How Do You Treat Varicose Veins In The Legs?
Varicose veins can cause discomfort and pain in the legs. Whether you have been experiencing symptoms for some time or have just developed them, various treatment options are available. Your vein specialist at Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) can help you identify the root cause of your varicose veins and suggest the best course of treatment.
Risk factors for developing varicose veins include but aren't limited to:
Age
Excess weight
Prolonged sitting or standing
Long periods of inactivity
Family history
Chronic venous insufficiency
If you're experiencing discomfort or pain in your legs due to varicose veins, it's crucial to seek professional guidance from your board-certified CVR vascular specialist. Your board-certified doctor can explore varicose vein treatment options, and help you understand your risk factors.
Are There Home Remedies to Treat Varicose Veins in the Legs?
Varicose veins cannot disappear without medical treatment, but adopting particular self-care and lifestyle habits can alleviate your symptoms and help prevent the formation of new veins. Although varicose veins may not always be a severe medical problem, they can indicate underlying chronic venous insufficiency, in which the veins have difficulty transporting blood back to the heart.
Symptoms of varicose veins often include but aren't limited to:
Visible Veins: Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted, and bulging veins visible on the legs. They may be blue, purple, or dark and can cause discomfort or pain.
Aching or Heaviness in the Legs: Patients with varicose veins may experience aching or heaviness in the legs that worsens throughout the day or after physical activity, especially standing or sitting for long periods.
Throbbing or Burning Sensation: Varicose veins can cause discomfort, such as throbbing, burning, or itching. These symptoms can be intermittent or persistent and may worsen with prolonged standing or warm weather.
Swelling: Swelling around the ankles and lower legs is common in people with varicose veins. The swelling worsens throughout the day and may cause tightness or fullness in the legs.
Muscle Cramps: Varicose veins may be associated with muscle cramps or spasms, particularly in the calves. These cramps may occur spontaneously or triggered by specific activities, such as walking or climbing stairs.
Skin Changes: When varicose veins advance, the skin surrounding the affected area can undergo various changes. These changes may include discoloration, dryness, or thinning of the skin. The skin may also feel tender to the touch or, in severe cases, develop a rash or ulcers. Tell your vascular specialist if you're experiencing any skin changes around or near varicose veins.
Regularly moisturizing the legs and avoiding harsh soaps and hot water can help prevent skin dryness, itching, and irritation, which are potential complications of varicose veins.
Restless Leg Syndrome: Some individuals with varicose veins may experience symptoms of restless leg syndrome, including an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, especially at night. This disruption can interfere with sleep and lead to daytime fatigue.
Complications: Untreated varicose veins can lead to venous ulcers, blood clots (thrombophlebitis), and superficial thrombophlebitis. These complications may cause additional symptoms such as pain, warmth, redness, or swelling in the affected area.
Treating varicose veins can involve making lifestyle changes, taking self-care measures, and undergoing medical interventions tailored to individual needs. Home remedies and self-care techniques can help you manage your varicose vein symptoms.
Talk to your certified vascular provider before taking supplements or implementing home remedies, as they could interfere with existing medication or treatments.
Lifestyle changes and self-care practices that can help the symptoms of varicose veins include but aren't limited to:
Healthy Diet and Lifestyle: Losing weight can help alleviate the symptoms of varicose veins by reducing pressure on the veins in your legs. To keep your circulatory system healthy, incorporate fiber-rich foods, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins into your diet. Additionally, it's best to stay hydrated by drinking water instead of sugary drinks, caffeinated beverages, or alcohol.
Physicians recommend quitting smoking, as tobacco smoke contains chemicals such as nicotine, which can cause blood vessels to constrict. Smoking can reduce blood flow to different body parts, including the heart, brain, and extremities.
Stay Active: Regular exercises, such as walking, swimming, or cycling, are an effective way to improve circulation and strengthen leg muscles, which can help manage varicose veins. Sitting or standing for long periods can worsen varicose vein symptoms.
Take frequent breaks to stretch and elevate your legs to alleviate discomfort and improve blood flow. If you have to sit or stand for extended periods, take breaks regularly to move around, encourage blood flow, and reduce discomfort.
Use Compression Stockings: Compression stockings can help support vein function, reduce swelling, and manage symptoms of varicose veins.
