Description of Thrombophlebitis
In a healthy body, blood constantly circulates through arteries and veins. This proper circulation is ensured by the efficient functioning of the heart, the elasticity of arteries, and the contraction of skeletal muscles.
Veins, however, have fewer elastic and muscular fibers in their walls and cannot contract sufficiently to push blood effectively. The upward movement of venous blood is further complicated, especially in the legs, as blood must rise against gravity. Crescent-shaped valve pockets in the walls of veins prevent backflow by filling with blood, expanding, and closing to block the vessel lumen. These valves ensure one-way blood flow upward toward the heart.
The movement of venous blood to the heart is also aided by the suction effect of the chest cavity. During inhalation, negative pressure is created, which is transmitted to nearby venous trunks. Additionally, the musculature, especially in the legs, plays a crucial role in venous blood propulsion.
Our blood comprises a liquid portion—plasma—and cellular elements, such as erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets. While some substances in the blood prevent clot formation in the circulatory system, others promote clotting, which is essential for vessel integrity when injured.
When clotting occurs inside the circulatory system, it becomes a severe complication. Initially, an inflammatory process may occur in the vein wall (phlebitis). The wall thickens, swells, and its inner lining becomes rough. With significant wall changes and slow blood flow, a blood clot forms within the vessel. This clot accumulates cellular elements and deposits fibrin, a specialized protein, in filament form.
Common Causes of Thrombophlebitis
Thrombophlebitis often arises as a complication of infections like influenza, typhoid fever, dysentery, or pneumonia. It can also result from skin abrasions, ulcers, or boils. In some cases, thrombosis occurs in individuals with heart defects or in women during pregnancy or after childbirth.
More commonly, thrombophlebitis affects leg veins, particularly varicose veins. If varicose vein enlargement is minimal, preventive measures such as regular warm foot baths and wearing elastic bandages or stockings are recommended.
Tight circular garters on stockings should be avoided as they impede blood circulation and promote clot formation. These are especially harmful to individuals with varicose veins or pregnant women. These individuals must also avoid cooling their legs and seek medical attention for any discomfort to prevent complications, such as embolism—a blood clot fragment that detaches, travels through the bloodstream, and blocks critical arteries.
In these vessels, normal blood flow from bottom to top is ensured by valves, which are like sails stretched between the walls of the vein. As the blood rises through the vein, it presses these sails against the wall, and it cannot flow downward because the valve will close to prevent the reverse flow. When a vein is blocked by a clot, the nutrition of the valves is inevitably disrupted. The longer this lasts, the more they suffer. The clot may dissolve over time, but the valves will not recover. And if the valves are not functioning, venous blood, unable to meet resistance, flows not only upward but also backward. This leads to constant swelling in the leg, the wall of the inflamed vein undergoes changes, the nutrition of the skin and subcutaneous tissue worsens, and ulcers may appear.
There are two methods for treating acute thrombophlebitis: surgical and conservative. Only a surgeon can determine which one is appropriate in each specific case—and how urgently surgery is needed. Modern medical techniques allow us to determine the location of the clot, its size, and even whether it is loose and ready to break off.
If there is a threat of the clot breaking off, it is either surgically removed, or the vein above it is tied off to close its access to the blood vessels of vital organs. In the last two years, a completely new operation has been introduced in our country. A filter consisting of a metal frame and synthetic perforated film is inserted into the damaged vein. The filter allows the liquid part of the blood to pass through and captures clots, thus preventing the clot from moving to the pulmonary artery.
If there is no threat of the clot breaking off, surgery is usually not performed, and anticoagulants are used. These prevent the clot from growing and help dissolve it. However, using anticoagulants is delicate, and the dosage of the drugs is highly individualized. Treatment is monitored by blood tests, which are done at least twice a week.
A few words about surgical treatment of varicose veins, a common precursor to thrombophlebitis. It is known that each subsequent inflammation of the vein can be more severe and dangerous. That’s why it is strongly recommended to remove varicose veins, especially in those who have thrombophlebitis.
However, if the doctor does not recommend surgery, it is necessary to wear compression stockings or use elastic bandages (“Ideal”, “Laum”). These special stockings and bandages need to be washed every day. Don’t worry, they won’t lose their properties from this. You should start wearing them immediately after waking up, without getting out of bed. Each turn of the bandage should cover half of the previous one. The bandage should cover the entire leg, from foot to groin, with pressure decreasing as it moves upward. This way, the upper third of the calf and thigh will not be excessively compressed.
