke are characterized by the first type of edema associated with lack of movement in the limbs.
Treatment and prevention of swelling of the extremities after a stroke.
General rules for the treatment of edema include preventive measures, such as:
1. Limit the patient’s fluid intake in any form to 1 liter.
2. Limit the patient’s salt intake to 1-1.5 grams per day.
3. Control over the patient’s urine output. It should approximately correspond to the liquid being taken.
4. Take diuretics only as prescribed by a doctor, since you are dealing with a patient after a stroke, and taking a diuretic can cause the leaching of potassium from the body, which leads to heart rhythm disturbances and convulsions.
For a patient after a stroke, there are a number of rules that can help you prevent swelling of the limbs.
1.Change the position of the patient’s limbs more often.
2. Make sure that the patient’s limbs do not hang down.
3. When the patient is sitting, the hand should be placed on a support pillow in a bent state, palm down, fingers in an extended position.
4. In a sitting position, the patient’s back should rest firmly on a support or on the back of the seat.
5. In a sitting position, it is necessary to place a stool or stand under the patient’s feet. It is necessary to place something under the calves of the legs so that when sitting, the horizontal part of the leg has the largest area of support.
6. If possible, it is necessary to force the patient to move his limbs, and if this is not possible, do passive gymnastics with him .
7.Perform restorative massage and do restorative gymnastics.
The main measure to prevent edema is to move the patient's limbs. Give it your best effort and perseverance. Getting rid of edema will help your patient’s body get stronger and move on to recovery faster. Take care of yourself.
A stroke on the legs is a negligent attitude towards one’s own health. Even with a common cold, you need to postpone everything, stay in bed, drink a lot of warm liquids and take medications. Otherwise, there is a risk of serious complications and sad consequences. With a stroke, everything is much more serious.
Stroke is a severe disruption of the nutrition of brain tissue that develops due to pathological changes in the vessels of the head. Symptoms develop sharply within 24 hours. The main causes of stroke are a complication of hypertension or atherosclerotic changes in the vessels of the head. A stroke can be a consequence of stress, physical strain, or overwork. It can develop after a protracted infectious process. With massive hemorrhages, which are accompanied by pathological changes in the functioning of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, a fatal outcome is real. Is it possible to have a stroke on your legs?
Ischemic stroke
Does a stroke happen that goes unnoticed and is suffered without hospitalization or medical intervention? Why does a patient sometimes ignore such severe symptoms and try to continue normal activities?
A microstroke is characterized by a disruption of the blood supply to brain tissue due to a violation of the integrity of a small vessel.
The condition is characterized by a rapid course, the symptoms disappear on their own within a day. A person can ignore the situation by drinking analgesics. If you see a doctor, there is a chance for complete rehabilitation. The result of inaction is sad consequences.
Pathology is the scourge of the working population of large cities. Chronic stress, poor nutrition, emotional and physical stress make the disease a common cause of weakening of the body, even in young people.
Violation of facial expressions
If these symptoms go away after using medications or on their own within 24 hours, this is a mini-stroke. If the severity of the condition increases and the symptoms are persistent, then this is a full-fledged stroke.
The severity of the consequences for the body depends on a number of reasons:
Blockage of a blood vessel in the brain
Under favorable circumstances, a person may not feel the consequences of a mini-stroke. Sometimes changes take place. The person becomes whiny, irritable, aggressive, and may fall into hysterics or prolonged depression. Memory and control over emotions suffer. Such manifestations are not a consequence of a deteriorated character and capriciousness, but the result of the death of nervous tissue cells due to a lack of oxygen and nutritional components of the blood.
The danger of a stroke suffered on the legs lies in its complication - a major ischemic or hemorrhagic acute disorder of cerebral circulation.
Statistics say: in 60% of all cases, within 3 days after a pinpoint hemorrhage, a serious stroke develops, which causes a significant blow to health, including death. The consequences can be dire: the victim has to relearn how to speak and walk, and in some cases these functions are never restored. The sick person will not be able to care for himself and will be completely dependent on family and friends.
