Varicose veins of the knee and below the knee: symptoms, features, treatment

Such a serious and painful disease as varicose veins on the inside and outside of the knee occurs in 10 percent of the population.

The occurrence of varicose veins in this area of the lower extremities may be due to its low location relative to the body, and therefore there is an increased load on this area.

If the patient constantly feels pain under the knee from behind, radiating to the joints, a feeling of fullness, burning, itching, then most likely there is varicose veins of the knee.

This type of varicose veins can develop due to the expansion of large veins in this area, accompanied by blood stagnation and increased pressure on the vessels.

As a result, there is a deficiency of oxygen and nutrients in the adjacent soft tissues, and an accumulation of decay products. The skin acquires an unhealthy dark color, loses natural moisture, and becomes vulnerable to touch.

If regular pain in the popliteal region is accompanied by the presence of dilated nodular veins in this area of the body, this is a sign of varicose veins under the knee.

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.

Features of pain with popliteal varicose veins

Varicose veins in the popliteal region are often accompanied by quite serious pain that worries patients with varying frequency and intensity of manifestation.

The veins behind the knee hurt

The vessel under the knee may not hurt around the clock; unpleasant sensations occur periodically due to malfunctions of the intravenous valves responsible for the normal outflow of blood.

As a result of varicose veins, veins and venous tributaries undergo gradual deformation, their walls lose strength and elasticity, blood stagnation is formed, and then blood clots - thrombi.

Adjacent tissues lose moisture due to lack of nutrition, their color and structure change, and toxins accumulate in this area.

All of these factors give rise to pain in the popliteal area of the legs, manifested as follows:

The pain is felt directly in the vessels, accompanied by a burning sensation and pulsation.
The vessels seem to be bursting from the inside, while the patient experiences a dull aching pain.
The muscles in the affected area are noticeably itchy.
Short-term and severe pain that appears during convulsions.
During physical activity the pain is strong, especially under the knees.
The pain can affect the entire leg, be accompanied by aches and feel quite serious.

Prevention of phlebitis

You can independently prevent the development of phlebitis and other venous diseases by minimizing the risk factors described below. Adviсe:

Basic treatment: Use medical compression stockings daily if you are prone to varicose veins.
Exercise: Avoid prolonged standing or sitting, and do venous support exercises to activate the musculovenous pump.
Sports: Sports such as swimming, hiking and race walking support your veins.
Drink enough water: Lack of fluid thickens the blood and increases the risk of blood clots.
See your doctor: Varicose veins need to be treated.
Risk factor: Take care of your health: stop smoking, because smoking changes the walls of blood vessels.

Factors of occurrence

The reasons for the appearance of such a dangerous and painful disease as varicose veins of the knee are similar to those that provoke the development of venous disease of the lower extremities in general.

The main factors in the appearance and progression of popliteal varicose veins are:

Pathological heredity, cases of varicose veins in older relatives.

Errors in nutrition, frequent consumption of foods that provoke the formation of cholesterol plaques, excess weight.
Work activity associated with constant stress on the calves: both standing for a long time and sitting at a table in a static position for a long time.
Hormonal overloads of the body that occur: during pregnancy, during menopause, as a result of prolonged hormone therapy.

If pain under the knee bothers you around the clock, accompanied by the symptoms listed above, then you should immediately visit a vascular surgeon, and, if possible, directly to a phlebologist.

A phlebologist is a specialist in the field of vascular surgery with a higher medical education, whose specialization is the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases of the veins of the lower extremities.

Examination of patients with pain in the veins of the leg

When examining patients who have leg pain in the vein area, phlebologists pay attention to the location of the pain and the color of the skin over the vein. If a vein appears on the leg and it hurts, an ultrasound scan is performed. Doctors use 1, 2 or 3 research modes. The main one is B-mode. Additionally, color coding of blood flow or pulsed wave Doppler, as well as a combination of both, is used. The method allows you to simultaneously examine the vein in the leg that hurts, determine the direction of blood flow and its parameters. Patients who have pain and stretching of the veins in their legs must undergo an examination of the superficial and deep veins of both lower extremities.

At the Yusupov Hospital, doctors for ultrasound scanning use devices that are equipped with linear sensors with a frequency of 5 MHz and more from the world's leading manufacturers. To scan deep veins, especially in obese patients, convex sensors with a lower radiation frequency (from 3.5 to 5.0 MHz) are used.

Doppler ultrasound allows you to obtain sound information, which doctors use to judge the presence or absence of blood flow through the main veins. By changing the sound signals during functional tests, blood reflux (reverse discharge) is detected. During X-ray contrast venography, the phlebologist examines the deep and superficial veins. He receives comprehensive information about the morphological changes of the venous system. This research method is used when planning surgery in patients with blocked or underdeveloped veins. Phlebologists at the Yusupov Hospital use the technique of transfemoral ascending phlebography.