Many diseases today are said to have “youngened,” and thrombophlebitis and varicose veins are no exception. This is linked to an unhealthy lifestyle. What do I mean? Two extremes—lack of load on the legs (sedentary lifestyle) or, on the contrary, excessive load on the legs. That’s why those who work standing up are advised to rest lying down, and those who sit a lot must walk after work. Moderate physical load on the legs includes swimming, skiing, regular walking, and many exercises included in hygiene and therapeutic gymnastics complexes. Excessive load on the legs includes being overweight, which is sometimes as damaging as heavy lifting. The difference is that athletes rest after lifting weights, while an overweight person always has to lift their own weight.
However, we cannot endorse the fashion for excessive slimness achieved by unhealthy methods. Young people sometimes refuse to eat first courses in the name of slenderness, eating dry food. The body doesn’t get enough fluid, the blood thickens, and there is a tendency to form clots. The modern ultramodern fashion is merciless to the legs. High heels of 7 or 10 cm are now common. This shifts the support area to the front arch of the foot, impairing blood circulation in the legs. Narrow shoes are also unhygienic and impede blood flow.
In women, thrombophlebitis may be associated with uterine fibroids, which compress the vessels, hindering the blood flow from the legs. Similar blood flow disturbances sometimes occur in pregnant women. That’s why it’s so important to remove fibroids and, during pregnancy, follow a gentle physical load regime.
Thrombophlebitis and leg ulcers: folk medicine recommends applying crushed fresh cabbage leaves mixed with egg yolk to the affected areas. Collect lilac and chestnut flowers in a 1:1 ratio, pack them into a liter jar, and fill with strong water, moonshine, or alcohol. Seal tightly and place in a dark place. Shake every day. When the tincture is ready in 21 days, strain it. Every evening, rub the legs or arms with a cotton ball soaked in this tincture.
Fill a clay jug to the top with water. Then place the jug on the ground overnight and collect the earth under it in a spoon in the morning. Put it on linen fabric and apply to the affected area. If you do this for three days in a row, the clot should disappear.
Other treatments include applying fat or medicinal cream to the painful spots, soaking gauze or cotton wool in warm water, sprinkling it with a large amount of baking soda (1 tbsp), applying it to the clot, covering it with polyethylene, and tying a wool scarf over it to leave overnight. Also, make half-hour compresses with your own urine before bed and wear warm socks. Perform this procedure for two weeks.
Finally, twist green St. John’s Wort in a meat grinder, squeeze the juice into a jar, cover, and open daily to release the gas as the juice ferments. After a week, you can use this juice to rub the affected areas and wrap them overnight. Thrombophlebitis can be treated with simple vibrogymnastics.
These exercises can be performed by those who are prohibited from running or walking fast. Stand on your toes, lifting your heels about 1 cm off the ground, and then suddenly drop down. This creates a shock or jolt. Perform such jolts no more than once every 2-3 seconds. After thirty jolts, take a 5-10 second break, then repeat. Each exercise should involve no more than 60 jolts. Throughout the day, perform 3-5 exercises for one minute each. After a minute of vibrogymnastics, fatigue disappears. Shaking the body is an effective way to prevent and treat various internal organ diseases, as well as to prevent thrombophlebitis.
Herbs for treating thrombophlebitis: prepare the following mixture: 20 g of three-part series, 20 g of common St. John’s Wort, 10 g of licorice root, 10 g of coriander, 10 g of chamomile, 10 g of marsh dryweed, 10 g of burclover, and 10 g of common flax. Pour 3 tbsp of the dried, chopped mixture into a thermos, add 0.5 liters of boiling water, steep for 1-2 hours, strain, and drink half a glass twice a day after meals for 1-2 months.
Also, take a decoction of field hornbeam: 30 g of crushed roots in 1 liter of boiled water, boil until you have 0.5 liters of decoction, strain, and drink a quarter glass three times a day before meals for 4-8 weeks for varicose veins and varicose ulcers.
Acute thrombophlebitis: If the patient suffers from these ailments, prepare a medicinal remedy from freshly harvested black nightshade. If unavailable, use potato tubers. However, using tubers during their spring growth is ineffective. Fresh potatoes work best. Wash the tubers, grate them, put the potato pulp into a cotton bag, and dip it in boiling water for 1-2 minutes. Apply as a compress to the affected area, changing the dressing as the potatoes dry.
For nightshade, grind the herb, boil in water for 5-10 minutes, strain, and apply the slightly warm herb to the affected area, wrapping it well. The treatment course is determined by the patient’s well-being.