The article is devoted to the treatment of edema that appears in people due to thrombosis and valgus changes in the foot. The reader will learn what to do at home to heal swollen feet, and how the doctor will help.
Thrombosis is a disease in which blood clots (thrombi) form in the vessels, leading to poor circulation, swelling, and pain. Thrombosis is considered the beginning of a disease called thrombophlebitis, when inflammation of blood vessels occurs. When the disease occurs, a blood clot can break off and clog blood vessels in different parts of the body, causing a serious complication - an embolism, leading to death.
Often the initial stage of thrombosis cannot be determined, however, at the location of the thrombus, the skin will change color and swelling will occur; these signs are considered symptoms of the disease. If you notice changes, it is recommended to consult a doctor, otherwise serious complications will develop.
The appearance of thrombosis is provoked by damage to the vessel wall, deterioration of blood flow, and increased blood clotting. Subsequently, a blood clot forms, closing the lumen of the blood vessel, complicating the process of blood circulation in the extremities. Due to impaired blood flow, swelling of the leg appears, which serves as the main symptom of thrombosis. Depending on the location of the blood clot, swelling occurs either in part of the leg (leg, thigh, foot) or in the entire limb. Swelling is accompanied by pain and heaviness of the leg.
Treatment for thrombosis is prescribed by a vascular surgeon immediately after diagnosis. The patient is prescribed medications that thin the blood, ointments, droppers, injections that improve blood circulation and relieve swelling. It is possible to use folk remedies at home, in consultation with your doctor. If conservative treatment does not help, surgical measures are used to remove the blood clot or install shunts and special filters that prevent clots from clogging the vessels.
How to relieve swelling in the legs at home before going to the doctor? There are a number of known ways to relieve swelling: the use of cool baths, herbal medicine with medicinal herbs - mint, chamomile, juniper, massage, special exercises - rotating the foot in different directions, wiggling the toes, lowering and raising the foot from heel to toe and back. Placing a pillow under your feet and wearing compression garments will help reduce swelling.
Diet is of great importance. Patients with thrombosis are recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits, greens, watermelons, pineapples, and melons are especially welcome. Garlic and artichoke are recommended as blood thinning foods.
You should remove heavily peppered and fried foods from your diet, limit legumes, fatty meats and fish. Limit, or better yet eliminate, alcohol and smoking from consumption. You should maintain a water-salt balance and limit your consumption of coffee from drinks. It is not recommended to eat raw milk, cream, cheeses with a high percentage of fat, and mayonnaise.
The diet is aimed at strengthening the walls of blood vessels; it is useful to eat foods rich in fiber and proteins.
Hallux valgus refers to growths on the big toe, called “bumps” or “bones.” The disease is common, women are more likely to get sick due to wearing high heels and shoes with tapered toes, and it can be caused by flat feet. The disease develops little by little, the foot becomes flat, the shape changes, the ligaments of the foot become less elastic, and swelling occurs. Foot deformation leads to deterioration of blood flow and the subsequent occurrence of arthrosis, thrombosis, lymphostasis and other diseases.
First, the disease is treated conservatively. To eliminate the deformation of the big toe, massage and orthopedic shoes are prescribed. At the beginning of the disease, special pads are offered for treatment to help return the finger to the correct position; devices are ineffective in the later stages of the disease. In advanced stages, surgery is prescribed. There are many ways to remove the “bone”; the purpose of the operation depends on the nature of the disease.
The magnetic hyperosteogeny patch will serve as a replacement for surgery to remove the bone. Herbal extracts widely used in Chinese medicine are applied to the surface of the patch using magnetic and infrared radiation. The patch helps reduce foot deformity, eliminate pain, and improve blood circulation. The patch contains extracts of thirty herbs. The product is unique, combining the latest advances in medicine and the experience of Chinese herbal treatment.
The effectiveness of the patch is noticeable after a week of use. Helps with hallux valgus, arthritis, arthrosis, joint pain, spurs on the legs. Extracts of medicinal herbs quickly reach the source of pain and eliminate it.
The use is simple. First you should wash your feet, you can take a bath with sea salt. Dry your feet with a towel, apply the patch, and do not remove for 1-2 days. Then the patch is removed and the limbs are washed.
To obtain the best effect, the patch is used together with massage, physiotherapy, and physical therapy exercises. However, due to the presence of an abundance of herbs in the composition, the hyperosteogeny patch is not recommended for use by allergy sufferers and pregnant women. The patch is applied only to healthy skin without damage.
Massage for hallux valgus is an effective way to eliminate pain, swelling, and discomfort in the legs. If the bone of the big toe hurts, do a massage. It is permissible to take a contrast foot bath before the session; it will quickly relax your legs. Massage technique:
This massage has almost no contraindications. Pregnant women, patients with varicose veins or thrombosis need to make massage movements softer and remember that a massage performed by a master is many times more effective.
Massage performed at home helps with hallux valgus, has beneficial properties, becomes restorative, relieves swelling, and improves blood circulation. If you do the procedure regularly, the body's resistance to viral diseases increases.
Varicose veins are always characterized by transformation of veins and changes in the functioning of the entire venous system. As a result of the dilation of the veins, blood flow in the venous system is disrupted, which leads to a slowdown in the flow of blood back to the heart. All this leads to serious consequences (trophic purulent ulcers, pulmonary embolism).
Therefore, the main reasons for the development of varicose veins of the lower extremities are considered to be incompetence of the venous valves and high venous pressure. The tone of the venous wall depends on the contraction of muscle fibers, and malfunction of the valves and constant pressure in the veins reduce their number. The lumen in the internal cavity increases, and the valve flaps shift. Constant excess blood volume puts pressure on the walls of the veins. Varicose veins begin to progress
On our portal we publish articles about the prevention of varicose veins. We will pay attention to the diagnosis of veins and describe the main methods of treating varicose veins. Also, you can ask a phlebologist a question. The doctor will tell you what measures need to be taken in the initial stages of the development of venous diseases.
