1.What are some symptoms of varicose veins in lower limbs?
(1) Some patients have no obvious discomfort. The veins in the legs only appear to be protruding, dilated or bent in the shape of earthworms, which looks like visible “veins on the legs”, and sometimes these veins may twist into a ball.
(2) Some patients may also feel soreness and heaviness in the legs, easily fatigued and weak, and sometimes have cramps in the calf muscles; the symptoms are worse after standing for a long time or in the afternoon, but can be significantly reduced when lying down, elevating the lower limbs or wearing elastic stockings.
(3) In some women, the symptoms may worsen before menstruation, and may be significantly worse during pregnancy.
(4) When the symptoms are more serious, there will be changes in the skin of the lower leg or ankle, the skin color will deepen, accompanied by itching, flaking, eczema or ulcer formation, and sometimes the veins will rupture and bleed or form thrombophlebitis.
2.Who are easy to get varicose veins of lower limbs?
The common people who are prone to get varicose veins in the lower extremities are
(1) A family history of varicose veins.
(2) Long-term standing workers.
(3) Heavy manual laborers.
(4) People with chronic cough and habitual constipation.
(5) Pregnant women in late pregnancy.
3.Is it necessary to treat varicose veins of lower limbs?
It needs to be treated on a case-by-case basis.
Varicose veins are only a symptom, and there are many diseases that may cause varicose veins in the lower extremities, not all of which need to be treated. Treatment mainly consists of conservative treatment and surgery.
Usually, surgery is required for the following conditions.
(1) Varicose veins seriously affect the aesthetics, especially for lesbians.
(2) Significant color change, repeated non-healing ulcers or skin eczema around the lower legs and ankles.
(3) Those who have varicose veins that rupture and bleed or have complications such as thrombophlebitis.
The clinician will decide the specific treatment plan according to the patient’s specific situation and, at the same time, the patient’s own wishes.
4.What are the treatment methods for varicose veins?
(1) Conservative treatment: For patients with milder varicose veins, women during pregnancy, those who are too old or have systemic conditions that make them difficult to tolerate surgery, conservative treatment may include avoiding prolonged standing, intermittent elevation of the affected limb, wearing elastic stockings or wrapping with elastic bandages, and using oral medications to relieve symptoms.
(2) Sclerotherapy: It means that the local injection of sclerosing agent causes the inflammatory reaction in the diseased vein, so as to “eliminate” the varicose vein. The effect of sclerotherapy is better in milder varicose veins. Sclerotherapy is simple, does not require hospitalization, and is easily accepted by patients, but it is not suitable for everyone.
(3) Surgical treatment: Surgical treatment can be divided into traditional surgical treatment (such as high saphenous vein ligation and stripping) and minimally invasive treatment. Traditional surgery is slow to recover and has more wounds, and is being replaced by minimally invasive treatment. There are many kinds of minimally invasive treatments, such as endovascular laser treatment, electrocoagulation, radiofrequency treatment, etc. Minimally invasive treatment is characterized by fast recovery and less scarring, and is suitable for patients with low tolerance, poor physical condition and those who require aesthetic appearance. Usually, any surgical treatment needs to be performed in hospital.
5.Can varicose veins be prevented or treated by varicose veins stockings (compression stockings)?
Varicose veins stockings (compression stockings) can relieve symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease, but they cannot cure varicose veins. Since each person has a different condition and different leg thickness, the compression needed for the compression stockings is different. You need to measure the size of your legs before deciding which one to buy. It is advisable to consult with a vascular surgeon before purchasing and pick the right compression size socks based on professional advice.