Currently, vascular pathologies are diagnosed very often. Moreover, they often pose a threat not only to health, but also to human life. One of such ailments is inflammation of the veins - phlebitis. The course of the pathological process is accompanied by damage to the walls of the vessels, which sooner or later leads to their destruction. Most often, inflammation of the veins on the leg is detected. How to relieve vein inflammation, what are the causes of this condition - information about this should be provided by the doctor based on the history and the results of diagnostic measures.
Pathogenesis
Normally, the walls of the vessels should be elastic, let the necessary amount of liquid connective tissue pass, and there should be no atherosclerotic plaques on them, indicating a high concentration of "bad" cholesterol in the body.
Under the influence of any provoking factors in the tissues, the development of the inflammatory process starts. At this time, a person begins to feel severe pain and tension in the vein.
Phlebitis can be both acute and chronic. Information on how to relieve inflammation of the veins on the leg should be provided only by a doctor. This is due to the fact that uncomfortable sensations do not arise independently, they are always the result of any ailment or mechanical damage to the vessels. In other words, the cause must first be established.
Etiology
Most often, phlebitis is a consequence of varicose veins and infection of the blood vessel wall.
Other causes of the development of the inflammatory process:
- Violation of the integrity of the skin. Through wounds, tissues are often infected with streptococcus.
- Puncture of the vein.
- The collection of biological material from the vessel.
- Intravenous injection.
- Burns.
- Ingestion of an allergen.
- Overweight.
- A lifestyle that does not imply motor activity.
- Various types of injuries requiring immobilization of the limb.
- Prolonged adherence to bed rest.
- Regular high-intensity physical activity.
In addition, women during pregnancy often complain that the leg vein is inflamed. What to do should be prompted by a doctor, since during the gestational period, most medications are contraindicated. But it is impossible to ignore this state. Although it is associated with a natural increase in blood volume, it can lead to irreversible consequences.
Clinical manifestations
Both superficial and deep veins can be involved in the pathological process. In the first case, a person has the following symptoms:
- A feeling of tension in the area of the affected vessel.
- Pain along the vein.
- Density of the skin, its redness.
- Local increase in body temperature.
- Red stripes on the skin along the inflamed vein.
In some patients, marked weakness is noted, often dizziness occurs.
With regards to if the vessel is located deep. Signs of inflammation of the veins in the legs in this case:
- Severe pain.
- Edema.
- The skin becomes very pale, it acquires a milky white color.
- Elevated body temperature.
- Severe weakness.
It is not difficult to distinguish inflammation of superficial and deep veins. In the first case, the skin thickens and turns red, in the second, on the contrary, it becomes pale.
Diagnostics
It is necessary to contact a phlebologist as soon as possible if a vein inflames on the leg. How to treat an ailment, what is the reason for its development, whether complications can be avoided - the doctor will answer all these questions during the appointment.
The primary diagnosis of phlebitis is the analysis of medical history and physical examination. The specialist must provide information on all the available symptoms and their intensity, as well as talk about whether there have been medical manipulations in the recent past (blood sampling, biopsy, etc.).
Diagnosis of venous inflammation in the legs involves the following studies:
- Blood tests (clinical, C-reactive protein, prothrombin index, coagulograms, thromboelastograms).
- Duplex ultrasound angioscanning.
- Phlebography.
If complications are suspected, phleboscintigraphy or CT phlebography with the introduction of a contrast agent can be prescribed.
Treatment
All activities are usually conducted on an outpatient basis. In severe cases, hospitalization in a hospital is indicated.
The scheme of drug therapy includes the following items:
- Taking antibiotics. The choice of drugs is carried out by the doctor based on the results of laboratory diagnostics.
- Reception of NSAIDs. Designed for quick relief of the inflammatory process and, accordingly, painful sensations. Examples of funds: Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen, Dicloberl.
- The use of complex drugs for local treatment. Examples: Troxevasin, Venobene, Heparin, Voltaren, Dolgit, Thrombophobia.
- Taking medications whose active ingredients improve microcirculation. These include: Actovegin, Vazaprostan, Solcoseryl, Trental, Curantil.
- Reception of the means promoting decrease in blood viscosity. Examples: Cardiomagnyl, Aspirin.
- Taking prothrombin-lowering drugs. Examples: Dicumarin, Phenylan.
- Taking antihistamines. As a rule, doctors prescribe Suprastin and Cetrin.
Physiotherapeutic procedures (acupuncture, mud baths, infrared radiation, etc.) are often included in the treatment regimen for leg vein inflammation. The patient also needs to give up smoking and drinking alcohol-containing drinks.