Our editors will try to write articles about all existing diseases of the veins and blood vessels. They will analyze which drugs and tablets are the most effective. And of course they will not forget about folk remedies for treating veins.
Unfortunately, less attention is paid to the causes of occurrence, as well as measures to prevent varicose veins, as clearly evidenced by the ratio of cardiologists and phlebologists per capita in many developed countries, including Russia.
Every fourth man and every second woman suffer from varicose veins. Varicose disease, or varicose veins, is a very common phenomenon in itself.
About 70% of people around the world have the beginnings of this disease or even suffer from it in a very advanced stage throughout their lives. It is worth noting that 2/3 of this number are women; they are most prone to varicose veins, but the aesthetic side of the issue is also important for them.
And what kind of beauty can we talk about in the presence of varicose veins?
The causes of varicose veins can be very different; it has even been proven that it is often inherited. However, the most common reason is a person’s poor lifestyle.
The main reasons why varicose veins may appear:
This entire list contributes to a person developing this disease, so to prevent it, you should avoid the above points or at least reduce them to a minimum. Thus, pregnant women are advised to wear special underwear and knitwear during pregnancy, people with a sedentary lifestyle should move more or at least periodically stretch their legs, and those who care about their appearance should not overuse various beauty procedures.
Over time, the veins become more and more noticeable and begin to protrude from under the skin. At first, thin small areas of accumulation are noticeable, then the veins become wider. At this stage of the disease, the vessels still cope well with their direct responsibilities. The blood does not stagnate. Therefore, this stage of varicose veins in medicine is called the cosmetic stage of the disorder.
When varicose veins begin to progress, the legs begin to get tired very quickly, and heaviness and swelling begin to bother you. Cramps occur at night. Noticeable dilated veins appear on the legs. The process moves into the second stage. Moreover, a varicose vein does not hurt and does not cause pain to the touch.
If pain or swelling occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor. The complication of the disease is obvious.
As the disease progresses, the number of varicose veins increases each time. The veins stop fulfilling their tasks, namely carrying blood to the heart.
Brown spots appear on the skin and itching appears. The legs begin to get tired even earlier, and the veins swell so much that you can touch them. These symptoms indicate that you have the third stage of the disease.
Manifestation of varicose veins on the lower extremities
At the fourth stage, complications begin, which are expressed:
Our portal is a reference book about varicose veins of the lower extremities. We will collect a lot of information about this disease and share interesting articles with you. We will pay great attention to the prevention and treatment of varicose veins. We will tell you how to quickly identify the symptoms and causes of the disease. What diagnostic methods exist and how to treat the disease at home.
Medicine these days is reaching a new level and we are following advances in the field of phlebology. We will definitely write about new possibilities for treating varicose veins in new articles on the portal.
If symptoms indicating varicose veins are detected, treatment should begin with a visit to a phlebologist. When examining the affected limb, the doctor analyzes the general condition of the veins, and also determines the presence of swelling of the legs and changes in skin deformation. After collecting the patient’s medical history, they resort to additional methods for diagnosing blood vessels and veins.
The main method for diagnosing veins and blood vessels is ultrasound duplex scanning. The method allows you to assess the condition of the veins and analyze the movement of blood throughout the venous system. After the ultrasound, the doctor will learn about the strength of the reverse flow of blood.
During a comprehensive clinical examination of a patient with complaints of varicose veins, additional research methods may be included: Doppler ultrasound, plethysmography, radiopaque phlebography, radionuclide phlebography (radiophlebography), computed tomography (spiral computed tomography, CT venography), magnetic resonance imaging, intravascular ultrasonography, thermography.
The main goal of traditional treatment of varicose veins is to improve the general condition of the patient (elimination of pain, swelling of the limb, constant cramps). If varicose veins are detected, doctors try to remove or close the affected vein so that the blood bypasses the healthy veins.
Today, doctors use many methods for treating varicose veins of the lower extremities.
The main methods of treating varicose veins are:
In preventive methods, the use of compression therapy is aimed at preventing the occurrence of venous thrombosis. Compression is also used for complicated forms of varicose veins. For example, special compression bandages are used to treat trophic ulcers.
In modern medicine, elastic bandages have begun to be replaced with compression hosiery. Such underwear is presented in the form of stockings, golf, tights. Compression garments for varicose veins have their own classes, which differ in the degree of compression. Such therapeutic underwear is no different from ordinary knitwear. Wearing compression stockings every day is the key to healthy legs!
If the veins are of small diameter, use a liquid form of sclerosant. When treating varicose veins of large diameters, a foam form of sclerotherapy is used.
Sclerotherapy is very popular in the treatment of varicose veins, as it is a painless and quick method of influencing the affected vessels. After a sclerotherapy session, the patient continues to live an active life; hospitalization is not required.
The method is suitable for everyone, including patients with complicated forms of the disease. The only contraindications are an allergy to the drug and obstruction of the affected deep vein.
Laser treatment of varicose veins is very popular in Russia. A catheter is inserted into the vein, through which laser radiation is emitted. When heated, the venous wall is deformed and simply sticks together.
The popularity of laser treatment is due to the fast procedure, the absence of pain, and the absence of restrictions. The patient goes home the same day on his own feet.
Varicose Vein Removal
Surgical removal of varicose veins remains a common treatment for varicose veins. Every year such surgical operations become less and less traumatic. Some of them are already called procedures, since hospitalization is not required, and they are performed under local anesthesia.
The most popular surgical method for treating varicose veins is phlebectomy. Varicose veins are removed through small incisions. Depending on the complexity, both general and local anesthesia are used. After the procedure, small cosmetic stitches are applied.
In some cases, doctors use miniphlebectomy (removal of a vein through punctures) and cryostripping (removal of varicose veins using cold and a probe).
In phlebology, among the main methods of surgical intervention for the spread of varicose veins, there are: crossectomy and removal of the trunk of the small and large saphenous vein, ligation of incompetent perforating veins, removal of varicose tributaries of the saphenous veins, correction of the valve apparatus of the deep veins, thermal obliteration.
