Medically reviewed by Mohamed T. Hassan, MD, DABVLM, RPVI, on September 24, 2025
For years, Amy R. lived with legs that felt like anchors. With swelling that reached from her knees to her toes, she endured aching that worsened if she stood too long, and leg heaviness that turned simple tasks into exhausting chores. She tried diuretics and saw a cardiologist. While her heart was deemed healthy, her legs kept screaming for attention.
What she did not know then is that the root cause of her leg pain and swelling was chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a vein disease where weak valves let blood flow backward and pool in the lower legs.
For this article, we spoke to Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) patient Amy R., as well as her CVR vein physician, Dr. Mohamed T. Hassan. Dr. Hassan is the lead physician at Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) vein clinics in Hoover, Alabama, and Trussville, Alabama.
✅To schedule a consultation with Dr. Hassan in Hoover, Alabama, CLICK HERE.
✅To schedule a consultation with Dr. Hassan in Trussville, Alabama, CLICK HERE.
✅ Don’t live near Trussville or Hoover, Alabama? Call 240-965-3915 to speak with a helpful Patient Services Representative or schedule your consultation online at one of our 110+ CVR vein clinics near you.
In 2014, Amy was diagnosed with venous insufficiency in both legs and began treatment at another vein center in Alabama. Over several years, she underwent multiple procedures on each leg. One procedure—performed at that other center without any numbing—was so painful that Amy describes it as “traumatic.”
The experience left her fearful of vein care, and she stopped seeking treatment, convinced that all vein procedures would be just as unbearable.
The reassuring truth about vein treatment at Center for Vein Restoration (CVR): Outpatient care at CVR is designed with comfort in mind. Proper numbing, gentle technique, and minimally invasive procedures allow patients to walk out the same day with little to no downtime, without the pain Amy once endured elsewhere.
When the swelling and pain returned after her traumatic experience, Amy knew she couldn’t live that way any longer. She began researching vein specialists online and was drawn to Dr. Hassan at Center for Vein Restoration after reading glowing reviews.
From the moment she walked in, Amy noticed the CVR difference. The Center for Vein Restoration staff was patient and welcoming. Dr. Hassan recalled the initial consultation as well:
“She was crying in the office. I told her, let’s try one vein, the hardest one to treat, and see how it goes. If we can get through that together, everything else will be much easier.” –Dr. Mohamed T. Hassan
That personal approach made Amy feel seen, heard, and safe. Dr. Hassan reviewed her ultrasound results in detail, drawing diagrams to explain precisely what was wrong. Then came a surprising revelation: after reviewing her history and scan results, he told Amy he did not believe she had lymphedema, which she had been told elsewhere. This diagnosis had led her to spend two hours every day doing compression therapy.
“That was such a relief,” Amy said. “Dr. Hassan explained that my main problem was venous reflux, not lymphatic disease. It was life-changing to know I didn’t have to keep doing all that extra compression therapy.”
📞 Call Center for Vein Restoration at 240-965-3915
📅 Or book online HERE
Because of Amy’s past trauma, her CVR doctor built a treatment plan that prioritized her emotional comfort as much as her medical needs.
Her customized plan included:
Before every appointment, Dr. Hassan explained precisely what he would do, why it mattered, and what Amy might feel.
“I promised her she wouldn’t have pain—and I kept that promise. After that first treatment, all her fear melted away.” – Dr. Mohamed T. Hassan
Even the most tender areas, like around the ankle, were treated gently. Amy recalls feeling little more than mild pressure during the procedures in Dr. Hassan’s hands.
👉 Book your consultation with a CVR vein specialist today and discover how comfortable relief can be.
Venous care is guided by duplex ultrasound. Amy’s scan revealed that while some major refluxing veins had been closed previously, many branching tributaries were still open and feeding pressure into her lower legs and ankles.
By systematically closing those problem veins, Dr. Hassan reduced the venous pressure that caused her swelling and pain. Follow-up ultrasound confirmed complete closure of the treated veins, which matched Amy’s experience: lighter, less swollen legs and a dramatic improvement in daily comfort.
Over several months, Amy drove more than an hour each way twice a week for treatment—and it paid off.
“My calves were the size of my thighs. Now I can sit, stand, and even ride my bike without pain.”
She is back to cleaning houses with a friend, a job that once left her ankles painfully swollen by day’s end. Her doctor reminded her that healing takes time and some puffiness can persist, but Amy feels confident she’s finally on the right track.
Amy wants anyone with leg pain, swelling, or heaviness to know they don’t have to live with it:
“Do your research. Read reviews. Find a vein specialist who listens and explains things in plain language. If you’re afraid because of a past experience, don’t give up—find someone who will make you comfortable.”
Leg heaviness, swelling, or throbbing pain isn’t just part of “getting older.” These symptoms may signal vein disease, which can progress if untreated. The earlier you get evaluated, the easier it is to stop the problem and prevent complications like skin changes or venous ulcers.
Amy’s story proves that with the correct diagnosis, a supportive care team, and a thoughtful treatment plan, years of pain and fear can be replaced with light, strong, healthy legs.
📞 Call Center for Vein Restoration at 240-965-3915
📅 Schedule your consultation online at a CVR clinic near you
About Vein Disease
Spider Veins
Varicose Veins
Vein Disease Treatments
Treating Spider Veins
Treating Varicose Veins
About Us
Patient Resources
Physician Resources