After exercising, do you experience a nagging pain in your legs, as if your veins are hurting? This may be a symptom of varicose veins. We'll tell you why such sensations occur and how to train to avoid discomfort.
If you have been training recently, you may not yet be accustomed to such sensations in your muscles. It is likely that the nagging pain in your legs is not associated with venous disease.
“Don’t forget that moderate post-workout pain is considered normal,” notes Grigory Bashkirtsev, neurologist, chiropractor, and rehabilitation specialist at GMS Clinic. — Muscle pain is caused by the formation of microtraumas in muscle tissue. To utilize the metabolites of muscle activity, the body pumps an increased amount of lymphatic fluid there. This is how a “swelling cushion” arises, our body’s protective reaction to the received microtrauma in order to protect the injured area. Therefore, post-workout pain is associated with irritation of pain receptors in the interstitial space, where lymphatic fluid accumulates.”
To reduce these sensations, wearing compression garments and a light massage after exercise is enough.
Have you been training for a long time, but the nagging pain in your limbs is pronounced? You may have varicose veins.
“In people with venous insufficiency (for most it is initial), lymphatic drainage is difficult, which leads to increased swelling compared to a healthy person. Accordingly, pain after training will be more intense and can have various manifestations: not only pain in injured muscles, but also nagging, aching pain,” adds Grigory Bakshirtsev.
In general, fitness classes are beneficial for the health of blood vessels and veins.
“Sport strengthens blood vessels,” reminds Alena Gribanova, an expert in X-Fit group programs in Russia. “But if the load is excessive and/or there are predisposing factors (heredity, hormonal changes), the risk of developing varicose veins will increase significantly.”
Is the appearance of blood vessels on the legs a cosmetic or medical problem? Congenital or acquired?
Let's go in order. Often in the media, spider veins are positioned as the first stage of some serious disease. That is, if you have stars, then very soon you will encounter problems and diseases of the veins, and even complications. However, this is not true, since it is necessary to distinguish between a cosmetic problem and a medical problem. A person can have spider veins all his life on one or both legs and remain only a cosmetic problem. They are removed for aesthetic reasons using sclerotherapy, laser coagulation or radiofrequency obliteration (most often a combination of these methods is used), depending on the severity of the vessels. The medical problem is varicose veins, i.e. varicose veins, damage to the main superficial veins. This can already lead to very unpleasant consequences, so you need to treat varicose veins with all the seriousness of a medical problem. Although, of course, the aesthetic issue is not indifferent, especially to women.
Is this a congenital or acquired problem? Most varicose veins are a congenital (genetically determined) pathology that begins to manifest itself not from birth, but during life. At the same time, there are a huge number of external factors that influence both the manifestation of such heredity and the appearance of acquired disorders. First of all, this is pregnancy and childbirth, due to the hormonal effect on the walls of blood vessels. It is also a job that requires standing or sitting for long periods of time, excess weight, orthopedic problems (especially flat feet), and regular long-term wearing of high heels. I emphasize that only prolonged exposure to heels - all day long, and standing, can affect the development of this disease.
What can cause varicose veins?
The main provoking factor is the genetic predisposition of varicose veins, i.e. heredity. The main triggering factor is pregnancy. This is why spider veins and protruding veins in women most often appear during pregnancy. But pregnancy itself is not the cause of varicose veins, it is just a trigger moment. The next factor is hypodynamic office work. People who spend many hours in a sitting position and are unable to move are naturally at risk. As for smoking, it does not affect varicose veins, but provokes arterial pathologies.
Diagnostic measures
So, the patient is at the doctor's appointment. What methods of identifying an insidious disease will the doctor use? These measures will most likely include the following:
- Pain and swelling of the knee with varicose veins
- Referral for a general blood test, as well as a special study of its coagulation.
- Contrast radiography, when a special composition is introduced into the vessels, allowing a thorough study of the condition of the veins as a result of radiographic examination.
- Duplex color ultrasound scanning of venous vessels, which can determine the condition of not only subcutaneous vessels, but also veins located deep in the thickness of the muscles.
Based on the results of diagnostic studies, the doctor determines how to treat varicose veins. Treatment measures have three main goals:
- Relief of the inflammatory process.
- Elimination of pain.
- Prevention of recurrence of the disease and prevention of complications.
What types of exercise are beneficial and which are harmful for problems with veins?
Any dynamic loads, without moving heavy objects, are very useful. These include a treadmill, jogging, walking (especially Nordic walking), and exercise bikes. All this will disperse the existing stagnation in the vessels. As for various exercise machines, it is clear that putting a lot of stress on the legs is harmful, but even lifting weights with your arms strains the abdominal muscles, and this greatly affects the blood flow in the lower extremities. But no one has canceled the health benefits of a pumped-up body and a good muscle corset, so it is advisable to consult with a specialist before classes, and it is better to exercise under the supervision of a trainer. The best exercises for preventing varicose veins are swimming and water aerobics. And in general, any dynamics, any sports and physical education are useful! Even if you have problems with your veins, you don’t need to stop doing what you love, because compression hosiery exists. In general, consult a phlebologist to see if you need any restrictions. Statics, static loads for veins are definitely bad. Work and training with weights is possible, but in compression stockings.
Popliteal vein thrombosis: diagnosis
To determine the exact signs of thrombosis, duplex ultrasound scanning (USDS) is used. The method helps to find a blood clot, measure it, determine its exact location, and recognize whether it is floating in the vessel. The method also helps to examine the condition of the veins. In addition, during the examination, doctors receive information at what speed the blood moves.