If there are symptoms of a mini-stroke, then you cannot ignore the condition and bear it on your feet. Full assistance from doctors is the key to minimizing the consequences. It is necessary to call an ambulance, agree to hospitalization and comply with all the requirements of medical workers.
The brain is the control center for all functions of the body, and disruption of the nutrition of the cells in this department can lead to an irreparable imbalance for the rest of life.
Treatment of a microstroke is carried out with the same medications as a classic one. If you call an ambulance, the victim will be offered hospitalization in the cardiology department of the hospital. The hospital will conduct an examination: they will do an ECG and X-ray, and take blood and urine for analysis. MRI allows you to diagnose a microstroke; during the examination, the doctor sees altered areas of brain tissue in the form of darkened areas.
A number of diseases - hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus - can provoke a mini-stroke, so they should not be neglected; all measures for treatment should be taken. Regular medical examination is a mandatory measure that allows you to identify and treat pathology in a timely manner. Even during a standard examination by doctors at the workplace, serious acute cerebrovascular accidents were diagnosed, and urgent hospitalization helped save the life and health of those examined.
Paying attention to your own health is the key to its safety. No work moments, desire to earn money and “urgent” matters are worth ignoring your poor health and suffering a mini-stroke as usual on your feet. Sharp pain in the back of the head, numbness of the limbs and face, speech impairment, nausea and vomiting are especially dangerous symptoms that require immediate medical attention. If a loved one experiences something similar, call an ambulance. A stroke suffered on the legs is an extremely dangerous phenomenon. A person is in demand as long as he is healthy and prosperous. It sounds cruel, but the plant man, immobilized, with slurred speech, quickly loses his social circle and workplace, despite all his past industrial achievements.
The cause of hypertension, high blood pressure and a number of other vascular diseases are cholesterol-clogged vessels, constant nervous strain, prolonged and deep experiences, repeated shocks, weakened immunity, heredity, night work, exposure to noise and even large amounts of table salt!
According to statistics, about 7 million annual deaths can be attributed to high blood pressure. But studies show that 67% of hypertensive patients do not even suspect that they are sick!
That is why we decided to publish an exclusive interview in which the secret of getting rid of cholesterol and bringing blood pressure back to normal is revealed. Read the article.
How to help family members recover from acute brain damage
A word from our expert: Doctor of Medical Sciences, employee of the Research Institute of Neurology of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Natalya Shakhparonova .
Relatives should know that after a stroke a patient often experiences an increase in muscle tone in the affected arm or leg. Muscle tightness leads to constant difficulty bending the joint.
How to fight. Pay close attention to your fingers and toes, as well as your forearms and thigh extensor muscles, especially on the “affected” side. If complications begin to develop, the muscles do not relax, the patient develops a pathological posture, which, according to an apt popular expression, when walking looks like this: “the hand asks, the leg squints.”
To prevent this from happening, in the first days and weeks after a stroke, the patient must be positioned so that the affected arm or leg is completely relaxed. Place him on his back so that the muscles that have become more toned after the stroke are stretched.
After maintaining this position for 1.5–2 hours, the patient is transferred to the healthy side for 30–50 minutes.
In the first days after illness, you need to do this as often as possible, as long as the patient and those caring for him have the patience. Ideally, breaks can be taken only during meals, night sleep, and medical procedures. In addition, it is necessary to perform special relaxation exercises for the sore arm or leg. It is also useful to apply heat to the paralyzed parts of the body (for example, heated paraffin) or simply take warm baths for 10–15 minutes.
Errors. Sometimes “knowledgeable” neighbors advise the patient to regularly squeeze a rubber ball or ring. Under no circumstances should you do this!
Pain after a stroke can be very minor: for example, pain when moving or pressing on the affected joint. But severe, burning pain may also occur, affecting half the body. This happens when the focus of brain damage is located in the area of the so-called visual thalamus, where sensory nerves converge. Such pain occurs suddenly, at times intensifies sharply and becomes unbearable. They can be caused by pressure on the affected parts of the body (sometimes even touching them), changes in weather, and negative emotions. In most patients, this type of pain occurs 3–4 months after the stroke. Sometimes they raise suspicions: whether a second stroke has occurred. The patient may also experience unpleasant sensations such as “freezing”, “crawling”, “tightening” of the skin. All this leads to a significant decrease in mood.