In advanced stages of varicose veins and when post-thrombotic disease is detected, they resort to shunt interventions and restore the patency of deep veins. Surgical treatment is performed on the saphenous and perforating veins.
It is better to coordinate the intake of medications with your doctor. The doctor will prescribe the required dosage and select the optimal treatment option that is right for you.
Pharmacotherapy eliminates the following symptoms: swelling, cramps, feeling of heaviness in the legs, fatigue, pain. Creams for varicose veins, in addition to relieving the symptoms of CVI, prevent the appearance of blood clots, eczema, and dermatitis.
Among phlebotropic drugs, the following are very popular: Detralex, Venarus, Antistax, Phlebodia 600. Among the gels and ointments, one can highlight Troxevasin, Varicobooster, Lyoton.
Swelling of the left or right leg, in most cases, is not a life-threatening condition.
However, this causes considerable discomfort to most people and, if treated incorrectly and untimely, can take a chronic form. There can be many reasons for the development of such a condition.
Edema of the lower extremities or any other parts of the human body occurs when a small amount of fluid penetrates into the intercellular space. This, in turn, occurs due to a number of reasons:
Minor swelling of one of the legs in medical language is called pastosity. The swelling is not visible visually, but can only be determined by the condition of the skin - it becomes loose to the touch and pale. Such swelling is not necessarily caused by the presence of some pathology in the body.
Most likely, a person simply abuses salty foods or drinks a large amount of water at night.
Due to this, fluid accumulates in the body and manifests itself in the form of swelling. More severe unilateral swelling of the legs occurs with vein thrombosis, fracture, as well as with diseases of the hip and knee joints.
In men, swelling of one of the legs can be caused by chronic venous insufficiency or when the veins are blocked by cholesterol plaques.
Despite this, if swelling of one of the legs occurs regularly, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor to identify the causes and provide timely medical assistance to the patient.
Women are much more likely than men to experience swelling in their legs. Discomfort occurs at any age and depends on many reasons:
Each of the above reasons requires attention and immediate treatment. Just like in men, the concentration of excess fluid can be caused by wearing uncomfortable shoes, as well as due to excessive fluid intake, especially before bed.
Very often, a pregnant woman complains of swelling of the left or right leg.
Discomfort occurs with excess weight, which adds stress to the spine and legs.
Normally, the weight of a pregnant woman should increase by 8–10 kg by 9 months of fetal development.
But systematic overeating sometimes leads to an increase in body weight by 15 - 20 kg. and, as a result, swelling appears. If swelling appears in the later stages, approximately in the third trimester, then this fact indicates the presence of late toxicosis.
With this rather dangerous phenomenon, a woman should immediately contact her doctor, as it poses a potential threat to both the woman herself and the unborn child.
Leg swelling after surgery is a fairly common phenomenon. However, if it does not go away for a long time and causes discomfort to a person, then it should not be ignored. If the situation develops favorably, postoperative swelling should go away in about 7-8 days; if it continues longer than this time and does not decrease, then some pathology is developing in the body.
To identify the causes, a sick person needs to undergo an ultrasound examination of the lower extremities. See a therapist or a more specialized specialist - a phlebologist. If there are problems with blood vessels , then this doctor will prescribe drugs that strengthen the walls of blood vessels and help thin the blood.
If everything is in order with a person’s blood vessels, then another cause of swelling in the leg after surgery may be stagnation of lymph or lymphatic edema. This disease is caused by stagnation of fluid containing large amounts of protein. In this case, the leg swells and a fairly sharp pain appears, which intensifies when stepping on the affected leg.
Treatment of edema directly depends on the cause of its occurrence. If this is normal fluid stagnation due to excessive consumption by a person, then attention should be paid to this - do not abuse carbonated drinks, and do not drink a lot of liquid at night.
Edema can be removed by using all kinds of diuretics that promote the natural removal of excess fluid from the body. At home, you can also massage the leg on which swelling has appeared. Doctors recommend taking warm baths with sea salt for your feet. After this, you need to lie down for 10–15 minutes with your legs raised up.
Traditional methods of treatment help very well in the treatment of edema of the lower extremities .
For example, a decoction from a collection of medicinal herbs. To prepare it, you need to take any aluminum container and put there in equal parts: birch buds, horsetail, flaxseed, knotweed, one tablespoon each.
All this must be poured with two glasses of hot water and mixed well. Then you need to put the container on low heat and bring to a boil, let it cool. The resulting decoction must be filtered and taken half a glass in the morning on an empty stomach.
This decoction is an excellent diuretic, and is also capable of toning and strengthening blood vessels.
In order to prevent swelling in the legs, you need to follow some simple rules and recommendations. Firstly, you should always choose comfortable shoes. Overweight women are not recommended to wear high-heeled shoes every day, as well as boots that squeeze the lower leg.
Secondly, it is necessary to control the consumption of salt in food and prevent fluid retention in the body. Before going to bed, you can drink no more than a few sips of water.
If the profession of a person suffering from swelling of the lower extremities involves staying in one position for a long time, for example, an accountant or a driver, then he needs to take breaks as often as possible, during which it is better to do a short warm-up for the legs to restore blood flow .
It should be remembered that if swelling of the legs occurs regularly and does not respond to home treatment methods, then the patient must urgently seek medical help as this symptom can be caused by diseases that can cause serious damage to health.
Swelling in venous diseases, in particular with thrombosis, is a sign of exacerbation of the pathology. The chronic course of thrombosis, which affects the deep veins, is characterized by mild symptoms. The same insufficiently expressed symptoms occur in another similar disease - thrombophlebitis, which affects the superficial venous vessels.
Often, the external manifestations of thrombosis are so insignificant that patients do not consult a doctor for help.
With iliofemoral thrombosis, pain is a direct consequence of increasing swelling in the leg. At first, the swelling of the lower limb is characterized by high density: the swelling is so dense that when you press the skin with a finger, no trace remains on it. The swelling gradually decreases as the subcutaneous tissue stretches with the help of transudate.
