Circulation, Heavy Legs and Hemorrhoids

Care of heavy legs and help with medical compression.

In case of heavy legs:
Situations to avoid:
Sitting or standing too long, trampling, wearing clothes that are too tight (tight pants, boots), shoes with heels that are too low or too high, exposing the legs to the sun or heat sources, taking excessive weight, and avoid foods that are known to promote congestion of the veins: alcohol, spices, coffee, tea, tobacco.

And it is necessary to elevate the legs whenever possible, especially in the evening in bed, to practice regular physical activity (brisk walking, swimming, gymnastics, cycling), to shower the legs with cold water, to massage them and to wear stockings , tights or compression socks.

How does blood circulation work?

The heart pumps blood loaded with oxygen and nutrients to the organs through the arteries. Gas and metabolic exchanges take place through networks of capillaries in organs and muscles. Veins carry oxygen-depleted blood loaded with metabolic wastes back to the heart. The return of blood to the heart is possible thanks to:

- respiratory movements (aspiration by the movements of the diaphragm),

- the contraction of the leg muscles,

- and massaging the arch of the foot with each step,

- to the valves of the veins (valves oriented from bottom to top).

What is venous insufficiency?

Venous insufficiency brings together different pathologies according to the veins affected: superficial veins which drain 10% of the blood or deep veins which drain 90% of the blood.

* The most common pathology is superficial venous insufficiency which most often results in varicose veins. In the vast majority of cases, varicose veins are said to be primary because of hereditary origin. The wall of the superficial veins undergoes enzymatic alterations. She loses her tone and the valves separate. The blood flow is no longer from bottom to top but is reversed. The blood stagnates and the superficial veins dilate. Varicose veins appear with or without numerous functional signs: "heavy legs", cramps, tingling, nocturnal impatience and various leg pains.

The legs may show swelling at the ankle (and calf). This is called edema. After a few years of development and in the absence of treatment for varicose veins, complications may appear: eczema, ocher dermatitis, hypodermatitis, ulcer, paraphlebitis and phlebitis.

Physical inactivity, prolonged standing, trampling, heat are all aggravating factors for varicose heredity. In addition, for women, there are also pregnancies and hormonal treatments (pills and menopause).

* Deep venous insufficiency is rarer.

It can be primary by absence of valves from birth or secondary to phlebitis. Phlebitis (or deep vein thrombosis) results from the formation of a blood clot that obstructs a deep vein. The main risk is pulmonary embolism by detachment of microscopic fragments of the clot which will migrate to the lungs. Heredity also plays an important role because there are families of phebitics. Indeed, there is an anomaly in the level of blood coagulation. In addition, phlebitis are often caused during prolonged bed rest. Orthopedic treatment The orthopedic solution for venous insufficiency is medical compression which complements all the phlebological treatments that doctors can offer to treat the causes, the functional signs and the complications.

Medical restraint is exercised using elastic tights, stockings and socks. These elastic orthoses apply a decreasing pressure on the lower limb. They make it possible to make go up blood towards the heart because the pressure is stronger at the ankle than at the level of the calf or the thigh. We can say that compression stockings, stockings or socks give the valves back their role of “non-return” valve. There are several compression strengths ranging from Class I to Class III as standard. Class IV is tailor-made for very specific cases of lymphedema. It is important to agree to wear the tights, stockings or socks prescribed because the functional signs (pain, swollen legs) will be relieved, the progression of venous insufficiency delayed and complications limited.

Medical restraint can also be exercised using elastic or non-elastic bandages in very specific cases (ulcers, phlebitis and prevention of phlebitis, etc.).

In all cases, medical treatment is required. Orthopedic care can be part of a medical treatment prescribed by your doctor. If in doubt, ask your doctor, pharmacist or orthopaedist for advice.