People of the stronger sex suffer from varicose veins at least as much as women, because the deformation of the veins can occur anywhere. However, the appearance of a deviation in men is usually associated with severe physical exertion, obesity and pathologies of the internal organs. If you find a problem, men should not have a particular difficulty in how to treat varicose veins in the legs, because there are many ways to get rid of unpleasant symptoms.
Conservative treatment of varicose veins
The vessels of the lower extremities can be deformed in any person, regardless of gender. Symptoms of varicose veins in men, as well as treatment methods are the same as in women.
The difference is that women pay more attention to their health and appearance, so they often seek medical help. Men usually consult a specialist when the disease is severe and requires surgery.
Pathology can not only affect the arteries of the legs. Varicose veins of the stronger half of the population can be found in the abdomen (for example, due to excess weight), testicles (varicocele), esophagus and stomach, as well as in the small pelvis (PMVMT).
In men, drug treatment of varicose veins of various localizations is an additional method of combating the disorder. Medications can help relieve symptoms, especially in the early stages.
When prescribing medications, it is important to consider their compatibility, otherwise you can get the opposite effect.
If we talk about the first type of drug, the appointment is scheduled:
- phlebotonics that increase venous tone, improve blood flow, relieve congestion and swelling;
- anticoagulants that reduce blood clotting, reduce the risk of blood clots;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve pain and reduce inflammation;
- Antioxidants that normalize lipid metabolism, accelerate cell regeneration, normalize blood circulation.
In addition to medications, patients are prescribed vitamin and mineral complexes in the form of syrups, tablets and pills, which allow the body to better fight the disease.
Minimally invasive treatments
When the question arises as to how best to treat varicose veins in the legs in men, a phlebologist can recommend a method that does not require a long stay in the clinic and allows you to achieve a speedy recovery.
We are talking about a minimally invasive intervention that allows to eliminate the disorder under local anesthesia:
- endothermic ablation;
- sclerotherapy.
The advantage of this approach is that it is painless and less traumatic. During the procedure, a small incision or a thin needle is inserted into the affected area.
Earlier, the doctor learns why the disease occurs, because determining the cause of varicose veins allows you to skillfully approach its treatment.
Endothermic ablation
The technique allows you to effectively fight varicose veins in men due to exposure to radiofrequency or laser to areas with diseased veins.
The essence of the procedure is to heat the venous wall using a laser (endovenous laser ablation, EVLA) or high-frequency radio waves (RFA) until the vessel is completely closed. Thus, the blood begins to circulate through healthy blood vessels.
The attractiveness of endothermic ablation is due to:
- manipulation through small incisions;
- minimal discomfort;
- significant relief of symptoms.
After RFA, the patient may feel tingling in the operated area. Intravenous laser treatment sometimes results in hematoma, heaviness and pain in the legs. Short-term nerve damage is not excluded.
Sclerotherapy
If there are contraindications to endothermic ablation, sclerotherapy (sclerotherapy) may be prescribed. Provides injection of a chemical substance (sclerosant) into the vessel, as a result of which the vessel is sealed.
The technique will be most effective if you have a vein affected by varicose veins.
The solution injected with a fine needle causes the vein to thicken and close completely. A big advantage of sclerotherapy is that there is no need for anesthesia.
To prevent recurrent blood flow to the treated vessel, a bandage with a sclerosing agent is applied while special gymnastics is recommended.
The choice of treatment depends on the stage of the disease, the number of varicose veins and the patient's own wishes.
The minimally invasive procedure, despite the positive effect, does not exclude the need for relapse and re-therapy. Side effects include blood clots, headaches, pigmented areas, and temporary visual disturbances.
Surgical treatment of varicose veins
Once you understand whether men have varicose veins and what is the cause of its appearance, it is necessary to think about its removal. If a light course of medication is sufficient, severe surgery is required in severe cases.
If varicose veins in men are accompanied by a significant worsening of symptoms and complications, methods with conservative treatment and minimal tissue damage will be ineffective.
Don't undress
During the operation, a probe is inserted into the leg through an incision at the proximal end of the patient's venous artery, after which another incision is made in the area of the distal end of the vein. After tying the vessel to the probe head with a ligature (special thread), the surgeon gently removes it.
Usually, such manipulations are performed several times, because it is difficult to remove the affected vessel in one step.
Short peeling is a procedure that involves the removal of only a small portion of a deformed vessel.
Contraindications to intervention:
- high risk of postoperative complications;
- impaired blood circulation and lymphatic drainage in the legs;
- Blood clots;
- skin infections.
If necessary, peeling is combined with sclerotherapy. This is appropriate if the varicose veins are affected by vessels of different sizes at the same time.