The skin remains smooth and tense, and when palpated over the bone formations, a depression remains for a long time. Depending on the scale of swelling, the perimeter of the affected leg increases compared to the healthy lower limb.
The uniformity of edema depends on how proximally the venous occlusion during thrombosis is located (the higher the proximality, the more uniform the edema). If thrombus formation begins in the distal veins and spreads proximally, the swelling becomes asymmetrical, extending from the foot and leg to the thigh.
In the case of high venous occlusion, swelling spreads not only throughout the entire leg, but can also cover the anterior abdominal wall, buttocks, and external genitalia. At the same time, the appearance of the swollen parts of the body undergoes corresponding changes, and the inguinal fold is smoothed out. The speed of spread of leg swelling and the degree of its severity largely depend on how quickly thrombotic occlusion develops.
The condition of venous collaterals is also of great importance: pathology occurs more easily if the venous outflow is well compensated. The course of the pathological process is much more difficult for the patient if there is a high proximal localization of thrombosis, as well as total occlusion of the main vein with the participation of the collateral network of vessels.
If the disease is mild, slight swelling of the lower limb develops in approximately 2-3 days. Due to the gradual increase in swelling, patients usually do not feel any swelling in their legs. Compared to a healthy leg, the swollen limb increases in circumference by about 2-4 centimeters.
In the case of moderate edema, the process develops much faster. Already after the first day, swelling reaches its maximum. It extends not only to the leg, but also to the gluteal region and external genitalia. A swollen leg can be 5-8 centimeters larger in volume than a healthy limb. After about three days, a decrease in swelling occurs - this occurs as a result of the formation of vein collaterals.
Note! Swelling does not develop as intensively if the lower limb is in an elevated position.
If thrombosis develops severely, swelling occurs extremely quickly: after a few hours the peak of the process occurs. In this case, the swelling does not subside no matter how the affected leg is positioned. The difference in the diameter of a healthy and diseased leg (where up to 2-3 liters of blood accumulates) can reach 10 centimeters or more. The process is accompanied by severe hypovolemia and develops over 5-8 days. Then the swelling decreases as soon as an extensive network of saphenous veins is formed in the areas of localization of occlusion.
In the case of bilateral edema with congestive heart failure, as well as in the presence of kidney disease, the process progresses slowly, and the pain syndrome is insignificant or absent. When it comes to pathology caused by acute ileofemoral vein thrombosis, pain is pronounced, and in addition, changes in skin color are observed.
Depending on the density, area and rate of development of edema, it is customary to separate venous occlusion from lymphostasis. The latter is caused by inflammation or cancer and is painless. If lymphostasis lasts long enough, lymphostatic dermatitis may develop with exfoliation of the skin, as well as increased pigmentation and lichenification of the skin.
Swelling is one of the symptoms of thrombosis. Therefore, it is not the swelling itself that is subject to treatment, but the entire disease as a whole. Therapeutic interventions can take place in both inpatient and outpatient settings. If we are talking about the initial stage of thrombosis, hospitalization is most likely not required. However, in cases where there is an extensive process that threatens significant consequences (for example, pulmonary embolism), treatment can only be carried out in a hospital setting.
The following methods can be used to treat the disease:
The specific treatment method is selected depending on the data obtained during the diagnostic examination of the patient. The general condition of the patient and the presence of concomitant diseases are of great importance in determining treatment tactics.
Treatment procedures require adherence to a certain regimen. As a rule, no serious restriction of movement is provided. However, in cases where the doctor considers that there is a high probability of a blood clot breaking off, bed rest is prescribed.
Compression therapy involves wearing special shapewear throughout the day. The degree of compression is determined by the doctor. Usually, after wearing it for two weeks, the patient is allowed to reduce the time they wear the knitwear to 12 hours a day.
Treatment with drugs includes the use of the following drug groups:
Dosages are determined by the doctor depending on the stage of the disease and the general condition of the patient.
In case of thrombosis, accompanied by edema of the lower extremities, it is necessary to consume a sufficient amount of foods that reduce blood viscosity and strengthen blood vessels:
The following foods should be avoided:
When treating swelling due to thrombosis, the following types of physiotherapy are used:
The duration of physiotherapeutic procedures depends on their type, but usually 10-15 sessions are prescribed, each of which lasts 10-15 minutes.
Note! Traditional medicine can also be used to eliminate swelling due to thrombosis. However, it should be remembered that folk remedies cannot act as the only method of treatment. Traditional medicine is only an auxiliary tool in complex treatment.
If the swelling is severe and the process develops quickly, surgery may be necessary.
The following methods for radically solving the problem are used:
If swelling develops against the background of a purulent form of the disease, removal of the vein will be necessary to avoid sepsis. It is important to prevent the development of circulatory gangrene, in which the only way out is amputation of the leg.
Laser coagulation can also be used as a surgical method, the essence of which is to eliminate pathological veins from the bloodstream system. To do this, the problematic veins are first soldered together and then gradually dissolved.
Swelling is a sign of an acute stage of thrombosis. If this symptom is detected, you should immediately consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities is dangerous due to the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE), which can cause death. DVT occurs as a complication after many diseases, but sometimes it develops in completely healthy people.
Postoperative thrombosis is the most common. The incidence of thrombosis in the world is inexorably growing, which is associated with an increase in the number of surgical interventions.
The disease is very common. According to various sources, from one to one hundred cases per 1000 people are recorded. The likelihood of thrombosis increases sharply after 40 years.
Blood clots form in the deep veins of the legs or pelvis . They are dense blood clots and often form in areas where blood flows slower: near venous valves, in the sinuses of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.
Parietal thrombi attach to the vascular wall and leave the lumen of the vein partially free, while clotting thrombi completely block it. Impaired blood flow often causes swelling or pain . The disease sometimes develops rapidly. Since the deep veins of the leg muscles flow into the inferior vena cava, when it breaks off, the blood clot first enters it, and then into the pulmonary circulation.