Minor lifestyle changes can help you improve your vascular health. Consult your vascular specialist before making any significant changes to your daily exercise routines, and keep them updated if you're not getting relief from consistent lifestyle changes or self-care, as that could indicate it's time to try other treatments.
Minimally Invasive Varicose Vein Treatment At Center for Vein Restoration
Making healthy changes to your lifestyle can help alleviate the symptoms of varicose veins and even prevent new ones from forming. However, minimally invasive procedures focused on redirecting blood flow to healthy surrounding veins are the most effective long-term treatment for varicose veins. By redirecting blood flow from damaged veins to healthier vessels, the root cause of venous insufficiency can be addressed, and symptoms can be relieved.
Center for Vein Restoration offers personalized treatment for varicose veins that require minimal downtime, allowing you to resume your normal activities quickly. Our board-certified vein specialist will create a customized treatment plan for your needs. All our procedures are performed in a comfortable outpatient setting, and local anesthesia is used to numb your leg to ensure that you remain awake and pain-free throughout the process.
Treatment at Center for Vein Restoration for varicose veins includes:
Ultrasound-Guided Foam Sclerotherapy: This procedure is safe and effective in treating complex varicose veins. With the help of ultrasound guidance, a sclerosant (a foam medicine) is injected into the vein, triggering a reaction that ultimately closes it. The body then naturally absorbs the collapsed vein, redirecting blood flow to healthy veins.
ClariVein: ClariVein is a minimally invasive solution for varicose veins. It uses a two-pronged approach. A catheter with a rotating tip mechanically disrupts the vein, followed by medication delivery to seal the damaged vein.
VenaSeal: This FDA-approved microfoam treatment quickly and gently improves the appearance and symptoms of varicose veins by closing the diseased veins with a medical adhesive proprietary to VenaSeal. This reduces patient downtime and discomfort.
Varithena: This treatment is a minimally invasive solution for varicose vein issues that do not require surgery. The procedure involves injecting a special microfoam into the affected veins, which causes them to collapse. This natural process reroutes blood flow to healthier veins. The technique uses catheters and has a high success rate due to the advanced, absorbable nature of the foam.
Laser Ablation: Laser ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a laser fiber inserted into the vein through a tiny skin puncture. The laser heats the vein from the inside, causing it to close. Your body then naturally absorbs the closed vein, rerouting blood flow to healthier ones.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy: This outpatient procedure is designed to address varicose veins located near the skin's surface. The affected veins are eliminated by making small incisions and using local anesthesia to ensure comfort. The procedure is stitch-free, which means that no sutures will be required. One of the most significant advantages of this procedure is that you can start walking immediately after the procedure and resume your routine with minimal restrictions.
Should I Treat My Varicose Veins?
Our board-certified vascular specialists will work with you to develop a treatment plan for your varicose veins. Depending on the underlying causes, while lifestyle modifications and self-care are always beneficial, they may recommend an office-based procedure significantly if your symptoms aren't improving with self-care, diet, and exercise.
Some benefits of treating your varicose veins include:
Minimizing Complications: Redirecting blood flow to healthy veins through a procedure like ClariVein can lower the chances of developing complications associated with untreated varicose veins, such as venous ulcers, blood clots, and skin changes. Redirecting the blood supply to healthy veins helps to maintain optimal venous function and prevent the progression of venous disease.
Improve Your Varicose Vein Symptoms: Rerouting blood supply to healthy veins alleviates symptoms commonly associated with varicose veins, including pain, swelling, heaviness, and fatigue. Procedures like Varithena promote comfort and mobility by restoring proper venous circulation.
Enhanced Aesthetic Outcomes: Procedures like radiofrequency ablation can promote smoother, more even skin texture by closing off dysfunctional veins and redirecting blood flow to healthier vessels, enhancing the overall cosmetic outcome.
Center for Vein Restoration Varicose Vein Treatment
Varicose veins are not only a cosmetic concern but can also lead to discomfort and complications if left untreated. Understanding the risk factors and symptoms associated with varicose veins is crucial for timely intervention.
Our minimally invasive procedures provide effective and long-lasting relief from varicose vein symptoms, allowing you to resume your daily activities quickly. From ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy to laser ablation, our advanced treatments address the root cause of varicose veins while prioritizing your comfort and safety. Call 240-512-4759 to connect with a Patient Services Representative, or conveniently book your consultation online or find a Center for Vein Restoration located near you.