How to fight. If in the first days after a stroke the patient underwent a computed tomography of the brain, during which a lesion was discovered in the area of the visual thalamus, one can prepare in advance for future problems. If the pain is not severe, heat helps - paraffin or ozokerite applications, warm baths. Hormones are used that improve the nutrition of the affected tissues, as well as painkillers, physiotherapy - diadynamic currents.
If the doctor considers it necessary, based on the results of a computed tomography scan, he can prescribe not only analgesics that directly reduce pain, but also antidepressants.
3. Difficulties in verbal communication
The inability to talk becomes the main obstacle to returning to normal life. A person discharged from the hospital needs classes with a speech therapist-aphasiologist or neuropsychologist. The support of loved ones in this case is invaluable, given that speech therapy services are available only in some cities of the country. Having received the necessary consultation from a speech therapist or doctor, relatives should daily work with the patient to restore speech and related functions - reading and writing.
Errors. The process of speech restoration sometimes occurs more slowly than the restoration of movements, and can last a year or two. Relatives and friends of the patient need not to despair and remember that intelligence, as a rule, does not suffer with speech impairment. Therefore, the patient should not be treated as an unreasonable child. Even with severe speech impairments, stroke survivors retain not only the logic of thinking and an adequate reaction to the environment, but also their creative abilities. Thus, the famous composer Alfred Schnittke, suffering in the last years of his life from speech disorders as a result of strokes, continued to compose beautiful music.
1. Massage and medicinal treatment
Massage is necessary to reduce muscle tone. In order for it to be as useful as possible, it is better to entrust it to a specialist in the first month after discharge, and then relatives can, with his help, master the basic techniques and continue the procedure daily - after a stroke, regularity of exposure is important. In addition, it is recommended to take drugs that reduce muscle tone by reducing the intensity of nerve signals. The dosages of these drugs are strictly individual and should be selected by the attending physician.
2. Constant conversations with the patient
Relatives and friends of a person who has suffered a stroke should talk to him as much as possible. Even discussing ordinary everyday situations greatly contributes to the patient’s restoration of both understanding the speech of others and “speech to oneself.” If it seems that you were not understood, you need to repeat the question addressed to the patient, while speaking clearly, loudly and slowly.
It is useful to listen to the radio and watch TV shows together, incomprehensible parts of which need to be clarified at first. Even discussing household chores and small events in the presence of the patient (but only those that indirectly concern him and do not traumatize him) will contribute to the restoration of his speech.
In the presence of the patient, you cannot talk about his speech difficulties. On the contrary, it is necessary to record all his successes, the slightest improvements in his condition. How the patient will overcome his difficulties often directly depends on the tact and sensitivity of relatives.
There should be no “speech isolation” of the patient when he is left to his own devices. In this case, relatives should rely on those speech functions that the stroke survivor has preserved in whole or in part. If it’s understanding the speech of others, you need to speak more yourself; if it’s reading, you need to discuss what you read during the day. If the patient repeats words and phrases well, you need to focus on these activities. Be patient! Your efforts will not be in vain!
We all consider ourselves quite literate and knowledgeable about almost everything. We all understand that if an atherosclerotic plaque (another blood clot) clogs the vessels responsible for the blood supply to the heart, then a diagnosis may be made that will sound like a heart attack, but if the vessels supplying blood to the brain are clogged, then the pathological condition of a stroke will develop .
Closure of the lumen of a vessel by an atherosclerotic plaque in the lower extremities
However, today few people have heard that when clogged with atherosclerotic plaque, not only the blood vessels located in the head and heart can suffer.
Sometimes the vessels in our legs are susceptible to this problem. Unfortunately, we know little about this problem only because the disease is incredibly difficult to eliminate without complex surgical operations.
Actually, we want to talk about blockage of the vascular bed in the legs (or about the condition of a stroke in the legs, as it is often called popularly), and why, after the primary condition of a stroke, the legs may fail, we want to talk today in this article.