Among the causes are primary, associated with hereditary blood clotting disorders, and secondary, arising under the influence of external conditions.
For the first time, the process of thrombus formation was studied by R. Virchow, who identified several causes of this phenomenon: irritation of the vessel, coagulation disorders and blood flow disorders (Virchow’s triad).
The following risk groups for DVT and PE are distinguished:
Near ? In all cases, the disease occurs after fractures of the long tubular bones of the legs, major operations on the joints and peritoneum . Thrombosis threatens a person both in the early and late postoperative periods.
Main risk factors:
Hemostasis disorders that increase the likelihood of thrombosis are combined under the term thrombophilia. There are congenital genetic defects that determine the tendency to form thrombosis : Leiden mutation, deficiency of antithrombin III, proteins S and C. Thrombophilia can be suspected if thrombosis occurs at a young age.
Thrombosis is distinguished by etiology, place of formation and types of blood clots:
By origin, thrombosis can be stagnant (with varicose veins, external compression of blood vessels, internal obstructions to blood flow), inflammatory and associated with thrombophilia.
There are also occlusive, parietal and floating thrombosis . A floating thrombus is diagnosed in approximately 10% of cases. It is attached to the venous wall at only one end and seems to dangle in its lumen, so the likelihood of tearing off is very high.
The main danger is pulmonary embolism. Complete blockage causes instant death, partial blockage causes heart failure . As a cause of sudden death, pulmonary embolism ranks third after coronary artery disease and stroke.
After thrombosis of the proximal veins, chronic venous insufficiency often develops. Venous pressure increases when moving, valves do not work well. Venous stagnation is manifested by trophic disorders : hyperpigmentation, dermatitis, induration, and in severe cases, trophic ulcers. Venous insufficiency can be suspected by swelling of the legs, depending on the position of the body.
More than half of patients develop postthrombotic disease. Almost a third of such patients become disabled .
Find out more about the disease from the video:
Sudden pain in the leg, worsening when standing or walking, is the most characteristic symptom. Soon soft tissue swelling, heaviness and distension develop, and the temperature may rise. The skin in the area of edema is bluish and shiny. After a few days, a network of superficial veins appears.
Blood clots in the calf and deep main veins sometimes do not manifest themselves. Disturbances in blood flow are partially compensated by other veins. You should pay attention to slight swelling of the ankle and pain in the calf muscle .
These photos depict the symptoms of dangerous advanced stages of thrombosis, when urgent medical intervention is required:
Severe swelling of the leg due to deep vein thrombosis.
The main diagnostic method is ultrasound duplex scanning , which determines how narrowed the lumen of the vein is, the size and mobility of the blood clot. Laboratory thrombosis is confirmed by a blood test for D-dimer.
X-ray contrast venography is performed to clarify the diagnosis, as well as for blood clots above the inguinal fold. In difficult cases, magnetic resonance venography is performed.
Patients are treated as inpatients . Bed rest with the affected leg elevated and anticoagulants are prescribed. Thrombolytic therapy is indicated at the very beginning. Drugs for dissolving blood clots have serious side effects (bleeding) and are prescribed according to strict indications.
When diagnosing a floating thrombus, a vena cava filter is placed in the vein to prevent it from moving upward. In severe cases with a risk of gangrene, a thrombectomy is performed - mechanical removal of a blood clot.
Compression hosiery is used . After discharge, patients are recommended to undergo lifelong therapy.
For more information about the treatment of the disease, watch the video:
Depends on the type and position of the blood clot. Occlusive thrombosis is not dangerous, since the thrombus is tightly attached and completely blocks the blood flow. A parietal thrombus is also not dangerous, but it can continue to grow and become floating. The probability of a floating thrombus breaking off is very high.
Proximal vein thrombosis in approximately half of cases is accompanied by pulmonary embolism, often asymptomatic . After a few months, in most patients, venous blood flow is restored, but weakness of the valve apparatus develops.
Within several years after the disease, more than half of patients develop postthrombotic syndrome , and in the absence or ineffectiveness of treatment, asymptomatic PE. Chronic venous insufficiency worsens the quality of life and leads to disability.
The following preventive measures are applied:
When sitting for a long time, you should use footrests so as not to compress the veins.
Acute DVT of the lower extremities poses a serious threat to life. If symptoms of the disease appear (sharp, sudden pain in the leg, swelling, bluish skin color), it is important to start treatment as soon as possible. Timely treatment in a hospital prevents the development of pulmonary embolism . Along with medications, an effective way to prevent the disease is an active lifestyle and exercise.
Edema resulting from stagnation of fluid in tissues is characterized by unpleasant and even painful symptoms. The location of the affected area can be clearly expressed, for example, the right leg swells.
Edema resulting from stagnation of fluid in tissues is characterized by unpleasant and even painful symptoms. The location of the affected area can be clearly expressed, for example, the right leg swells. And in some cases, pathologies are manifested by swelling of the entire body. The reasons can be very different, despite the same symptoms.
Varicose veins are characterized by pathological overstretching of the veins, as a result of which blood stagnation forms in them. Varicose veins in the lower extremities, particularly in the ankle area, are one of the most common. The reasons are explained by anatomical features: the walls of the veins consist of connective tissue. In patients predisposed to varicose veins, they quickly become deformed and stretched. The disease develops due to excess weight, a passive lifestyle, and consumption of water and salt in large quantities.
Varicose veins of the legs have the following stages:
Varicose veins can be prevented by physical exercise and massage. When lying down, your legs should be elevated. Foot baths with cold water reduce swelling. The complex of these measures ensures the outflow of fluid from the tissues and reduces the load on the venous vessels.
The basis of the pathological process is the occurrence of a blood clot in a vein and subsequent inflammation of the membrane. The course of the disease is characterized by severe swelling of the legs and a whole complex of unpleasant symptoms - the legs go numb, the patient feels tingling, tingling, and experiences severe pain. Thrombophlebitis leads to increased body temperature and general poor health. A phlebologist treats swelling of the legs. For thrombophlebitis, antibiotics are often prescribed. Surgeries are performed for medical reasons.
