Varicose vein signs and symptoms may vary from mild to severe, depending on the condition. It differs for each individual, while others experience a mild discomfort and have a bulging unappealing look. Some may experience deep burning sensations, throbbing, and mild or severe pain caused by the condition. When covering the various analgesia for varicose veins, it is essential to know that treatment is proposed based on the severity, underlying medical history and the type of treatment they ought to choose.
Pain relief for varicose vein range from natural remedies, oral medications, injections, and surgeries. Varicose veins are caused by the malfunction or breakdown of the vein valves, making them unable to transport blood to the heart properly. It causes the blood to collect in the veins, mainly seen impacting your legs and feet. However, varicose veins may affect other parts of the body.
Some of the triggers that may cause the condition include:
- Ageing – Your veins find it hard to propel blood to your heart leading to the condition.
- Pregnancy – This may cause strain to your veins, making them unable to transport blood properly.
- Obesity – Too much weight adds strain to your body organs and general function, leading to the condition’s emergence.
- Oral contraceptives – They alter your normal body functions and may affect your vein functionality.
- Genetics – most people, genetically get the condition; for example, those whose fathers have the disease have a 30% chance of acquiring varicose veins. In comparison, others who get it from their mothers have a 40% chance of genetically transferring it to their children.
- Excessive standing or sitting – prolonged standing or sitting due to work or profession is likely to increase chances of getting varicose veins as you place pressure on your legs and feet.
This article aims to cover the different analgesia for varicose veins and provide one with various treatments they can select from to treat their condition. Whether you want to get rid of your varicose vein due to pain or the anaesthetic inconvenience, choosing the correct treatment mode is essential to avoid placing your health at risk.
Natural pain relief for varicose veins
i. Exercise
Exercise work to strengthen your leg and feet, allowing the veins in these areas to get the strength they require to help them carry out their tasks. By engaging in exercises that strengthen your legs, you are likely to help give them the power they need to pump blood back to the heart eliminating varicose veins or reducing their effect. Exercise also eliminates pain as it improves the blood flow in the area, stopping blood from clotting or causing pain in the veins.
ii. Appropriate clothing and footwear
Wearing tight and fitting clothing have a negative effect on those with varicose veins as it hinders and prevents the smooth flow of blood. By wearing loose outfits, you allow the blood to flow correctly, reducing the condition’s effect. Wearing comfortable footwear and avoiding extreme high heels for long hours at work relieves pressure from your feet that may make varicose veins painful or increase their swelling.
iii. Diet
Diet works to prevent the occurrence of varicose veins and relieve the pain it causes. By including many fluids on your diet, you are likely to keep your body hydrated, making blood flow easy. It eliminates the collection of blood flow in varicose veins removing the throbbing pain caused by blood collecting in the veins. Also, diet works to enhance your overall weight, ensuring you do not add too much strain to your veins, eliminating pain.
iv. Use of cold water
The burning sensation and pain felt from varicose veins are caused by blood filling in these areas and emanating pressure that leads to the pain. To deal with this, you can take a cold shower or use ice cubes to relieve the stress in these areas doing away with the throbbing [pain caused by pressure build-up in such areas.
v. Elevation
Elevation is one of the easiest natural ways to relieve varicose vein pain. By sitting down and placing your legs at a higher position, you allow the blood to flow from the veins into the heart. It releases pressure from your weak veins and eliminates blood build-up in these areas that cause pain.
By elevating your legs, you will likely feel the pain reduce and disappear within a short while. If you find yourself standing a lot, using this method often is likely to help reduce the pain caused by varicose veins and give you relief.
v. Frequent massage
Getting a massage, especially on your legs and feet, allows for the proper flow of blood. It eliminates the buildup of blood in your veins, removing pain and giving you instant relief. You can choose to provide yourself with a massage or hire a masseur to enable you to eliminate the pain naturally.
Medical analgesia for varicose veins
i. Use compression stockings
Getting your compression stocking from the general practitioner ensures you put in mind fittings and correct measurements. By wearing correctly fitted compression stockings, you will adequately deal with swelling and avoid the pressure that causes your varicose vein pain.