And all because not knowing about this disease or not paying any attention to it does not mean at all that you will not have this disease.
As we all remember from school biology courses, blood vessels in the human body are a closed system that inextricably connects the heart, upper and lower limbs and, of course, the brain.
Literally every cell of our body is in close contact with one or another blood vessels, and through the smallest capillaries our cells receive everything they need for life.
Human circulatory system
The importance of the human bloodstream lies primarily in the fact that literally every organ of ours, be it the brain, heart, arms or legs, needs timely blood supply to them through the vessels.
But, most of all (when compared with other organs of the human body), our brain, of course, needs blood fully saturated with oxygen, and with it various nutrients or microelements.
During a stroke, deprived of vital oxygen, brain cells gradually begin to starve, after which they can simply die within a fairly short period.
It must be said that certain diseases of our cardiovascular system, which, by the way, can subsequently lead to a diagnosis of brain stroke, are considered a real Sword of Damocles for modern humanity, especially for individuals reaching middle and old age.
And sometimes, these are diseases that primarily affect the vessels on our legs, and only then reach the vessels of the heart or brain.
And all because many people, suffering for a long time from vascular diseases in the legs, may not even be aware of it, since in the very early stages the clinical manifestations of the disease (or symptoms) of the disease may be practically absent or similar to the symptoms of other diseases.
Doctors are convinced that the development of a condition called cerebral stroke can often be preceded by certain vascular diseases in the legs, the symptoms of which are quite specific.
To begin with, I would like to say a few words about the manifestations of the disease, which is popularly called “leg stroke,” and which often precedes the diagnosis of brain stroke. When a particular patient has a blockage of the vessels of the lower extremities, the main symptoms of the disease appear:
In the so-called intermittent claudication. In addition, such patients often encounter the concept of edema in the lower extremities. Patients experience a feeling of coldness, and at times they may experience a feeling of numbness or weakness in the limbs. In addition, a stroke in the lower extremities in representatives of the stronger half of humanity can cause persistent impotence!
Of course, it is necessary to get rid of blockage of blood vessels in the legs, since without eliminating the causes of the disease (say, vascular atherosclerosis), without restoring blood flow in the extremities, over time one can learn not only that there is swelling and pain in the legs, but also what is a more formidable condition called brain stroke.
It hurts to stand on your feet
In the initial stages of lower extremity disease, until a person’s quality of life suffers too much, when the disease is nothing more than swelling, lameness and pain in the legs, it is important for a person to consult a doctor for advice and examinations.
Otherwise, after a long-term blockage of blood vessels in the lower extremities, the problem may take on completely different proportions. The most obvious signals associated with blockage of blood vessels in the legs that precede the diagnosis of cerebral stroke may include the following:
If after or during walks severe pain appears in the lower extremities. If the patient suffers from frequent cramps, severe fatigue or weakness of the legs. Swelling of the lower extremities that almost never seems to go away. The appearance of non-healing ulcers of the lower extremities. Subsequently, atrophy and necrosis of the limbs.
By the way, edema of the lower extremities can be characteristic not only of stroke pathology but also of heart failure and other congestive phenomena.
Naturally, if a brain stroke is preceded by a disease associated with damage to the blood vessels of the lower extremities, then even after suffering apoplexy, patients may experience swelling, numbness and paresis of the extremities. Sometimes, in this case, the paralyzed leg swells so much that it practically increases in size.
Some doctors may dismiss the problem with some skepticism, saying that this is rare and that, in most cases, after problems with the blood vessels of the legs (swelling and soreness), a brain stroke rarely occurs.
This is only half true, since such a development of the disease is really rare, but a brain stroke can still occur against the background of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities.
The optimal treatment option for blockage of blood vessels in the lower extremities is considered to be a high-precision endoscopic operation, which will quickly relieve swelling, pain and other manifestations of the disease. This technique may also be called minimally invasive or catheter-assisted surgery. Unfortunately, there is no other way to eliminate the blockage of blood vessels in the legs.
a stroke begins with pain in the legs
The blood vessels of our body are a closed system that inextricably connects the heart, limbs and brain. All cells of the body are in contact with blood vessels and through capillaries receive the substances necessary for life.
