ARE YOUR VEINS BOTHERING YOU?
Varicose veins are stretched and weakened veins that are close to the surface of the skin and may be visible as ropy, twisted, and bulging cords, generally in the lower leg on the calf. Varicose veins are caused by the blood pooling in the vein due to damaged or malfunctioning valves in the veins; this pooling blood forces the vein to expand, stretching the vein walls and weakening them.
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Varicose veins are generally found on the legs and feet because of the stress of standing and walking, but can also appear other places in the body, such as the lining of the stomach, the rectum, the colon, the esophagus, and the scrotum. Varicose veins are distinguished from “spider veins” only by size; varicose veins are larger than 3mm in diameter.
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Our doctors can perform a minimally-invasive outpatient procedure called endovenous ablation that will close off the damaged varicose vein. This causes it to be reabsorbed by the body and disappear from view. Other veins take over the job of the reabsorbed vein, so your legs will be free of pain and varicose veins.
SYMPTOMS
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Legs may feel heavy, tired, or achy particularly after standing
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Legs may feel restless, particularly at night (Restless Legs)
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Skin over varicose veins may be painful or itchy
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Skin around ankles may be painful or itchy
SIGNS
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Swollen ankles or feet
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Visible veins, possibly twisted, raised, and engorged
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Skin over visible veins may be shiny, brownish or bluish
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Minor injuries to the area may bleed more than normal
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Symptoms are indicators of a disease that you experience, while signs are indicators of a disease that can be seen. Your doctor will ask you about the symptoms you experience and examine you for signs.
DIAGNOSIS​
Sometimes, clinical tests are done to determine if other problems may be causing the varicose veins. They can be a symptom of chronic venous insufficiency, so your doctor may perform one or both of the following tests.
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Ultrasound: Measures blood flow in the deep and surface veins to look for signs of vein damage.
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Venography: Measures blood flow in the deep veins using X-ray technology. This is used to exclude other possible diagnoses.
COMPLICATIONS
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TREATMENT
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Once the vein walls have been weakened and stretched to form varicose veins, they will not simply return to normal on their own.
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LIFESTYLE TREATMENT FOR VARICOSE VEINS
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Most people can find relief from symptoms without turning to any medical procedures. Simply elevating the legs occasionally can often provide relief from pain and swelling, and the use of compression stockings can be used to reduce the swelling and improve circulation. Compression stockings are specially designed stockings that are worn from the toes to the knee. The compression stockings improve the flow of blood to the heart by putting pressure on the leg muscles that squeeze the veins.
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MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR VARICOSE VEINS
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The veins that can become varicose are the superficial veins, the ones that are closest to the skin. There is a large network of these superficial veins providing blood to the skin and underlying tissue, so a common treatment for varicose veins is to close off the damaged vein and allow healthy blood vessels to take over. The closed off blood vessel then degrades and is eventually reabsorbed.
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There are several techniques that can be used to close off the damaged vein, including sclerotherapy and endovenous ablation. We prefer laser ablation or radiofrequency ablation because they do not require the introduction of foreign materials into the body, and offer quick recovery time and extremely good results.
