Treating Varicose Veins

Varicose vein treatment has come a long way since the days when Hippocrates (the father of modern medicine) recommended tight bandages to compress the legs. Interestingly, compression is still one of the management strategies used by varicose vein doctors like the specialists at Vascular and Intervention Associates. About Varicose Veins Each time your heart beats, blood flows through your arteries into the body. On the way back, it flows through veins. Veins, unlike arteries, have tiny flaps of tissue called valves to prevent blood from flowing backward in between heartbeats. If these valves are weakened or damaged, the blood pools in the veins, causing them to become distended. These are the conditions that create varicose veins. Varicose Vein Doctors Surgeons were once the only doctors who treated varicose veins, as physically removing the vein — called vein stripping — was the treatment of choice. Today, these doctors are just as likely to be interventional radiologists, who specialize in using imaging treatments in combination with office-based procedures. Extensively trained and board-certified, interventional radiologists use techniques like endovenous laser ablation, (EVLA), micro-phlebectomy, ultrasound guided chemical ablation and sclerotherapy. Varicose Vein Treatment Interventional treatments for varicose veins share several characteristics: they are typically performed in an office under local anesthesia; healing time is much shorter than following a surgical procedure, and you can usually resume your normal activities within 24 hours; pain and disability are minimal. Endovenous laser ablation uses a tiny laser inserted inside the vein to close it. In micro-phlebectomy, the doctor makes tiny cuts on the surface of a large, bulging vein and pulls the veins out in small pieces. Ultrasound guided chemical ablation involves a special chemical injected into the vein; the leg is then wrapped and the vein collapses and sticks itself shut. Sclerotherapy is used for tiny spider veins. The doctor injects a solution into the veins to make them swell, stick to each other and close the vein. Partner With Your Doctor Medical treatment is a partnership between the patient and the doctor. When it comes to varicose vein treatment, your role is to take steps that can help prevent new varicose veins or prevent small problems from becoming big problems. Among the strategies:

• Avoid sitting or standing for long periods; don’t cross your legs and elevate your legs when sitting.
• Engage in regular exercise to help keep the blood moving.
• Try to maintain or achieve a healthy weight.
• Don’t wear tight clothes, as they can make varicose veins worse, and don’t wear high heels, for the same reason.
• Do wear support stockings or prescription compression hose as recommended by your varicose vein doctor.

Varicose veins can be treated with relative ease in today’s world, and you insurance may cover many procedures. Contact us at Vascular and Intervention Associates if you have questions or concerns about varicose veins, or to schedule an appointment for care.