Home treatment: rubbing
At the very beginning of the development of the pathological process, the quality of human life is significantly deteriorating. He cares only about how to relieve pain with inflammation of the veins on the leg. It is important to know that the use of alternative medicine is acceptable, but they cannot be considered as the main method of treatment. Alternative methods contribute to the relief of painful sensations, but do not relieve the root cause of the development of pathology.
Effective with phlebitis rubbing. The most effective are the following recipes:
- Take a handful of cranberry berries. Chop thoroughly. Using gauze, squeeze the juice from the berries. Rub the resulting fluid over the skin over the affected vein for 10 minutes.
- Take 50 g of lard. Melt it. Then take a few leaves of arnica and carefully chop the raw materials. Add the plant to the bacon. Mix the ingredients thoroughly. Allow the product to solidify. Rub the affected area three times a day.
- Take 50 g of fruit or horse chestnut flowers. Grind the raw materials thoroughly and place them in a glass jar. Pour chestnut with 0.5 l of vodka without additives. Close the jar tightly and put it in a dark place. Let it brew for 10 days. Every 2 days the jar needs to be shaken. Strain the finished fluid and rub the affected area daily.
These funds, according to reviews, are extremely effective if a vein inflames on the leg. How to treat an ailment at home if there are signs of an unwanted reaction? It is important to remember that all medicinal plants are potential allergens. If there are warning signs, treatment must be completed or another method selected.
Compresses
The disease requires an integrated approach to treatment. Rubbing is recommended to alternate with compresses, while the latter can be done at night. This will achieve the maximum therapeutic effect.
If the vein on the leg is inflamed, how to treat the disease at home with the help of compresses is described below:
- Take flowers or horse chestnut bark. Wash and dry the raw materials. After that, it must be crushed to a powder state. Take 1 tbsp. raw materials (with a slide) and pour it with 200 ml of dry red wine. Let it brew for 3 days. After 3 days, add 300 ml of olive oil to the liquid. Put the container on fire. Stew until the wine evaporates. Cool the resulting liquid. Dampen a lot of cotton cloth in the product and apply it to the affected area.
- Take a few leaves of coltsfoot. Grind the raw materials. Take 1 tbsp. leaves and pour them 0.4 liters of boiling water. Let it brew for an hour and a half. Strain the resulting liquid. Soak a piece of tissue in it and attach to the affected area of the leg.
- Take a few fern leaves. Grind the raw materials thoroughly. 1 tbsp pour raw materials 100 ml of soured milk or kefir. In the resulting liquid, moisten a piece of gauze tissue, folded in several layers.
The minimum duration of applying the compress is 30 minutes. But it is better to carry out the procedure at night.
Decoctions and infusions for oral administration
Along with local treatment, you can take medicinal products inside. If the vein on the leg is inflamed, what to do:
- Take beet tops. Rinse and grind thoroughly. Take 100 g of raw materials and pour it with 1 liter of boiling water. Let it brew for several hours. Drink the resulting liquid 150 ml after each meal.
- Take a few leaves of hazel. Grind the raw materials. Pour 1 tbsp. l leaves 0.5 l of water. Put the container on fire. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cool, strain. Take the drug 4 times a day, 100 ml.
- Take 1 tbsp. l pre-chopped nutmeg and pour it with 1 liter of vodka. Let it brew for 10 days. The finished product must be taken 3 times a day for 20 drops.
- Take a few nettle leaves, rinse and chop them. Pour in raw materials 200 ml of boiling water. Let it brew for 1 hour. Take medicinal fluid 20 ml three times a day before meals.
It is important to remember that any medicinal plant is a potential allergen. Often, while taking decoctions and infusions, an allergic reaction occurs. If there are alarming signs, treatment of phlebitis with folk remedies must be completed.
Possible complications
If the vein on the leg is inflamed, what you can’t do is self-medicate. It must be remembered that all medications should be prescribed by a doctor, and alternative methods are intended only to facilitate well-being, but they will not save the root cause of the development of the disease.
Ignoring pathology is also unacceptable. This can lead to the following pathologies:
- Thrombophlebitis.
- Venous insufficiency of a chronic nature.
- Pulmonary embolism.
- Phlegmon.
- Thrombosis.
- Abscess.
Thus, if a vein inflames on the leg, what to do should be indicated by a specialist. The only way to avoid the development of complications.
Doctors Recommendations
In order to prevent the recurrence of pathology, the following rules must be observed:
- Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Regularly expose the body to moderate physical exertion.
- Periodically visit a phlebologist for the purpose of a routine examination.
In addition, it is necessary to timely treat all identified diseases, especially of an infectious nature.
Finally
Inflammation of the veins (or phlebitis) is a pathological process characterized by damage to the vascular wall. The disease significantly affects the quality of life of a person, and therefore it is necessary to consult a doctor if the first signs of an ailment occur. Before visiting a specialist, you can stop painful sensations using folk remedies.