Miniflebectomy
A common technique that fights the symptoms of varicose veins of the legs well in men. To remove the affected vessel, the surgeon makes an incision of 1-2 mm and removes, closes and crosses the vessel with a special tool (Varadi hook). Manipulations are performed under local anesthesia.
Miniphlebectomy is usually prescribed for:
- large diameter of safen vessels;
- atypical location of varicose veins (for example, in the region of the foot);
- veins close to the surface of the skin.
Surgery is prohibited for patients with high blood pressure, cardiac ischemia, trophic ulcers and infectious skin lesions.
Men who are delayed by surgical treatment may develop diseases of the cardiovascular system, serious pathologies of the arteries and blood vessels.
This technique has many advantages:
- minimal trauma;
- high performance;
- absence of scars;
- a short rehabilitation period.
In rare cases, bruising, bleeding, thrombosis appear after the procedure. The color of the skin may change for a short time during the removal of the vein.
Transillumination phlebectomy
This is a modern device to remove varicose veins in the legs. The anesthesia used is general or local. The vein is removed through one or two small punctures, and an instrument with an internal cold light source is inserted, which allows to distinguish varicose veins.
However, experience shows that such a technique can cause many complications due to the rather rough manipulations performed intravenously.
In particular, such an intervention can result in seals, hematomas, lymphoresis, hyperpigmentation of the skin, and neurological disorders.
Traditional methods of treatment
One of the directions of alternative medicine is treatment with folk remedies. Of course, their use will be effective in the early stages of varicose veins. It is important to coordinate it with a phlebologist in order to properly conduct therapy at home.
He will tell you which methods are most effective and safe and which methods are best to avoid.
Datura use
The plant cleanses blood vessels well, promotes the resorption of blood clots, improves metabolism and blood circulation. However, it should be borne in mind that its seeds are poisonous, so it is dangerous to use drugs without the knowledge of a doctor.
Recipe and method of using tincture:
- crushed seeds in a coffee grinder (80-100 g) is poured with vodka (0, 5 l) and placed in a dark place for 2 weeks, the container should be shaken periodically;
- the initial dose is 15 drops diluted in half a glass of water once a day before meals;
- the daily dose is increased to 25 by 1-2 drops;
- The duration of therapy is one month.
Datura is also suitable for compresses. To do this, cotton wool is moistened with a tincture, diluted with water, applied to the affected areas, covered with a film and fixed with a bandage. The same dose of the drug for the procedure is taken for internal use.
Honey, garlic and lemon
Often called the elixir of youth, it is difficult to overestimate the beneficial properties of this product combination. They are used both individually and together, which only increases the effect.
For example, honey has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and vasodilator properties. Eliminates the accumulation of cholesterol, affects the speed of metabolism and removes toxins.
Lemon contains a lot of ascorbic acid. Thanks to it, the work of the circulatory system is normalized and cholesterol plaques are absorbed.
Garlic is known for its ability to fight infections, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It is an excellent tool to increase the elasticity of blood vessels.
Examples of recipes:
- Lemons peel and the whole composition (5 pieces), as well as garlic (5-6 cloves) should be passed through a meat grinder twice. Gruel is mixed with honey (500 g) and put in a glass jar. You should use 1 tsp 2 times a day for treatment. mixture previously diluted in 1 cup water.
- The mixture prepared by the above method should be transferred to a 3-liter jar and completely filled with hot boiled water. The container is placed in the refrigerator for 10 days. Before use, the liquid is filtered and taken 1 tbsp. l. diluted 2 times a day.
Keep in mind that these products can cause undesirable reactions. It is undesirable to use them for allergies, acute inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, hemorrhoids, kidney failure, diseases of the genitourinary system.
Green tomatoes
Traditional medicine suggests applying green tomato slices to painful veins. This should be done at night for a long time. The secret of the method is lycopene, an antioxidant that increases the elasticity of blood vessels and protects them from the effects of free radicals.
The substance prevents the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, which leads to the formation of cholesterol plaques and blockage of the vascular lumen.
Tomatoes are useful not only to use for compresses, but also to eat regularly.
Stinging nettle treatment
The composition of the plant determines its strengthening and tonic properties. The nettle reduces the viscosity of the blood, thus ensuring its normal circulation. It relieves congestion, accelerates regenerative processes and prevents the appearance of cholesterol accumulation.
Methods of using nettles:
- The leaves (1 tbsp. L. ) are placed in a container, filled with water (200 ml) and set on fire. After boiling, turn off the oven. The cooled broth is filtered and drunk three times a day for 20 minutes before eating.
- Dried herbs (6 tbsp. L. ) Pour with vodka (0, 5 l) and leave in a dark place for 2 days. Tincture is taken 1 tbsp before meals. l. It is also used 3 times a day for compresses.
The first positive results can be observed only after 2-3 months, but the course should last longer.