This disease manifests itself as a result of a malfunction of the immune system, when blood penetrates into the soft tissues. Lymph disinfects and filters the blood and it flows back into the vessels. Unabsorbed fluid causes swelling. The outflow of lymph is disrupted and fluid accumulates in the legs.
Treatment of leg swelling with this disease is a complex process, since lymphedema is practically incurable. All treatment methods provide only short-term relief. At the last stage, lymphedema causes such extensive swelling of the legs that elephantiasis or elephantiasis occurs - severe thickening of the lower extremities.
Myxedema is a disruption of the endocrine apparatus associated with the activity of the thyroid gland. Manifests itself in the form of mucous edema. With myxedema, changes in facial features and enlargement of the tongue are observed. With pretibial myxedema, the anterior surface of the lower leg is affected, which swells greatly. You can have hypothyroidism from birth if you have a genetic predisposition. There are other reasons. It can also occur as an acquired form of the disease. Treatment is prescribed by an endocrinologist.
Erysipelas is caused by streptococcus. The lower extremities are most often affected. Along with swelling of the legs, a person experiences pain. The dislocation site is accompanied by the appearance of spots of a warmer red color with clearly defined boundaries. The patient’s general condition changes, which is expressed in a deterioration in health and an increase in temperature.
Erysipelas is treated with antibacterial drugs. If the patient is not provided with the necessary therapeutic procedures, then improper treatment can lead to serious complications.
Osteomyelitis is an infectious and inflammatory process in bone tissue. Depending on the location, one of the two limbs swells, in particular in the ankle area. With osteomyelitis, severe pain and impaired coordination of movements are observed. Body temperature is high, a sharp deterioration in health is possible. It is important to start treatment immediately.
Inflammatory processes in the soft tissues of the extremities are a consequence of purulent-inflammatory diseases. When a boil, carbuncle, or phlegmon develops, antibiotic therapy or surgery is used. The surgeon examines the patient, finds out the causes and eliminates this pathology using one method or another.
Infectious arthritis severely affects the joint through the internal environment of the body or when injured, pathogenic bacteria are introduced. The skin turns red and swelling appears. There is a noticeable deterioration in health and high fever. Treatment consists of taking antibiotics.
So, leg swelling can be a signal of a serious illness, so you shouldn’t look for the reasons on your own and put off going to the doctor. Timely treatment is the key to victory over the disease.
28 Jan 2015, 14:46 | Author: admin
Leg edema is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the ankles, feet, and legs. This may be a temporary condition or a chronic problem associated with a serious medical condition. Swelling is usually observed in the legs and ankles; due to the influence of gravity, swelling is especially noticeable in these areas. Swelling of the legs is a fairly common occurrence, especially in women. But many consider this only a cosmetic problem that occurs due to the consumption of large amounts of liquid. Meanwhile, there are many causes of leg swelling and not all of them are harmless.
The most basic causes of leg swelling are tired legs, heat, a consequence of the bad habit of crossing your legs, and pregnancy. More serious ones are flat feet, lymph congestion, varicose veins and incipient kidney problems. Finally, if it is mainly the ankles that swell, this is a reason to conduct a serious medical study, since they may be the first alarming symptom of such a serious disease as heart failure. Most often, such edema occurs in elderly people who suffer from chronic cardiac diseases. For young people, problems with blood vessels become more common causes of leg swelling.
You can suspect varicose veins if there is a similar heredity in the family, visible dilated capillaries or veins in the legs, or if swelling is accompanied by heaviness in the legs. In any case, instead of diagnosing yourself and looking for the cause of edema, it is better to consult a doctor. And even better, see several – a therapist, phlebologist, cardiologist. If the cause of edema is orthopedic, then in this case the correct selection of shoes is very important. You should not choose either high-heeled or no-heeled shoes. It is best if these are comfortable shoes with a small heel, and they should be wide enough so that the toes are in a natural position.
A great help in solving the problem of varicose veins and the accompanying edema can be the daily use of therapeutic compression tights or golf, which help the vessels to be in good shape, preventing blood stagnation and promoting its better outflow. They are made in such a way that the strongest compression is on the bottom of the legs, and the weakest on the upper part, which promotes natural blood circulation. Manufacturers give preference to tights and knee socks, since wearing stockings with varicose veins is contraindicated, as they tighten the thighs and, consequently, the vessels of the legs, thereby creating an additional problem for the circulatory system.
Diagnosis by symptoms
Select the symptoms that concern you and get a list of possible diseases
In order to remove excess fluid from the body, you can use decoctions of medicinal plants. A very effective remedy for swelling of the legs and kidneys is an infusion of elderberry bark and berries. If you already have varicose veins on your legs, you can apply steamed elderberry leaves to them. Also a good diuretic are decoctions of birch leaves and buds, linden flowers, and horsetail extract. Tired and swollen feet can be helped by wiping them with ice cubes or taking a foot bath. Soak your feet in cold water for 5-10 minutes, then use light pinches to massage the swollen areas from bottom to top. You can add sea or table salt to cold water at the rate of 2 tbsp. spoons per 1 liter of water, or several tablespoons of pine extract. Place your feet in a healing bath for 15-20 minutes - swelling will disappear, and fatigue will immediately go away!
Garlic can be used to relieve swelling of the legs. Chop the head of garlic and pour a glass of boiling water. Rub the cooled mixture onto the swollen areas, and after 30 minutes, rinse with cool water. It is very important, if you have varicose veins, to avoid taking hot baths or hot showers. This water dilates blood vessels and promotes blood stagnation. The use of special ointments—troxevasin, heparin ointment, essaven gel, lyoton, etc.—is very helpful in the fight against swelling of the legs. The rutin and heparin they contain strengthen the capillary system.
Correctly chosen shoes for long-term wearing will help reduce swelling of the feet. High heels or completely flat soles will cause swelling to appear constantly. Not tight, comfortable, with a medium heel - these are the ideal shoes for everyday wear.
