The
heart, veins, and arteries make up the circulatory system.
Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to nourish
your tissues, while veins have one-way valves which channel
oxygen-poor blood back toward the heart. If these valves
are damaged, the blood pools in the leg veins leading to
feelings of fatigue, heaviness, aching, burning, itching,
cramping, restlessness, swelling and even
eczema and
leg
ulcers .
What
causes varicose veins?
Heredity
is the cause of most varicose veins. If one parent has
varicose veins, your risk of having them is about 70%.
Other predisposing factors include standing occupations,
obesity, leg injury and multiple pregnancies.
Are
varicose veins a threat to my health or are they just
cosmetic?
Varicose
veins indicate that the pressure in the veins of the legs is
too high (a condition called venous hypertension).
Longstanding venous hypertension can result in damage to the
deep leg veins and to the overlying skin. Impairment to the
deep veins can lead to blood clots and sudden death from
pulmonary embolism, especially if confined on a long plane
or car trip: http://venousdisease.com/travelers.html.
Injury to the skin will result in
stasis dermatitis, pigment changes, thickened
skin and possibly, leg ulcers. In addition, venous
hypertension can cause pain, fatigue and swelling of the
legs.
Are
all varicose veins visible from the outside?
No.
Varicose veins may be deep enough that they are not
visible. A
duplex ultrasound evaluation of your legs will be
able to detect all varicose veins.
Can
varicose veins develop in one leg and not the other?
Most
patients develop varicose veins in both legs. However, the
severity of the varicosities will differ. Some may require
surgery, while others may only require compression therapy.
What
treatments are available for varicose veins?
A new
procedure called endovenous laser ablation, or EVLA, has
been available to treat varicose veins for about five years
now. EVLA involves a simple, in-office surgical procedure
in which a laser is inserted into the damaged vein which
permanently seals it using heat. The blood that normally
flowed through that vein is redirected into normal veins
which carry it back to the heart.
EVLA
is performed under local anesthesia while you are awake and
is very comfortable. Most people return to work the next
day.
Another
way to treat varicose veins is called
foam
sclerotherapy. For this treatment, no anesthesia
is required and a small butterfly needle is used to deliver
a sclerosant chemical to the veins. They immediately shrink
and are cleared by the body's metabolism over several weeks
to months.
Vein
stripping surgery is not performed very often nowadays since
these newer procedures are so safe and effective.
Do
these treatments cure varicose veins?
After all
diseased veins are treated, most people have a remission of
symptoms, leg swelling improves and the skin begins to heal,
including leg ulcers. Many patients do not have problems
again for years. Due to many factors including heredity,
however, some people are predisposed to future problems.
Since there is no way to prevent other veins from becoming
damaged, varicose veins may be an ongoing challenge for
some patients.
Will
my varicose vein surgery be very painful?
The
degree of pain that a patient experiences during varicose
vein surgery varies from patient to patient. The survey we
conducted indicated that most patients thought the procedure
to be pain-free, while a few reported experiencing a great
deal of pain. The amount of pain is dependent on several
variables, such as age, sex, weight, and tolerance level.
Are
there any side effects of the treatments?
As with
any invasive procedure, risks of surgery include allergic
reaction to one of the medications, bleeding, postoperative
pain, infection, blood clots or nerve damage. If any of
these side effects occur, they are usually temporary if
promptly treated.
How
long after surgery will I be able to return to my normal
routine?
Most
patients return to their normal routine the next day,
however, you should not resume aerobics, heavy exercise
routines, running, sports or travel for at least a month
after your surgery. It's very important to walk at least
thirty minutes each day after the surgery to prevent blood
clots from forming in the veins. Walking on a treadmill is
fine.
Does
insurance cover the procedures?
Yes.
These are medically necessary procedures.Without treatment,
you may be at risk for worsening symptoms of pain, blood
clots, and
skin
changes including
leg
ulcers.
If you
have a question that is not found on this page, click the
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Dr.
Fleck
