How Do You Fix Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins can be physically uncomfortable, and it's easy to be self-conscious about the twisting dark blue bulges that have begun to appear on the skin of your lower legs. Don’t Allow discomfort discussing cosmetic concerns about your varicose veins to deter you from seeking treatment. Such interventions can impact your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Don't let the awkward cosmetic conversion about varicose veins stop you from getting treatment that can help improve your mental, emotional, and physical health.
How Do You Fix Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are enlarged and twisted veins located just beneath the skin, typically appearing in the legs. Varicose veins are generally blue, black, or purple and can cause discomfort and pain. Varicose veins don't go away on their own.
While there are self-care and lifestyle measures you can take to relieve the symptoms of varicose veins, please check with a medical professional before taking any supplements or buying any gadgets that claim to eliminate varicose veins without seeing a vein specialist.
What Causes Varicose Veins?
There are many common causes of varicose veins. Varicose veins develop when the valves in the vein no longer function properly, causing blood to pool in the vein, enflaming and enlarging it.
Causes of varicose veins include but aren't limited to:
Age: As we age, damage to the valves within veins can occur, heightening the risk of varicose veins. This age-related factor underscores the importance of understanding how vascular health evolves and adapting preventive measures accordingly.
Pregnancy: Hormonal and weight changes during pregnancy and the pressure created by the growing uterus on the veins in the pelvic area can contribute to the formation of varicose veins both during and after pregnancy.
Gender: Women are more likely to develop varicose veins than men due to hormonal changes throughout their lives, including menarche (the first menstrual period in a female adolescent), pregnancy, and menopause, and the potential use of hormonal replacement therapy like birth control.
Genetics: Your family history may indicate you could be at risk for developing varicose veins.
Lifestyle: You may be at risk of developing varicose veins if you have a very active or very sedentary lifestyle. Even athletes are at risk of developing varicose veins. Varicose veins are caused by wear and tear on the valves in the veins, and that wear and tear can be just as quickly caused by exertion and rigorous activity as a sedentary lifestyle. Find balance in enjoyable workouts and exercises, and be mindful of applying compression, rest, and ice when needed to keep your inflammation down and your veins healthy.
Untreated varicose veins can escalate to more critical health issues, including persistent non-healing sores (ulcers), and increase your risk for deep vein thrombosis or DVT.
Symptoms of Varicose Veins
Varicose veins have a distinctive dark, bulging, and twisted appearance close to the skin's surface. Other symptoms of varicose veins include but aren't limited to:
Swelling and heaviness in the legs
Muscle cramps, particularly at night
Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
Talk to your vein specialist if your varicose vein symptoms worsen or don't respond to self-care and lifestyle changes, become more painful, or you notice any severe skin changes such as open sores or hardening of the skin as it may be time to consider sclerotherapy or other minimally invasive procedures.
Seek immediate medical attention if you're experiencing the following symptoms as they could indicate a severe medical emergency such as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT):
Extreme, sudden, deep pain in the leg or calf
Heat radiating from the area
Swelling in one or both legs
Chest pains
Trouble breathing
Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) provides DVT rule-out services. Avoid lengthy waits and expensive ER visits. This comprehensive approach offered by CVR includes a scan, anticoagulation treatment, education, and necessary follow-up for those suspecting a DVT. Reach out to the DVT hotline at 877-SCAN-DVT (844-568-3691) to avail of these services.
Self-Care for Varicose Veins
Varicose veins can be uncomfortable physically and emotionally, impacting the way you feel about yourself in many ways. Here are some self-care remedies that can help alleviate painful symptoms of varicose veins and slow down their progression:
Consistent lifestyle changes: Commit to constant positive lifestyle changes. According to Johns Hopkins, positive lifestyle changes can help improve your vascular health. These lifestyle changes include maintaining a healthy weight through a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Gentle exercises such as walking, cycling, leg lifts, yoga, and swimming can improve your vascular health. Focus on staying hydrated and lowering your risk of swelling or edema by drinking plenty of water, and keep salty foods to a minimum, as they can increase your risk of water retention and swelling.
