Phlebitis of the lower extremities: symptoms and treatment, photo

A person spends a long time on his feet. Blood through the veins in the lower extremities moves from the bottom up, overcoming the force of attraction. Over time, the walls of the blood vessels wear out, various inflammatory processes, an improper lifestyle, low physical activity and excessive consumption of fatty foods are added. All this does not pass without a trace for the vessels, varicose disease develops, which can lead to the appearance of phlebitis of the lower extremities. We will analyze the symptoms and treatment of this pathology in our article.

Disease Description

The veins through which blood flows to the heart have soft and elastic walls. If the inflammatory process of the venous membrane begins to develop, then they say that phlebitis of the lower extremities appears. This disease can be both acute and chronic. It often proceeds not in isolation, and the provocateurs of this pathology can be a lot of factors, one of which is varicose veins.

Phlebitis should not be ignored, a consultation with a phlebologist is required, who will assess the condition of the vessels and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Next, we will analyze how phlebitis of the lower extremities manifests itself, the symptoms and treatment of this disease.

Causes of phlebitis

Doctors consider the main reason for the development of phlebitis to be varicose veins. In addition, there are a number of factors that can provoke the development of pathology:

• Overweight: in this case, the veins experience an even greater load.
• Low motor activity: it has become the scourge of the 21st century.
• A long vertical position, for example, sellers in stores are forced to stand behind the counter all day.
• Violation of the stool, for example, constipation.

In some cases, allergic reactions can also trigger the development of the disease.

Much less often, phlebitis causes a vein injury or its defeat as a result of the development of an infectious disease.

No matter what reason provoked the disease, it cannot be left without treatment, so as not to earn serious complications.

Varieties of Phlebitis

A fairly common disease is phlebitis of the lower extremities. Symptoms and treatment of this pathology will be discussed later, and now we will get acquainted with the classification. If we consider the localization of the inflammatory process, then phlebitis is divided into:

1. Periflebitis. The inflammatory process affects only the external membrane of the vein. Most often occurs when inflammation passes from neighboring tissues.
2. Endophlebitis. The inner wall of the venous vessel is affected . The cause may be trauma, catheterization of a vein when the needle was in it for a long time. Provokes endoflebitis incorrect administration of an intravenous hypertonic solution.
3. Panphlebitis affects all membranes of the vein.

Classification of phlebitis can be carried out taking into account the origin of the disease. Given the etiology, there are:

1. Allergic phlebitis. Allergic reactions of the body are its provocateur, and it often takes a long time, turning into a chronic form.
2. Pain phlebitis often develops against the background of labor. The course is acute with severe symptoms and severe pain.
3. Migrating phlebitis appears mainly in representatives of the male half of humanity. Inflammation affects the veins located superficially, and the arteries are involved in the process. The disease proceeds for a long time with periodic relapses.
4. The vessels of the brain are affected with cerebral phlebitis. The cause is often an infectious disease.
5. Pylephlebitis affects only the collar vein. It appears as a complication of inflammation in the abdominal cavity.
6. Infectious phlebitis can affect not only the lower limbs, but also any parts of the body.

It is important to recognize what form the patient has phlebitis of the lower extremities. Symptoms and treatment may vary, therefore, without consulting a doctor, therapy should not be carried out. So you can do even more harm to the body.

Symptoms of the disease

Various forms of the disease can manifest themselves with characteristic signs. Most often, phlebitis of the lower extremities has the following symptoms:

1. If phlebitis affects only the surface of the veins, then in the acute phase of the disease they become painful and intense. The skin in these places turns red and thickens, it becomes hot to the touch. Sometimes, an increase in body temperature can be noted.
2. The chronic form of the disease does not have a pronounced picture, the symptoms are smoothed, periodically there are exacerbations.
3. If there is an inflammatory process in the deep veins, phlebitis of the lower extremities, the symptoms (this photo shows below) show the following: pain and swelling at the site of inflammation, the skin becomes milky white. The danger of this form of the disease is that it can quickly turn into thrombophlebitis, which occurs with the formation of blood clots.
4. Cerebral phlebitis will necessarily manifest itself as a headache, hypertension, neurological problems.

Diagnosis of the disease

Before treating phlebitis of the lower extremities (the photo above shows the severity of the pathology), it is necessary to accurately diagnose and identify the form of the disease.

Most patients are in no hurry to see a doctor if after a hard day they feel heavy legs, fatigue, when swelling and pain appear. A person is inclined to hope that these symptoms will go away on their own, you just have to rest. But over time, usually everything gets worse, even rest does not help to cope with the problem. Often this results in a serious complication, for example, thrombophlebitis.

And it was only necessary at the first problems with venous blood circulation to visit a vascular surgeon who only needs to look at the veins of the lower extremities in order to suspect pathology. After the examination, the doctor usually sends for an ultrasound of the blood vessels, which helps to accurately identify the location of the pathology and its severity.

If a blood test is done, then, as a rule, it shows increased coagulability, and this is already a risk factor for the development of phlebitis, and in the future thrombophlebitis.

Methods of treating a disease

If the diagnosis of “phlebitis of the lower extremities” is confirmed, only the doctor can tell how to treat this disease correctly. Whatever method of therapy the doctor chooses, one thing is important - there must be a combination of methods, that is, an integrated approach. Only in this case can one expect good results. The following methods of treatment of this disease are common among vascular surgeons:

1. Conservative treatment, which implies drug therapy, physiotherapy.
2. The use of folk methods of getting rid of the disease.
3. Surgical intervention, which is rarely practiced, especially if the patient seeks medical attention on time.

For the effectiveness of therapy, it is desirable to combine the first two methods of treatment with each other.