Radionuclide phlebography allows you to obtain data on the nature and direction of blood flow through deep, superficial and perforating veins under conditions that are as close as possible to physiological ones. The study is carried out with the patient standing while simulating walking. Radiophlebography allows for an integrative assessment of blood flow throughout the entire system simultaneously.

Intravascular ultrasound examination is carried out to determine the shape and extent of the narrowed segment of the vein when its patency is impaired after thrombosis or compression of the venous vessel from the outside. Infrared thermography, computer thermal imaging, radiothermometry are used as an additional method of studying patients whose cause of pain in the veins of the legs is chronic venous insufficiency. Using this method, the dynamics of the inflammatory process in tissues is monitored, as well as the effectiveness of therapeutic measures is assessed.

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.

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Complex of medical measures

To achieve maximum effect, treatment of patients with varicose veins (including popliteal varicose veins) is comprehensive and includes the following methods, means and methods:

Maintain bed rest, especially during exacerbations.
Regular bandaging of limbs with elastic bandages.
Use of compression stockings.
The use of alcohol compresses and rubbing, “Menovazin” is perfect.
Rubbing various anti-inflammatory drugs “Diclofenac”, “Indomethacin” into the area of inflammation.
The use of external and oral drugs with anticoagulative (blood-thinning) action: “Lioton”, “Trombless”, “Gepatrombin”, “Aspirin”.

If there is a risk of infection, it is necessary to use some kind of antimicrobial agent - an antibiotic.
If these measures do not bring the desired effect for a long time, the doctor may recommend a surgical method of combating venous disease.

Such surgical measures can differ in the degree of invasion (intervention in the body) and are divided into minimally invasive: sclerotherapy, laser and radiofrequency coagulation and classical: removal of the venous trunk and tributaries in whole or in part.

Causes of phlebitis

Slowing blood flow is the most common cause of phlebitis, especially when the venous wall is weakened and prone to varicose veins.
Phlebitis can also develop if a vein is compressed for a long time by tight clothing or, for example, squeezed by the edge of a chair. Another common cause is venous catheters that are left in a vein for several days to give infusions or medications. Phlebitis can also be caused by mechanical damage to the venous wall or the penetration of bacteria after operations and during prolonged bed rest. Another common cause of vein inflammation is damage to the vessel wall. This damage may be caused by:

Infusions, e.g. during or after surgery,
blood sampling,
venous access (catheter) or
a bite of an insect

The entry of bacteria can cause the development of inflammation of infectious phlebitis. Blood composition also plays an important role in the development of phlebitis. Blood clotting may increase due to illness or lack of fluid in the body. This can lead to the development of blood clots.

Traditional methods

Treatment with folk remedies occupies a separate place in anti-varicose veins therapy. To eliminate the symptoms of varicose veins in the popliteal area, there are the following products that can be made and used at home:

Chestnut ointment. Take 5 horse chestnut nuts, grind them until smooth, place them in a container along with 10-15 chestnut inflorescences and 200 ml of vegetable oil. Everything is heated in a water bath for 60 minutes. After which the drug is cooled and mixed with any animal fat. This remedy is used to eliminate itching, pain and swelling.
Take a glass of crushed Kalanchoe leaf, pour in 500 ml of good vodka or food alcohol, leave for 10-15 days. After which we strain the product and use it as an impregnation for compresses.
Important! If the skin is damaged, the use of alcohol infusions is prohibited.
Let's take 1 tbsp. l. dry nettle leaf, pour 200 ml of boiling water. Let it sit for half an hour. Take 4 times a day before meals (30–40 minutes) 2 tbsp. l. drugs.

Rubbing with apple cider vinegar, as well as compresses based on it, are also very effective for diseases of the veins of the popliteal area.

Knee pain as a sign of varicose veins

Varicose veins are a fairly common disease of the legs, which is pathological in nature and manifests itself in the form of dilated veins. The symptoms of this disease are quite extensive:

the patient experiences pain in the legs;
vascular functions are impaired;
swelling appears in the legs;
heaviness appears in the place where the disease develops.

Most often, it is women who suffer from varicose veins, since their veins are designed in a special way, and pregnancy is often the cause of the disease. If you have any suspicious pain in the legs, you should immediately pay attention to where exactly it originated. If you feel pain behind the knee, then in this case thrombosis is possible, i.e. A blood clot has formed in a vein. The reason for this may be poor blood flow, for example due to a sedentary lifestyle.

