Vein Care Specialists Can Help You Find Relief From Vein Pain and Reduce the Appearance of Varicose Veins

Vein Care Center can help you find relief from vein pain and reduce the appearance of varicose veins. The good news is that most treatments don’t require surgery and downtime is minimal. Some people return to work and other regular activities right away, but they might need a few weeks to recover from the more invasive procedures that involve injecting chemicals into varicose veins. The majority of these procedures are done in the doctor’s office and only take about an hour. Some people experience bruising, but it should fade over the course of two weeks.

A vascular specialist or vein doctor will examine your legs and perform ultrasound diagnostic tests to create an individual treatment plan. Your doctor may also recommend compression therapy, which involves wearing elastic stockings or bandages that put gentle pressure on the legs to prevent swelling and help blood flow. Some insurance plans cover this, but your out-of-pocket costs will vary depending on your policy’s terms and conditions.

The cause of most varicose veins is a disease called chronic venous insufficiency, which affects the valves and vein walls. The disease increases the pressure on the veins and causes them to stretch, resulting in the dilated or twisted appearance of varicose veins. Certain factors can increase your chances of getting varicose veins, including gender (female hormones can allow the vein walls to stretch), age (aging and the use of birth control pills can lead to increased risk), and lifestyle (standing or sitting for long periods of time decreases circulation, and girdles and tight pants can put pressure on the veins).

If your symptoms become serious enough to cause leg ulcers, a vascular specialist may need to tie off and remove large varicose veins in a procedure known as vein stripping or ligation. The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis, but you will need medicine to sedate you for the operation. It is common to experience bruising, swelling, and pain after surgery.

If your varicose veins are small, a vascular specialist may use a technique called radiofrequency ablation to treat them. Under a local anesthetic, the doctor will insert a thin tube into the affected vein. The catheter delivers short bursts of energy, which heat up the wall of the varicose vein and close it. Alternatively, a laser can be used to close the vein without cutting or injuring your skin. Ambulatory phlebectomy is another surgical option for treating larger varicose veins. Under local anesthesia, the physician makes tiny punctures and then uses a small tool to remove the diseased veins segment by segment. After a few weeks, the treated veins should fade and disappear. Surgery can be painful, but recovery is quick and relatively simple, especially if you wear compression stockings.