There are three types of vessels that provide blood movement in the body - arteries, veins and capillaries.
Arteries are strong, elastic vessels that carry blood away from the heart.
Veins, the vessels that return blood back to the heart, are less “active” and elastic than arteries. Veins have “valves” that open to allow blood to flow outward and close to prevent it from pooling in the legs due to gravity. Capillaries, thin as spider webs, penetrate all tissues of the body. They are so small that blood cells literally pass through them one after another.
But more than any other organ, our brain needs blood saturated with oxygen and nutrients. Deprived of oxygen, brain cells begin to starve and die within minutes.
Diseases of the vascular system are a real sword of Damocles for modern people, especially in middle and old age.
After all, many people, already suffering from vascular disease, do not even suspect it, because in the early stages the symptoms of the disease are practically absent or similar to the symptoms of any other disease.
A clear signal that it is time to get serious about treating blood vessels are some typical signs.
These may include pain in the legs when walking, cramps, tired or weak legs, leg ulcers that won't heal, temporary loss of vision, blurred vision, double vision, loss of coordination or balance, weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, high blood pressure, poor kidney function. . Swelling in the legs may indicate the presence of heart failure and stagnation of blood in the veins of the systemic circulation.
Complaints of fog, veil or flickering of “floaters” before the eyes, decreased dark adaptation, pressing pain behind the eyeball, a cloudy spot in the center of the visual field, sudden loss of vision for several seconds - all this may mean problems with the vessels of the fundus.
Doctors have conducted research into changes and damage to blood vessels in the eyes. Data have shown that people with retinal degeneration, in the absence of timely treatment of the vascular system, have a 70 percent chance of also having a stroke. It is possible to predict the likelihood of a stroke.
So-called “typical” headaches, emotional instability, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, involuntary eye movements can be the result of a decrease in the tone of the corresponding veins and impaired blood flow from the cranial cavity.
Since vascular diseases can simultaneously affect several systems of the body, their first signs can be detected by doctors of various specialties. Therefore, specialists from vascular centers interact with therapists, neurologists, surgeons, ophthalmologists, and cardiologists at city outpatient medical institutions.
The first step towards recovery can be your visit to any of the listed specialists at the district clinic. But sometimes vascular diseases may not be noticed even during the initial medical examination.
Only a detailed examination of the vessels of the body, the fundus of the eye, the brain, angiography, Doppler ultrasound and computed tomography help to confidently localize the disease.
If there is a suspicion of vascular problems, the next step should be to visit a specialized medical center, whose doctors will be able to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis and prescribe the most appropriate methods of drug or surgical treatment.
A specialized vascular center, compared to a district clinic, has a whole range of painless and reliable diagnostic techniques.
For complex diagnostics, methods such as angiography, ultrasound duplex scanning, computed tomography, renography and a number of others are used.
Depending on the stage of the vascular disease, the condition can be improved with surgery or medication. The initial stages respond well to drug treatment with modern medications.
In more complex cases, surgical intervention is inevitable. Vascular surgeons now have a whole range of appropriate techniques in their arsenal.
For trophic ulcers, this is ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, which helps to “seal” the main pathological venous discharges, and for giant trophic ulcers, skin grafting is used.
For varicose veins, valve surgery and ligation of deep veins are possible, as well as “sclerosing” of veins, in which a special substance is injected into the lumen of the vein, causing it to narrow.
In case of thrombophlebitis of large varicose nodes, it is possible to remove blood clots through punctures.
In elderly patients and seriously ill patients, when there is a threat of thromboembolism, a special trap, a vena cava filter, is installed, which does not allow thrombotic masses to enter the lungs.
To widen narrowed or blocked vessels, angioplasty can be used - a low-traumatic procedure in which a thin tube - a catheter - with an inflatable balloon is inserted into the narrowed area of the vessel. The balloon is then inflated, compacting the plaque on the vessel walls and dilating the vessel so that blood flow is restored. After this, the balloon is deflated and removed along with the catheter. The low-invasiveness of the procedure means that the stitches from the operation are almost invisible.