Diagnosis of popliteal vein thrombosis
Doppler ultrasound is also used in diagnosis. This method is used to determine the patency of the veins and find the place where the thrombus is located.
How to independently diagnose whether there are varicose veins or not? If a vein is visible, is it varicose veins?
Varicose veins are diagnosed either by symptoms, i.e. according to subjective sensations: nagging, severe pain, heaviness in the legs, swelling, discomfort; or by objective: dilated veins, the presence of one or more nodes. In any case, such symptoms should not be ignored, but it is better to get advice and then monitor the development of the pathology. If the veins are clearly visible on the body, this does not indicate varicose veins. There are such people, they are also called “geographical map”, in whom the vessels are very close to the surface, and the skin is very thin. Varicose veins can only be differentiated using ultrasound, or rather duplex scanning. This diagnostic method shows the operation of the valves that lift blood up through the veins against the force of gravity of the earth. And if the valve does not work, it means that the vein is affected by varicose veins.
Symptoms of the disease
How do varicose veins under the knee manifest themselves? If you have any symptoms, you should immediately make an appointment with a phlebologist?
- A capillary network that occurs in the calf area, the appearance of which is caused by inflammatory processes in small vessels.
- The appearance of tortuous, nodular large veins protruding just under the surface of the skin.
- Pain under the knee with varicose veins, which bothers the patient in the initial stages of the disease only during the active period of the day. With its further development, the pain syndrome can occur around the clock, even in a state of complete rest.
- Serious swelling of the legs, eliminated in the initial stages by prolonged periods of rest. If timely measures are not taken and the disease is allowed to develop, swelling can constantly bother the patient.
- Dehydration of the skin located directly above the veins under the knee, a change in their color towards darkening, either a burgundy or violet-brown tint, and a feeling of persistent itching can be observed. When scratching, there is a risk of pathogenic bacteria entering directly into the blood and affected vessels, which can lead to ulcers and even blood sepsis.
- The feeling that the veins located in the knees are pulsating strongly, the blood passes through them unevenly, in jerks.
- A constant burning sensation in the popliteal region may indicate a change in temperature in the affected part of the body.
- Convulsive manifestations that bother the patient mainly during night sleep or relaxing rest.
Is taking contraceptives contraindicated?
It is believed that long-term use of contraceptives, and indeed any hormonal drugs, affects the dynamics of the development of the disease. The likelihood of blood clots also increases, as hormonal drugs thicken the blood. In general, it is necessary to monitor the development of the disease and see if there is a combination of varicose veins and blood thickening. Depending on this, it is already possible to allow or prohibit the use of hormones, leg hair removal, and various popular anti-cellulite programs (massage, LPG). If negative progression is not observed while taking any medications, then the use can be continued, otherwise, it is necessary to discuss this issue with a phlebologist and gynecologist, and it is possible to choose another contraceptive.
Thrombosis of the popliteal vein: treatment with folk remedies
At the first pain and symptoms of thrombosis, immediately consult a doctor. It is important to remember that untimely treatment or its absence leads to the fact that normal blood circulation in this area can be lost irretrievably, without restoration.
Some people choose traditional medicine to combat blood clots. Indeed, selected recipes passed down from generation to generation gave in some cases positive results. It is not recommended to experience the power of ancestral knowledge without consulting a doctor. Traditional recipes can act as a counterweight to traditional medicine and interfere with the main treatment. We talk about the methods that are considered the most popular among the people.
You can try verbena infusion. Brew a spoonful of verbena in a glass of boiling water, then strain and drink in small sips all day long.
Baths with marsh dried dried herbs can relieve pain. To do this, pour 200 g of the plant into a bucket of boiling water and infuse. Take a warm bath for sore feet for 30 minutes. Regular procedures are distracting.
!
Combine such procedures with the main treatment, after consulting with your doctor.
Instead of swampy cucumber, you can use regular cucumber. Preparation for the procedure is the same, only you need to keep your feet in the infusion for no more than 20 minutes.
A popular traditional medicine in the treatment of popliteal vein thrombi are compresses based on a decoction of thistle. They relieve pain and have a healing effect.
What are the modern effective methods? How safe are they? When is surgery necessary?
The most popular and effective methods for eliminating varicose veins in Russia and other countries are laser coagulation and radiofrequency obliteration. Compared to classical operations, the safety of these techniques is much higher. For laser treatment, for example, there are now no restrictions on age or stage of the disease. The question of the need for intervention is decided very individually, based on the dynamics of the disease and the patient’s readiness. Sign up for a diagnosis and consultation with a phlebologist by phone.
Is it possible to cure varicose veins forever? May additional procedures or surgeries be required?
Varicose veins cannot be completely cured, since it is a genetic disease and it accompanies a person throughout his life. But those lesions that varicose veins lead to can be removed for quite a long time or even forever. Varicose veins in themselves are not dangerous, but varicose veins are. It is this that poses the threat of thrombus formation, or rather their separation and migration into the pulmonary artery. Depending on the volume of these separated thrombotic masses, the issue of disability or even a person’s life can be resolved. It happens that after surgery for the main veins, veins may appear at certain intervals (usually a year) that require correction. Such an additional operation is usually carried out in the volume of a treatment room quite quickly.