What are the goals of therapy?

The treatment of this disease has the following goals:

1. To remove the inflammatory process.
2. Reduce the coagulation rate to prevent blood clots.
3. Strengthen the walls of blood vessels and make them more elastic.

These goals can be achieved if we approach the solution of the problem comprehensively.

Conservative treatment

We have already studied a little phlebitis of the lower extremities, symptoms and treatment. The photo shows that the first thing the therapy starts with is taking medication.

1. In the presence of an infectious disease, antibiotics cannot be dispensed with. This can be as an injection, or as a pill.
2. Doctors are sure what is required, if there is phlebitis of the lower extremities, treatment. Pills to improve the tone of the walls of blood vessels are prescribed first. These drugs include: "Detralex", "Flebodia", "Eskuzan" and others.
3. It is mandatory to take anti-inflammatory drugs that will help remove inflammation. Such drugs can be used in the form of ointments and gels, for example, Ketonal, Fastum-gel, Movalis, Voltaren. They not only eliminate the inflammatory process, but also relieve heat and prevent tissue swelling.
4. Specialists are also prescribed to take medicines to improve tissue regeneration and repair, vitamin preparations. These include Wobenzym, Actovegin, Solcoseryl.
5. Taking anticoagulants will prevent the formation of blood clots in the vessels. “Heparin”, “Fraksiparin”, “Curantil” cope perfectly with this.

After such drug therapy, phlebitis of the lower extremities is not so pronounced. Symptoms and treatment (the photo below shows one of the methods) can be supplemented with physiotherapeutic procedures. Most often, the doctor prescribes the following:

• UHF or infrared radiation.
• Darsonvalization.
• Diadynamic currents.
• Hirudotherapy.
• Sollux.

If you combine physiotherapy with drug therapy, you can significantly improve the condition of the venous vessels.

Traditional medicine against phlebitis

In bins of traditional healers there are recipes to cope with this ailment. Here are the remedies available for a speedy recovery:

1. If phlebitis affects only the surface wall of the veins, you can try to cope with it using an iodine grid. It helps not only to remove the inflammatory process, but also to relieve pain.
2. Healing infusion will also help improve the condition of the veins. To cook it, you need to take 50 grams of chestnut, elecampane root, lingonberry leaves and calendula flowers. From two collection spoons and 0.5 liters of boiling water, prepare an infusion. It is better to contain the product in a thermos for 12 hours. Take half a glass three times a day. The course of therapy should be at least 6-7 weeks.
3. You can strengthen the walls of blood vessels by taking an infusion of leaves of beetroot. You can use both dry leaves and fresh ones. For 1 liter of boiling water, you need to take 100 grams of tops, if it is fresh or 50 dry. Insist until cool. Consume 150 ml orally after meals for 2 months.
4. You can relieve inflammation with a compress of wormwood or fern. Dry raw materials should be ground into powder and mixed with kefir or sour cream. Put the mixture on gauze or a napkin and attach to a sore spot, fix and leave overnight. Do this procedure within 4-5 days.

The list of folk recipes can be continued indefinitely, only before using them, you must always consult your doctor.

After taking the medications prescribed by the doctor, phlebitis of the lower extremities (symptoms) begins to not so brightly manifest its burrows. And treatment with folk remedies in this case will be a great addition. Moreover, all recipes can be easily used at home.

Surgery

We examined how to treat phlebitis of the lower extremities at home, but, unfortunately, such therapy does not always give the desired results, especially if the patient neglects the advice of specialists. In some cases, the disease easily passes into thrombophlebitis, and this is already much more dangerous to health. Doctors use:

1. Bandaging the veins.
2. Dissection of a vein in the place where a blood clot formed.
3. Remove the inflamed vein.

Even after surgical treatment, you should not think that the disease is defeated once and for all. If you do not take care of your legs, neglect your own health and do not follow the recommendations of doctors, the disease will quickly return with renewed vigor.

What treatment is prohibited with phlebitis?

Most patients think that if there are problems with veins in their legs, wearing compression knitwear is enough. But with phlebitis of the lower extremities, such therapy is strictly contraindicated. If there is an inflammatory process, then free outflow of fluid from the focus of inflammation is necessary, and compression knitwear can provoke the release of fluid into the lumen of the venous vessel and accelerate blood flow. But in the presence of streptococcal infection, this can lead to the spread of the pathogen throughout the body.

After the inflammation has been removed, which should be confirmed by analysis, you can use compression hosiery, but you should start with a minimum degree of compression.

Phlebitis Complications

If you do not properly treat phlebitis, then there is a high probability that the disease will turn into thrombophlebitis. There is a risk of vein thrombosis. If the disease affects the deep veins, then the acute period is fraught with the development of pulmonary embolism, and eventually chronic venous insufficiency.

If you do not follow the doctor's recommendations for the treatment of phlebitis, then the risk of infectious complications in the form of phlegmon or abscess increases many times.

Disease prevention

The disease is easier to prevent than to treat it for a long time. The following measures can be recommended as preventative measures:

• Women taking birth control pills should have a blood coagulation test periodically.
• Resting your legs is useful, while lying down, laying them on a pillow or on the back of a sofa.
• People whose professional activities are associated with standing on their feet are advised to wear compression stockings.
• You can take Aspirin as a diluent, but this should only be done with the permission of a doctor.
• Walk more and take time to exercise.
• Timely treat any infectious diseases.
• In the presence of varicose veins, follow all doctor's recommendations.
• If phlebitis is already present, then it is advisable to stop smoking.

If you carefully and carefully treat your health, you will not have to consult doctors and treat venous diseases. Take care of yourself and be healthy!