If the narrowing is extensive, bypass surgery is used, when a vessel from another part of the body or a synthetic one replaces the blocked area.
In case of pathological expansion of the vessel - aneurysm - the most technologically advanced method is prosthetics, when an artificial vascular prosthesis is installed through small incisions on the thigh under local anesthesia and, thus, this potentially fatal disease is completely cured. Aneurysm replacement can significantly expand the number of patients being operated on due to the low-traumatic nature of the technique.
Ultrasound tomography (expert class ultrasound) is a modern diagnostic method
For the patient it is safe and painless. For a doctor - highly informative and accessible
Our department performs all known types of ultrasound using high-resolution sensors on expert-class devices. Expert-level ultrasound is comparable in information content to computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, but has no contraindications.
The doctors of our department perform unique minimally invasive interventions under sonographic control - all types of therapeutic and diagnostic punctures (pathological formations of the mammary, thyroid glands, prostate, internal organs - liver, pancreas). Histological findings - from
leading morphologists of the city.
At the Center for Vascular Surgery, Clinical Hospital No. 122, vascular diseases are treated at the highest level, including various pathologies of the carotid arteries, trophic ulcers, aneurysms, atherosclerosis, and varicose veins of the lower extremities.
The technologies used in our Center allow us to minimize the length of stay in the hospital. However, the comfortable rooms are equipped with the latest technology. The standard room has two beds, the deluxe room has one bed. Each room has a TV, refrigerator, and bathroom with shower.
The menu and nutrition program are offered taking into account the patient’s condition and habits.
During the postoperative period, the doctor continues to monitor the patient’s well-being and prescribes therapeutic and restorative procedures. dressings. It is possible to visit the patient at home for examination and necessary procedures. Physiotherapy and drug therapy are used for postoperative rehabilitation of patients.
Various forms of payment are possible. This is cash payment, non-cash payment under a direct agreement with the enterprise and payment under the policy of a voluntary health insurance company.
In exceptional cases, within quotas, free patient care is possible. We have the opportunity to invite for consultation not only any specialist from Clinical Hospital No. 122, but also (in especially difficult cases) contact our foreign colleagues
We are, of course, literate people. And we already know a lot of things. We even understand medicine. If, for example, atherosclerosis clogs the vessels in the heart, it means a heart attack, and if in the head, it means a stroke. But few people know that atherosclerosis affects not only the vessels of the head and heart, but also the legs. And we haven’t heard much about this problem because few people can eliminate it without a complex surgical operation. Unfortunately, this is why doctors prefer to hush up atherosclerosis in the legs.
It is about blockage of blood vessels in the legs that we will talk today, because not knowing about the disease or not paying attention to it does not mean not having this disease, and, as they say in jurisprudence, ignorance does not relieve one from responsibility.
First, a few words about how this disease manifests itself. If a patient has blocked blood vessels in his legs, he develops so-called intermittent claudication . This is the main symptom. That is, a person walks down the street and after a certain number of steps is forced to stop because he suddenly has pain. In addition, the patient experiences a feeling of coldness, and sometimes there is a feeling of numbness in the legs.
And now to the attention of men! impotence in many representatives of the stronger sex . Therefore, be careful, gentlemen. If you have the above symptoms along with a sexual problem, be sure to discuss it with your doctor. It is possible that you do not need to restore reproductive functions, but to fight atherosclerosis.
It is imperative to get rid of strokes in your legs. If the cause is not eliminated and blood flow is not restored, then over time the person begins to “stumble” more and more often. And then something bad might happen.
At the initial stage of the disease, only the quality of life still suffers - it simply hurts for a person to walk. But it's not fatal. Problems, and very serious ones, arise at the final stage of the disease. Necrosis develops . that is, tissue necrosis. Trophic ulcers appear on the legs - surgeons call all this with the long-known word “ gangrene ”. And the outcome is at least the loss of limbs. Because if gangrene has already appeared, then only half of the patients can save their legs. But the first half can hardly be called lucky, because when all the vessels are already affected, it is impossible to let blood flow through them. As a result, after a year or two they still have to be amputated. From this it is not difficult to conclude that the fight against the disease must be started at the very beginning.
