Medically reviewed by Deborah Cogan, MD, FACOG, FABVLM, on October 28, 2025
After years of leg pain, this patient found relief through minimally invasive vein treatment and got her life back.
For years, Sally* thought leg pain was just something she had to live with. At 69, she’d spent nearly two decades battling leg heaviness, swelling, and aching that made standing, walking, or traveling almost impossible. When her daughter invited her to Spain for her 70th birthday, Sally hesitated.
“I don’t think I can go,” she admitted. “We’ll be walking everywhere, and I can barely make it through the grocery store.”
That changed after she sought consultation and vein treatment from a board-certified physician at Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) and discovered outpatient solutions that restored her comfort, mobility, and confidence.
*Name changed for privacy.
When Sally first visited Dr. Deborah Cogan at one of her Center for Vein Restoration Ohio vein clinics, Sally shared how her legs had ached and felt heavy for more than twenty years. Standing for long periods was painful, and traveling, something she once loved, had become exhausting.
After examining her, Dr. Cogan quickly recognized the cause of Sally’s leg pain: chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a common yet often overlooked circulatory disorder. In CVI, the tiny valves inside leg veins fail to close properly, allowing blood to flow backward and pool in the legs. This increases pressure in the venous system, leading to discomfort, swelling, and visible varicose veins.
“I looked at her legs and realized she had significant venous insufficiency. We discussed her options and decided to treat the veins with incompetent valves that were causing pressure in her venous system. She did really well.” –Dr. Deborah Cogan
Dr. Cogan recommended a minimally invasive outpatient procedure to close the malfunctioning veins, allowing healthy veins to take over the blood flow and relieve the pressure causing her symptoms.
In this short video, Dr. Cogan shares Sally’s journey and explains how modern vein care can be life-changing for people who’ve been told there’s nothing that can be done.
After her treatment, Sally noticed improvement almost immediately.
At her one-month follow-up, Dr. Cogan saw that her legs were healing beautifully.
By her six-month visit, the transformation was complete.
When Sally walked back into Dr. Cogan’s office, she was glowing.
“She gave me a big hug,” Dr. Cogan recalls. “She told me, ‘I just got back from my 70th birthday trip to Barcelona. We stood in museums, walked on tours, and I never missed a beat. I kept up with my daughter the whole time, and I never even thought about my legs.’”
For Dr. Cogan, that moment was unforgettable.
“It really warmed my heart to think that something as simple as treating venous insufficiency could have such a profound impact on her quality of life.” –Dr. Deborah Cogan
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is far more common than many realize. According to National Geographic, 40 percent of Americans suffer from this disruption in normal blood flow through the veins.
Yet despite its prevalence, fewer than 10 percent ever seek treatment.
CVI occurs when the one-way valves in your leg veins weaken or fail, blood flows backward and pools in the legs, causing a cascade of symptoms that may include:
Fortunately, today’s outpatient treatments at Center for Vein Restoration are quick, effective, and nearly painless, helping patients like Sally get back to the activities they love.
👉 Book your consultation with a CVR vein specialist today and discover how simple relief can be.
Many people live with leg pain or swelling for years, assuming it’s simply part of aging, or that treatment involves invasive surgery. Dr. Cogan urges patients not to wait:
“A lot of patients tell me they were told nothing can be done, or they’re afraid of surgery. But most of what we do today is minimally invasive and requires little to no downtime. Knowledge is power! When you understand what’s happening, you can make informed decisions about your care.” –Dr. Deborah Cogan
Compression stockings may provide temporary relief, but they don’t address the underlying cause. An evaluation with a vein specialist can pinpoint the problem and identify treatments that restore proper circulation.
At Center for Vein Restoration, today’s outpatient treatments are designed for both comfort and results:
By targeting the source of refluxing veins rather than just the visible surface veins, patients experience both cosmetic improvement and long-term symptom relief.
Best of all, CVR accepts many insurances, including Aetna, Amerigroup, Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, MultiPlan, Medicaid, Medicare, and more.
📞 Call Center for Vein Restoration at 240-965-3915
📅 Or book online HERE
For Sally, vein treatment meant more than pain relief; it meant freedom.
After years of avoiding travel and standing for long periods, she spent her 70th birthday walking through museums and cobblestone streets in Barcelona without pain, swelling, or fear of fatigue.
Her story is one of thousands Dr. Cogan and her colleagues at Center for Vein Restoration see each year: patients who reclaim their lives through safe, effective vein treatment.
“Helping someone feel like themselves again, that’s why I love what I do.” –Dr. Deborah Cogan
Leg discomfort and visible veins aren’t something you have to live with.
At Center for Vein Restoration, we use only advanced, minimally invasive techniques to treat vein disease safely and effectively.
Take the first step toward healthier legs and renewed freedom.
📅 Schedule an appointment at Center for Vein Restoration today
📞 Questions? Call Center for Vein Restoration at 240-965-3915
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