Take Time For Symptom Relief: The Mayo Clinic recommends self-care as a positive step in relieving varicose vein discomfort. Your vein specialist may recommend over-the-counter anti-inflammatories to reduce the aching sensation in your varicose veins. Avoid sitting or standing for long periods, which can cause the blood to pool. Take time to elevate your legs above your heart to allow the blood to move back toward the heart, reducing pain, swelling, and pressure on the veins. Use compression stockings to reduce swelling, pain, and discomfort.
These self-care options won't make your varicose veins disappear, but they will help relieve uncomfortable symptoms and help prevent new ones from forming. If you're not seeing any symptom relief or your symptoms have worsened, talk to your vein specialist about minimally invasive treatment options.
Center for Vein Restoration Treatment for Varicose Veins
At Center for Vein Restoration, we offer minimally invasive varicose vein treatments, allowing you to get back on your feet faster and back to living life. Your board-certified vein specialist will tailor a treatment specifically for your needs. Our varicose vein treatments are all outpatient procedures, eliminating the burden of planning a hospital stay in an uncomfortable environment.
Local anesthetic is administered to numb the leg so you feel minimal discomfort. Your vein specialist will walk you through each procedure step so you know what to expect and your recovery time.
Varithena: Varithena is a non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins and includes administering a small injection of microfoam via a catheter, inducing the collapse of the affected veins and redirecting the blood flow to healthier blood vessels.
Ultrasound-Guided Foam Sclerotherapy: Using ultrasound guidance, this minimally invasive procedure includes injecting a foam medication known as a sclerosant into the diseased vein and closing it off. Subsequently, the body naturally absorbs the collapsed vein, redirecting blood flow to healthier veins.
ClariVein: Clarivein combines two techniques to target and close the affected vein. A catheter is introduced into the vein to deliver a sclerosing agent or chemical to seal the vein. The catheter tip rotates to disperse the sclerosing agent evenly, closing the targeted vein area.
VenaSeal: VenaSeal is an FDA-approved microfoam treatment that swiftly and gently enhances the look of varicose veins while alleviating associated uncomfortable physical symptoms, all with minimal recovery time. This innovative procedure employs a unique medical adhesive to seal varicose veins effectively.
Laser Ablation: The procedure involves inserting a thin fiber through the skin and into the affected vein. The laser fiber heats the vein, causing it to close. The closed vein is naturally reabsorbed into the body once the fiber is removed, and the healing begins. The blood supply in the treated area is redirected through other, healthier veins. Laser ablation is recommended for patients with painful, symptomatic varicose veins. Laser ablation is a modern alternative to the outdated and uncomfortable "vein stripping" procedure.
Radio Frequency Ablation: Like laser ablation, radiofrequency ablation is a safe, modern replacement for uncomfortable and outdated "vein stripping" procedures. In radiofrequency ablation, a thin catheter is gently inserted into the vein through the skin, emitting radio waves that selectively heat specific areas of the affected vein, leading to its closure. Following catheter withdrawal, the healing begins promptly, with the closed vein reabsorbing into the body and the blood supply naturally redirected through adjacent, healthier veins.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy: Ambulatory phlebectomy is often performed at the same time as laser or radiofrequency ablation. It is a minor surgical procedure that involves making small incisions through which the bulging vein is extracted, allowing the blood flow to redirect to healthy vessels nearby. These tiny incisions require only a band-aid to heal. Once the damaged vein is removed, it's covered with a compression bandage.
Contact Center for Vein Restoration Today
You don't have to live with uncomfortable varicose veins. Center for Vein Restoration is here to help you regain confidence and feel comfortable.
Schedule your consultation with Center for Vein Restoration today at 1-240-965-3915 or conveniently book online at one of our 110+ CVR vein clinics near you.
Our vein specialists are dedicated to guiding you through personalized varicose vein treatments, alleviating discomfort, and ensuring your unique needs are met.
We accept various insurance providers, including Aetna, Amerigroup, Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, MultiPlan, Medicaid, and Medicare. Don't let varicose veins hold you back – take charge of your vascular health.
For personalized guidance on insurance coverage, dial 240-965-3915 to connect with one of our friendly Patient Services Representatives or request an appointment online.