Some doctors, with a bit of skepticism, try to brush off the problem, saying that it’s rare, and there’s no point in racking your brains about it for a long time. It is not true. This disease occurs, in any case, no less frequently than atherosclerosis of the vessels of the head and heart. We just don’t make a true diagnosis.
The best option for dealing with a stroke in the legs is to undergo endoscopic surgery. This method is also known as minimally invasive or catheter surgery. With this method, the operation is done without an incision, just through small punctures in the body. A catheter is inserted into the vessel, it reaches the site of blockage and, using special technology, flattens the atherosclerotic plaque. If necessary, a special prosthesis is placed in this place, which does not allow the plaque to grow back. This method is so gentle that almost all patients can withstand it, even despite complications such as very old age and severe chronic diseases. The minimally invasive surgery can be done without general anesthesia. Therefore, it is applicable to almost any patient. Indeed, very few people are denied such an operation - according to statistics, approximately 5% of patients.
But! As I already said, many patients do not receive such qualified medical care. Firstly, the necessary tools for endoscopic medicine, with the help of which it would be possible to remove atherosclerotic plaque in the vessels and thereby restore blood circulation in the legs, appeared in Russian medicine only in the early 90s. Now, in principle, they exist in the country. But this is only in principle, they say, everything is there. In fact, new technologies are being introduced slowly and not everywhere in the same way. Minimally invasive or catheter-based surgery may not be found in every local hospital. Therefore, the districts act the old fashioned way - they perform an open operation, after which the damage to the body is much greater, and the wounds inflicted take much longer to heal.
Secondly, there are cases when, due to the very serious condition of the patient, it is risky for him to undergo open surgery. He may not be able to withstand general anesthesia. And for this reason, many hospitals also refuse such patients. In general, our hospitals do not like such operations and try not to deal with them.
In fact, it would be possible to do without surgical intervention. But for this, the patient must see a doctor on time, that is, at the initial stage of the disease, when it can be dealt with only with medication. Even if you still have to perform an operation, it is in the first stages of the disease that the surgeon does a minimum of manipulations. That is, the sooner you start treating a patient, the easier and cheaper it is. And this is precisely what is not happening.
People stumble when walking, suffer pain, but do not go to the doctor. We really love to treat ourselves. The first thought that comes to mind: if your legs hurt, it means salt deposits. Experts conducted a study and found that 80 percent of patients with atherosclerosis in the legs first go not to the doctor, but to the pharmacy for ointment. Patients come to specialists when their legs become completely paralyzed. Although, it would seem, what could be simpler? If you have atherosclerosis, why not go and check the blood vessels in your legs, without even waiting for intermittent claudication? But what if?
Since our doctors are silent about this disease, we will have to take our feet into our own hands.
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A stroke on the legs is a negligent attitude towards one’s own health. Even with a common cold, you need to postpone everything, stay in bed, drink a lot of warm liquids and take medications. Otherwise, there is a risk of serious complications and sad consequences. With a stroke, everything is much more serious.
Stroke is a severe disruption of the nutrition of brain tissue that develops due to pathological changes in the vessels of the head. Symptoms develop sharply within 24 hours. The main causes of stroke are a complication of hypertension or atherosclerotic changes in the vessels of the head. A stroke can be a consequence of stress, physical strain, or overwork. It can develop after a protracted infectious process. With massive hemorrhages, which are accompanied by pathological changes in the functioning of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, a fatal outcome is real. Is it possible to have a stroke on your legs?
The following types of strokes are distinguished:
Hemorrhagic. It causes hemorrhage in the brain tissue. The reason is a rupture of a vessel-artery against the background of increased pressure or weakness of the vascular wall. Symptoms develop rapidly: the face turns red, the head hurts unbearably, vomiting may begin, consciousness may become confused, and even limbs on one side of the body may be lost. Paralysis of the legs excludes the ability to move independently.