It is essential to have your GP measure your legs in the morning when swelling is likely to be minimal and evening to get the correct measurements. Compression stockings are an non invasive excellent medical way to alleviate your pain as they deal with existing pain and ensure you do not experience more swelling during the day.
ii. Take anti-inflammatory medication
Anti-inflammatory medication can either be bought over the counter or prescribed by a doctor. However, it is better to use a doctor’s prescription to avoid misusing drugs. Medication such as ibuprofen and naproxen helps reduce and eliminate the swelling, pain, and pressure build-up caused by varicose veins.
Thus, they can relieve the pain for longer hours, especially if you find yourself in a profession that requires you to stand a lot, therefore straining your legs and feet. However, suppose you find yourself using the medication a lot, it is essential to talk to your physician and have them carry out other tests to see how advanced your condition is and prescribe another type of treatment to help you deal with the situation.
iii. Endothermal ablation
Endothermal ablation is a minimal invasion kind of treatment used to eliminate varicose veins and relieve one from the pain caused by the condition. It works by using lasers or radio waves to seal affected veins and redirect blood to other healthy veins releasing the pressure build-up on your legs and feet.
The radiofrequency treatment uses frequency energy to heat the veins’ walls till they collapse and shut down. A small incision is made above, or under the knee, then a catheter is placed to direct the frequency energy when carrying out the process.
The treatment is done using local or general anaesthesia; thus, no pain is felt. It is an effective way to eliminate analgesia caused by varicose veins, especially in advanced stages where the pain is unbearable and cannot be destroyed by natural processes such as exercises or massages.
iv. Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy
In cases where endothermal ablation may not work for an individual due to underlying health reasons, foam sclerotherapy is invoked to eliminate pain caused by varicose veins. The procedure works by injecting a specific type of foam into the veins. The foam works by scarring and sealing the defective veins.
Local anaesthesia helps to numb the area and can be used to remove several varicose veins during one procedure. However, this process may not be carried out on people with a recent history of deep vein thrombosis. The ultrasound scan that guides the process makes it very precise, increasing its success chances and ensuring that only affected veins are sealed.
v. Transilluminated powered phlebectomy
Transilluminated powered phlebectomy is a general new form of treatment. It has not gained popularity yet and is not supported by many doctors. However, if you have other underlying issues that make it difficult for the different treatment types to function correctly, this process can get the job done.
An incision is made on your leg during the process. The doctor then uses an endoscopic transilluminator, a particular type of light that illuminates underneath the skin area, allowing them to identify the defective veins. The malfunctioning veins are then cut and removed using a suction device through the leg’s incision.
Due to the cutting and suction process, there may be some bleeding involves. However, every part of the defective vein is removed correctly, allowing blood to be redirected to healthy veins. You eliminate every symptom caused by varicose veins enabling an individual to get rid of the pain.
Depending on the severity of your condition’s, local or general anaesthesia can be used during the process. You thus do not have to worry about feeling pain during the process. However, you will need to wear compression stockings for a short while after the treatment to allow your body to recover.
vi. Ligation and stripping
Ligation and stripping are surgical procedures to eliminate the pain caused by varicose veins by identifying the affected vein, tying it off and removing it. By removing the affected vein, it does away with the pain it causes, making it effective. The process is carried out under general procedure, meaning you are asleep during the whole procedure and have a recovery period between a week and three weeks. Though the recovery period may be extended, the process works to eliminate the pain and enable you to continue with normal functions when well carried out.
Ligation involves placing an incision on your leg area and near your groin.
A thin wire is then inserted through an incision on your grain through to your leg area. As it does this, the other healthy veins in this area take over the blood flow function and allow the vein to be removed. The process may be a bit painful after the surgery but is likely to set you free from the pain caused by varicose veins as it does away with the affected vein entirely.
vii. Cyanoacrylate glue occlusion
This procedure is generally new and not practised by a lot of doctors. However, it has proven to be practical and has fewer complications; cyanoacrylate glue occlusion involves using the injection of a particular type of glue whose primary purpose is to seal off the affected vein stopping the build-up of blood from occurring. By sealing off the affected vein, the process redirects blood to other healthy veins eliminating the swelling and burning sensation caused by varicose veins.
Conclusion
Varicose veins vary from mild to extremely painful. Depending on the amount of pain you are in, getting the right kind of treatment is essential to eliminate the pain. You should thus get a consult from your doctor before choosing any treatment and ensure you practise healthy living habits.
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