I recognize phlebitis by these symptoms

Here, too, the so-called TBVT – deep vein thrombosis of the leg is the most common and usually the most obvious example. On the one hand, the affected leg hurts – independent of movement, on the other hand it looks red and also feels warmer than the non-affected leg when compared to the sides. In addition, the affected leg has an increase in circumference – sometimes discreetly, sometimes significantly – compared to the healthy side.

These symptoms can, but need not, occur in every leg vein inflammation. The symptoms of phlebitis – pain in the leg are usually the leading symptom when it comes to diagnosing phlebitis. Every inflammation, whether pathogen-induced or “sterile-induced”, is characterized by 5 symptoms, one of which is pain.

Pain is only caused by the immune system. Its cells release so-called inflammation mediators, which on the one hand serve to attract other cells of the immune system, but on the other hand also have the effect of making the sensitive nerves more susceptible to pain and creating an acidic environment in the area of the inflammation. Thus, the pain is reduced when the immune system regulates its work down again.

The treatment

The therapy varies greatly between the different causes of phlebitis. The corresponding therapies for deep vein thrombosis, autoimmune diseases and chronic venous insufficiency are described here as examples. In order to treat the inflammation caused by a thrombosis, the first step is to eliminate the thrombosis.As a rule, the body takes over this task itself and therapeutic support takes the form of blood thinning, which is intended to prevent the existing thrombus from becoming even larger.

In special cases of venous thrombosis, thrombolysis (a dissolution of the thrombus) may also be indicated to prevent complications of thrombosis. Autoimmune diseases, however, are treated quite differently. Glucocorticoids such as cortisone are often the first choice for therapy.

Cortisone dampens the effect of the immune system so that it is no longer directed against the body’s own cells. Other therapeutic approaches include filtering out the wrongly polarized antibodies or modified antibody therapies. In some cases, “donor antibodies” are also administered, which slow down the body’s own immune system, but then still guarantee sufficient protection.

Chronic venous insufficiency, on the other hand, has its main problem not in the inflammation but in the consequences of the inflammation, which causes poorer blood circulation in the legs, which ultimately leads to open legs. To prevent this, preventive care should be taken. The “leaking” superficial veins can be removed, which strengthens the deeper lying ones.

In addition, compression stockings should be worn and daily activities such as running, hiking and walking should be undertaken. Raising the leg helps to counteract the swelling and makes it easier for the blood to return to the heart through the inflamed venous vessel. The leg does not have to be elevated to an insane height; 30 degrees in the hip joint is easily sufficient, as too steep an elevation can lead to constriction of the blood vessels or nerves running in the groin.

Furthermore, care should be taken to ensure that the heel is well padded and that the Achilles tendon does not lie on an edge. Particularly in older patients or diabetics, pressure points can develop here whose treatment would have been an avoidable evil. All available home remedies can only be used externally in the case of phlebitis, which is why not too great an effect is to be expected.

A popular remedy for inflammation is curd wrap, which could also be used here. The curd has a cooling and thus refreshing effect on overheated, inflamed legs. Chamomile is also said to have an anti-inflammatory effect, but external application will hardly help.

The most effective way is to elevate the inflamed leg, if necessary in combination with cooling measures, which are more for the well-being than to have a therapeutically relevant effect. A real therapeutic benefit cannot be expected from any ointment that attempts to treat a venous inflammation from the outside. The skin is simply too impermeable for an ointment to penetrate to the depth where the inflamed blood vessel is located. As already mentioned above, cooling can make the pain and overheating of the inflamed leg a little more pleasant, so an ointment with a cooling effect could have a slight benefit. Otherwise, however, the money for an ointment is better invested elsewhere.