Ischemic stroke Ischemic - cerebral infarction. The risk group is elderly people with atherosclerotic processes in blood vessels. It develops as a result of blockage of the duct by a thrombus or a sharp narrowing of the wall of the vessel feeding the brain tissue. Symptoms of the condition: pain in the head, numbness of the limbs, severe dizziness, weakness to the point of fainting. A cerebral infarction may be accompanied by disturbances in speech, swallowing and a disorder of the visual analyzer. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rupture of an aneurysm of the vessels of the head. Manifestations: a feeling of a sharp blow to the occipital region, nausea to vomiting, motor agitation and a seizure state with confused consciousness.
When people talk about a stroke that was not diagnosed in time and was suffered on the legs, they mean a microstroke. This term is not medical, but it reveals the essence of the problem well.
The condition is characterized by a rapid course, the symptoms disappear on their own within a day. A person can ignore the situation by drinking analgesics. If you see a doctor, there is a chance for complete rehabilitation. The result of inaction is sad consequences.
Pathology is the scourge of the working population of large cities. Chronic stress, poor nutrition, emotional and physical stress make the disease a common cause of weakening of the body, even in young people.
loss of sensation in the muscles of the face; lack of control over facial expressions; weakness and numbness of the limbs, more pronounced on one side of the body;
Violation of facial expressions, loss of coordination of movements; difficulty walking; blurred vision - it is difficult to see an object with both eyes; a speech disorder in which conversation becomes slurred and monosyllabic; intolerance to bright colors and loud noises; attacks of nausea to vomiting; thermal manifestations: fever or chills.
If these symptoms go away after using medications or on their own within 24 hours, this is a mini-stroke. If the severity of the condition increases and the symptoms are persistent, then this is a full-fledged stroke.
localization of the vessel in which the rupture occurred; its caliber; the measures that have been taken; much depends on the general health and age of the patient. Blockage of a blood vessel in the brain
Rupture and blockage of even a small vessel in the head leads to disruption of the nutrition of nerve tissue cells. As a result, they die or are damaged, which leads to neurological problems. The severity of the subsequent condition depends on the location of the damage. If the blockage occurs in the department responsible for the movement of the leg, then the limb may become numb and paralyzed. If a rupture or blockage occurs in a vessel that is a continuation of the vessels of the spinal column, then double vision, general weakness and severe dizziness are observed.
The danger of a stroke suffered on the legs lies in its complication - a major ischemic or hemorrhagic acute disorder of cerebral circulation.
If there are symptoms of a mini-stroke, then you cannot ignore the condition and bear it on your feet. Full assistance from doctors is the key to minimizing the consequences. It is necessary to call an ambulance, agree to hospitalization and comply with all the requirements of medical workers.
The brain is the control center for all functions of the body, and disruption of the nutrition of the cells in this department can lead to an irreparable imbalance for the rest of life.
The treatment regimen usually includes the following drugs:
angioprotectors - substances that activate blood microcirculation in blood vessels and optimize metabolism; vasodilators; drugs against the formation of blood clots - antiplatelet agents; nootropics to restore brain cell activity.
refusal to drink alcohol and cigarettes; normalization of the daily routine; regular proper rest; physical activity; taking vitamins and dietary supplements; minimizing stress.
A number of diseases - hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus - can provoke a mini-stroke, so they should not be neglected; all measures for treatment should be taken. Regular medical examination is a mandatory measure that allows you to identify and treat pathology in a timely manner. Even during a standard examination by doctors at the workplace, serious acute cerebrovascular accidents were diagnosed, and urgent hospitalization helped save the life and health of those examined.
Paying attention to your own health is the key to its safety. No work moments, desire to earn money and “urgent” matters are worth ignoring your poor health and suffering a mini-stroke as usual on your feet. Sharp pain in the back of the head, numbness of the limbs and face, speech impairment, nausea and vomiting are especially dangerous symptoms that require immediate medical attention. If a loved one experiences something similar, call an ambulance. A stroke suffered on the legs is an extremely dangerous phenomenon. A person is in demand as long as he is healthy and prosperous. It sounds cruel, but the plant man, immobilized, with slurred speech, quickly loses his social circle and workplace, despite all his past industrial achievements.