As a result, too much blood accumulates in the vein itself, because of this the walls of the blood vessel begin to stretch, hence all kinds of pain with varicose veins. Most often, a pulling sensation occurs, and swelling is possible.

If you do not pay attention to varicose veins under the knee, and the pain is eliminated only with painkillers, this will lead to the popliteal vein becoming clogged, and the disease will develop into thrombosis.

Pain with varicose veins has the following character:

the veins hurt very much, all this is accompanied by pulsation and burning;
the patient feels a dull pain bursting from the inside;
itching sensations occur in the lower leg area, swelling is possible;
bothered by night cramps in the leg, accompanied by instant nagging pain;
there is pain in the knee during movement;
pain can cover the lower limbs completely, bringing with it a feeling of aching;
The vessels themselves are also disturbing.

The pain may wax and wane. In this case, you cannot postpone visiting the doctor. If varicose veins are a fairly common disease, then thrombosis is less known to patients, although its occurrence is not excluded. Thrombosis makes itself felt when the patient experiences severe swelling in the knee joint, pain below the knee, and difficulty moving. In this case, there is no point in self-medicating. Thrombosis is a much more serious disease that leads to serious consequences, sometimes such an illness can cost one’s life.

Causes of the disease

To effectively fight varicose veins, you need to understand what caused it. There are many factors for the appearance of varicose veins, among which are:

Varicose veins can be a hereditary disease, i.e. transmitted at the genetic level from older to younger generations;
appears in office employees who constantly sit in one position, as well as people who reject an active lifestyle;
varicose veins can be caused by work during which you have to stand for a long time;
the disease often occurs in pregnant women;
varicose veins are a common companion to obesity;
varicose veins can appear in those who play sports too hard, putting stress on their legs;
Hormonal imbalances in the body can lead to the disease.

The largest number of patients belong to the group that receives a predisposition to varicose veins at the genetic level, but it is known that genetics cannot be the only cause. The occurrence of varicose veins is always the result of several problems.

Diagnosis and treatment

A phlebologist deals with the problem of diseased veins, and it is he who conducts the initial examination of the patient. An ultrasound examination of the lower extremities is also carried out, thanks to which the doctor examines not only the subcutaneous vessels, but also the deep ones, where thrombosis can occur.

All results and conclusions are made based on the examination and complaints of the patient.

If the patient's condition is deplorable and thrombosis is detected in his leg, the following treatment may be prescribed:

bed rest;
Elastic bandages and compresses with an alcohol solution are prescribed;
ointments may be prescribed, for example Lyoton ointment and its analogues;
anti-inflammatory gels, such as Diclofenac or Indovazin;
pain due to varicose veins in the back of the knee is treated with Troxevasin or Rutozid ointments;
the patient will need to take anti-inflammatory pills;
in case of serious complications, anticoagulants are prescribed;
You should definitely take thrombolytic medications;
Antibiotics may be prescribed if the patient develops an infection.

Sometimes the patient may be placed on the operating table. Such treatment is carried out as follows: the patient is either injected with a special chemical substance, or the diseased veins are removed using special punctures. After such an operation, the patient is prescribed to wear a special compression bandage. This often happens when blood clots break off under the knee. In this case, treatment without surgery is impossible.

Treatment of phlebitis

Treatment for venous inflammation depends on its type and severity. First, the doctor finds out whether the deep veins are affected.

Many patients with thrombophlebitis find that cooling the inflamed area relieves pain. Depending on the location and size of the clot, there are different treatment options. Treatment with anticoagulants to dissolve the blood clot is possible. The clot can also be removed surgically. In some cases, symptomatic treatment is sufficient.

Main treatment: Use of medical compression stockings for phlebitis

The main treatment involves the use of properly selected medical compression stockings. It is particularly effective in combination with physical exercise: the compression stockings and the activation of the muscular-venous pump ensure that the diameter of the veins is reduced. This means that blood moves faster towards the heart and does not accumulate in the vessels of the legs. Symptoms such as pain, swelling and pressure are significantly reduced, resulting in an improved quality of life.

What happens if phlebitis is not treated?

Easily diagnosed, superficial phlebitis is highly treatable and often resolves within a few days without complications. If phlebitis is not treated, it can progress and cause prolonged pain lasting up to several weeks. The situation becomes especially dangerous if the vein affected by phlebioma connects to the deep venous system. If in this case treatment is not started in a timely manner, deep vein thrombosis may develop with a high risk of pulmonary embolism.

Which doctor treats phlebitis?

If you develop phlebitis, you should immediately consult a doctor (phlebologist, vascular surgeon, dermatologist).