Nettle-based products are contraindicated in patients with allergic reactions, diabetes mellitus, trophic ulcers, high blood pressure.
Other recipes
If there is a characteristic symptomatology that accompanies varicose veins in men in the legs, many other folk remedies will help:
- Sour milk is mixed with chopped wormwood until smooth. The mixture is applied to the gauze and applied to problem areas overnight. There is a break after 5 days of therapy.
- Ground nutmeg (1 tsp) is poured with boiling water (1 cup) and honey (1 tsp) is added. The drink is drunk 30 minutes after insisting an hour before a meal, and then another 2 hours later.
- For tincture, pour alcohol (0, 5 l) horse chestnut flowers (50 g) and leave to infuse for 2 weeks. The medicine is shaken every day. Admission scheme - three times a day, 1 tbsp. l. , washed with water.
An important point: nutmeg is able to relieve painful discomfort and accelerate the healing of trophic ulcers. However, non-compliance can lead to dangerous consequences. Not more than 3-5 g at a time is allowed.
Treatment with external use
With varicose veins of the lower extremities, therapy with external agents is recommended. For men with diseased veins in the legs, it is especially useful to use ointments and gels that are good for eliminating the initial manifestations of an unpleasant disease.
Compared to ointments, gels have a lighter consistency, which allows them to be quickly absorbed into the skin, and the therapeutic substances are delivered to the damaged area in a short time.
Alternative treatments
Both women and men suffer from the development of varicose veins, although the causes of the disorder are very different. And phlebologists advise to act in a complex way to cope with the symptoms, which become more pronounced as the disease progresses.
In other words, patients with deformed veins in their legs should complete drug treatment by wearing compression stockings and performing a series of exercises and massage procedures.
Gymnastics
Although physiotherapy exercises do not completely eliminate the pathological manifestations, they significantly improve the condition of the arteries. It is necessary to train not only in the presence of a disease. Gymnastics is an excellent prevention of varicose veins in the legs in men.
The main thing is that the exercises are selected by a phlebologist, because it is important to take into account the severity of the disease, accompanying pathologies and other factors.
With varicose veins it is useful to do the following:
- Simulate cycling on the floor or in bed. You should rest a bit after 30 leg rotations.
- Sitting in a chair, take turns lifting socks, then heels (20-30 times).
- Bend and open your toes (20 repetitions), lying on your back with your legs outstretched.
- Walk on tiptoe in several approaches. You can just stay in place.
A great solution is to ride a bike daily in the fresh air. As a last resort, a sports bike in the gym or at home will help.
Massage
Of course, there is no doubt about the presence of varicose veins in men. Accordingly, they also need a competent approach to the treatment of pathology. In connection with massage, a properly performed procedure helps to reduce pain in the lower extremities and improve blood circulation.
A method of dealing with a similar disorder is most effective at that stage of the disease when there are no obvious symptoms.
Contraindications:
- injuries, cuts on the skin of the feet;
- fever condition;
- inflammatory or infectious process;
- thrombophlebitis.
It is recommended to entrust the massage to a qualified specialist. If a man decides to do the procedure on his own, it is important to be extremely careful.
Before the session, the legs should be kept in an elevated position, after which an anti-varicose ointment is applied.
It is necessary to take part in the massage regularly, only then the first effect will appear.
The fight against the symptoms of varicose veins is carried out using the following:
- caress from ankle to knee;
- circular movements in the lower leg;
- intensive thigh massage;
- circular and zigzag movements in the lumbar region.
At the end of the procedure, socks are put on or an elastic bandage is used.
Compression underwear
Wearing knitted clothes with compression properties allows you to evenly distribute the load on the lower extremities, eliminate the feeling of heaviness and fatigue, as well as prevent the development of pathology.
Manufacturers produce underwear for both women and the stronger sex.
Medical knitwear is presented in the form of products:
- golf;
- socks;
- tights.
One or the other option is chosen taking into account the location of the deformed vessels.
In addition, the stage of the disease is important:
- At the first sign, a knee height of no more than 21 mm Hg is appropriate. Art.
- Progressive varicose veins and thrombophlebitis require the use of socks for varicose veins for men with a pressure of up to 32 mm Hg. Art. They are also prescribed after surgery.
- If there is lymphovenous insufficiency, trophic disorders, the use of category 3 knitwear is indicated (pressure index - up to 46 mm Hg).
- When there is a severe pathological form accompanied by thrombosis and lymphedema, you should wear underwear with a compression of 49 mm or more. rt. Art.
It is recommended to use prophylactic knitwear (15-18 mm Hg) to prevent the appearance of a violation, especially in the postoperative period.
If you consult a phlebologist in time, varicose veins in men are quite treatable. The longer the disease lasts and the more severe the symptoms, the higher the risk of dangerous complications.