If swelling appears on the back of both legs, but there is still slight itching, then the kidneys will have to be examined first. Look in the mirror. Will you see dark circles under your eyes? If yes, then most likely the preliminary diagnosis regarding a disease of the renal system will be correct. If you recently had to suffer from a respiratory illness, then get ready for leg swelling to plague you for some time. The fact is that complications that appear after the body is damaged by any infection also affect the kidneys, which immediately manifests itself in the shape of the legs.
For ordinary fatigue and spending a long time on your feet, folk remedies can help relieve swelling of the legs. A decoction of flax seed will be beneficial. The seeds are poured with boiling water and boiled for about twenty minutes, after which the broth is infused and cooled for an hour. To make the taste of the decoction more pleasant, you can add a few drops of lemon or any other fresh fruit juice. It is recommended to drink hot, half a glass at least six times a day.
Treatment of leg swelling should begin with identifying the causes that caused it, and then taking measures to eliminate them. Only a qualified specialist can help you with this. On your own, you can reduce excessive consumption of water and salt, which contributes to fluid retention in the body. If there are no contraindications, then the doctor may recommend folk remedies: herbal teas, which include lingonberry, lemon, jasmine, cranberry, mint. In addition, you should eliminate the use of high-heeled shoes and often place your feet above the level of your heart. It must be remembered that diuretics, including folk remedies, are taken only as prescribed and under the supervision of a physician, since their use can lead to potassium deficiency in the body, which can cause disruption of the cardiovascular system.
A variety of folk remedies for treating swelling of the legs involve taking baths and rubbing, and not just oral administration. For example, baths to which sea salt is added are considered beneficial. The water temperature should be no higher than thirty-five degrees. You can use rock salt instead of sea salt. It also needs to be dissolved in water, hold your feet in it, and then moisten a towel in the remaining water and wrap it around your shins and calves. A towel can be moistened with the same solution, but warm, in order to apply it to the lower back. At the same time, abundant urination begins, swelling quickly disappears. You can add decoctions of chamomile, clover, and aromatic rush to the bath. These herbs relieve swelling well and soothe the skin at the same time.
Fig decoctions are popular as folk remedies for treating edema. Its fleshy, juicy fruits are boiled in water, soda and Dubrovnik are added. It is recommended to take the resulting product one spoon three to four times a day. Peppermint and lemon balm teas are beneficial as they are good relaxing drinks, useful at the end of a busy day at work. Mint helps relieve swelling and improve blood circulation.
Folk remedies in the form of decoctions of Kalanchoe are suitable for rubbing. The leaves of this plant need to be filled into a half-liter jar. Fill with vodka to the top, leave to infuse for two weeks in a dark place. Then the finished product can be used to rub your feet.
It is useful to make compresses for the legs for swelling. For example, from birch leaves. You will need to sew small bags that will correspond in size to the size of the leg area up to the knee level. You need to fill them with birch leaves and insert the legs into the bags. The leaves should cover the surface of the legs in a sufficiently thick layer, no less than the size of a finger. During this procedure, very profuse sweating will begin; the compress should be kept for at least five hours. During this time, but not earlier than four hours, you will need to replace the leaves that have become wet from sweat. You don't need to make a lot of substitutions. It is enough to change the compresses a couple of times for the swelling of the legs to go away. It is useful to make compresses using folk remedies such as chamomile decoction. Cotton cloth is moistened with it, and the legs are wrapped with it up to the level of the knees.
You can prepare folk remedies at home in the form of creams and lotions. For example, you can boil crushed nettle roots in vegetable oil. Then cool the broth and insist. You can lubricate your feet with it when there is swelling, preferably at night, rubbing the oil vigorously until completely absorbed.
It is recommended to drink a decoction of parsley in case of severe swelling. It is recommended to first chop the greens very finely, then pour boiling water over them. Leave for fifteen minutes before use. If you add chamomile and dill to the decoction, you can use it as a lotion for swollen legs.
It is useful to drink dry wine mixed with honey during swelling of the legs. There should be twice as much wine as honey. This recipe is also useful for obesity, for those who want to lose excess weight. When treating edema, the drug is taken at a dose of fifty grams, three to four times a day. It is advisable to use the product before meals.
If your legs are swollen, contrary to all beliefs, it is not recommended to drink drugs that help speed up urination. When the fluid is washed out too much, it is removed from the vessels, and not at all from the tissues to which we are trying to direct the action of the therapeutic agents. Therefore, such treatment is fraught with the formation of blood clots in the blood vessels.
Remember, the listed remedies are intended only to help relieve swelling. If diseases are present, they will not be cured using these folk methods. If there are no positive results in the treatment of edema, you should stop experiencing the effects of nature and consult a doctor to find out the true cause of the disease.
The appearance of edema during pregnancy occurs as a result of the fact that the fluid needs of a pregnant woman’s body constantly increase. In addition, sodium accumulates in blood vessels and other tissues of the body, which contributes to water retention in the body. Swelling in your feet is common during pregnancy, and the first sign of swelling in your feet may be a sock mark on your ankle. Most often, swelling of the legs during pregnancy occurs in the third trimester and does not pose a serious danger. However, they may be a sign of late toxicosis, which is dangerous for both the fetus and the woman. Therefore, if swelling of the legs occurs during pregnancy, you should consult a doctor. If, in addition to your legs, your arms, face, stomach and lower back swell, you should consult a doctor immediately.
Treatment of swelling of the legs during pregnancy begins with the normalization of sleep and rest patterns, as well as the use of diet. In addition, it is necessary to monitor weight gain and monitor the amount of fluid consumed and excreted. Much depends on the results of the tests performed. If protein is detected in the urine, especially against the background of shortness of breath and high blood pressure, then the woman is recommended to undergo inpatient treatment aimed at eliminating the cause of swelling of the legs, improving the functioning of the heart and kidneys, as well as uteroplacental blood flow. Drug treatment of swelling of the legs during pregnancy is necessary when they are accompanied by dysfunction of the liver, kidneys or heart, since diuretic drugs during pregnancy can only be used in exceptional cases due to the large number of contraindications, possible side effects and toxic effects on the fetus. Treatment of leg swelling during pregnancy should only be prescribed by a doctor based on the results of examination and tests.
Question: Hello. I am 32 years old, I have not given birth. I have problems with swelling of my legs, especially in the summer. Last year the swelling was only in the area of the feet, but this year the legs are swelling even in the thighs. Shoes and trousers begin to seem tight as early as midday. Please tell me what tests need to be taken first. The heart seems to be normal, I did a sonography of the heart and an ECG, then I looked at the vascular, and said it was not blood vessels. I do not know what to do.
Answer: Hello. You need to do lymphoscintigraphy of the lower extremities, visit a lymphologist, phlebologist and endocrinologist.
Question: How to relieve swelling of the legs with varicose veins?
Answer: To relieve swelling of the legs due to varicose veins, you can use various methods, including: drugs that contain venotonic components, for example, Venoton, Asklezan A, wearing special stockings recommended for varicose veins. In any case, if you have varicose veins, your phlebologist will be able to prescribe adequate treatment for you.
Question: I am 26 weeks pregnant, a week ago my heels started to really hurt and my legs were very swollen, the reasons are not clear to me. Please tell me what should I do? What means should I use?
Answer: You need to consult with a gynecologist and nephrologist; it is necessary to exclude kidney damage and the development of edema as a result of this pathology, as well as gestosis in pregnant women. Only after a personal examination and examination will the doctor make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.
Question: A child—a 15-year-old girl—anorexic (consciously decided to lose weight). I lost 15-20 kg within 2 months. After half a year, my legs began to swell. He doesn't complain about anything. Tests are normal (blood, urine). Now I have started to eat normally (limitation only in fatty foods). I began to gradually gain weight. But the swelling does not go away. She was sent to the hospital, but categorically refused to go for examination. What to do?
Answer: Such a sharp weight loss could not but affect the functioning of all organs. In such a situation, menstrual function could also be disrupted. Be sure to persuade her to undergo a full examination. As far as I understand, you only did a general blood test. She needs to do a proteinogram, look at the level of total protein and its fractions, because with a lack of protein there can be edema. Be sure to check your heart; if the heart is not functioning properly, there may be swelling, especially in the lower extremities. Perhaps these are manifestations of thrombophlebitis of the deep veins of the extremities. There may be many versions, but only after a detailed examination can a correct diagnosis be made and effective treatment prescribed.
Question: Hello, my problem is that in the hot season (especially), in the evening my feet swell and hurt a lot, I can’t wear shoes with high insteps. I examined my kidneys and took tests - no problems. If this is a problem with blood vessels, please tell me what tests to conduct and what medications to take? Thank you.
Answer: Hello! Edema can be caused not only by kidney diseases. Your problems may be related to heart and vascular diseases. You need to undergo an examination, including an ECG, an echocardiogram to identify heart pathology, as well as a vascular ultrasound in the legs to identify diseases of the veins and arteries of the lower extremities. To do this, you should contact a therapist, cardiologist and vascular surgeon. Treatment can be prescribed only after diagnostic measures have been carried out and a diagnosis has been determined.
Question: By the afternoon or at the end of the working day, my legs swell. The calves become larger and firmer, the feet and toes are also swollen. I’m only 23 years old, I’m scared, what if I have varicose veins? There is a predisposition.
Answer: Swelling of the legs can occur due to insufficiency of the venous valves, at the beginning of a disease such as varicose veins. Swelling can also occur when staying in the same position for a long time. If you have regular swelling of your legs, I recommend that you visit a phlebologist to determine the cause of this symptom. The doctor will prescribe additional tests that will help determine the cause of swelling of the legs. If you are predisposed to varicose veins, you can take a number of measures on your own. You need to move more, walking up the stairs, swimming, frequent changes of body position help, increase the consumption of vegetable fats instead of animal fats, stop smoking if you abuse it. In addition, pay attention to the functioning of the intestines, since constipation is one of the factors influencing the development of varicose veins. When sitting, do not cross your legs, as this will obstruct blood flow. In the evening, try to rest with your limbs in an elevated position.
Posted in Varicose veins
With edema, excess fluid accumulates in the tissues; this can be caused by a number of reasons. So, edema can be general, for example, with heart or vascular diseases, with kidney disease, excessive fluid or salt intake. It can also be local, for example, with thrombophlebitis. Let's find out why your feet swell. This will allow you to choose methods of treatment.
11. Fatigue. At the end of the working day, even healthy people who are forced to be on their feet all day experience swelling. At the same time, doctors believe that this is a completely normal phenomenon, since the pressure in the capillaries of the legs increases during the day. Such problems can be solved by using special gels and baths. You can simply sit and watch your favorite movie while keeping your legs elevated.
Baths and compresses at home
1. Pour a liter of boiling water into a glass of chopped birch leaves. This decoction, along with a spoon of salt, is diluted in a bowl of water. You can make compresses from the broth five times a day, this will reduce swelling very quickly. A decoction of birch leaves will also be useful if taken orally.
2. Take a handful of hawthorn, rose hips, viburnum, blueberry, birch, plantain, calendula and linden flowers and crush them. Then two tablespoons of this mixture should be poured with boiling water and left overnight in a thermos. Take three glasses four times a day for two months.
3. Tie cabbage leaves to your feet.
4. It would seem that carrot tops, which no one needs, can help with swelling. It also needs to be brewed, taken orally and added to baths, after drying and crushing. At the rate of a glass of boiling water per tablespoon of chopped tops.
Don’t forget about gymnastics: stand up and shift your body weight from heel to toe and back, walk on your toes for a couple of minutes, squeeze and spread your toes, rotate your feet, lift objects from the floor with your bare feet.
And finally, another good method: to overcome swelling of the legs or swelling of the feet, you need to irritate the “Ashi Sanri” point .