Vein Care - Treatment Options For Varicose and Spider Veins

Varicose and spider veins aren’t just an aesthetic problem, they can be painful and even dangerous. If left untreated, they can lead to more serious conditions such as venous ulcers and blood clots. In Vein Care Center there are many vein treatment options available to treat pain and symptoms related to varicose veins.

Veins are important structures that transport blood from your body’s organs to the heart. The body has valves that prevent blood from flowing the wrong way (like the ones in your bathroom plumbing that keep hot water from mixing with cold). When these veins swell up, they become visible under the skin and are called varicose or spider veins.

In some cases, these swollen veins may cause no symptoms or only mild discomfort. In others, a person will feel heaviness in the legs or may have skin reddening and itching. In some cases, a doctor will recommend ultrasound testing for varicose veins. This safe, painless test uses sound waves to produce pictures of tissues inside the body, including your veins and if there are blood clots.

A physical exam and medical history will also be done to help diagnose the condition. The provider will then perform an ultrasound of your veins to get a closer look at the area. The provider will then discuss your symptoms and recommend a treatment plan.

Noninvasive treatments for varicose and spider veins include avoiding long periods of sitting or standing, wearing loose, comfortable clothing, exercising to encourage blood flow in your legs, and drinking enough fluids. Over-the-counter pain medications can also help alleviate symptoms.

If these conservative treatments don’t relieve your symptoms, a vein specialist can offer you several minimally invasive procedures to treat them. The type of procedure your vascular surgeon recommends will depend on the size, location and severity of your varicose and spider veins as well as your general health.

Sclerotherapy

For small varicose veins, your doctor may use a special solution to close the affected vein. The injection causes the vein to scar, and forces blood to reroute to healthy nearby veins. The damaged vein eventually collapses and is reabsorbed by the body.

Another option is sclerotherapy with a catheter, which involves inserting a tube into the affected vein and pumping a chemical into it. This damages the lining of the vein, which makes it seal shut and eventually disappear.

For larger varicose and spider veins, your doctor might suggest a procedure called radiofrequency ablation or endovenous laser treatment. During these procedures, your doctor makes a small cut below the knee and inserts a flexible tube into the damaged vein. Then, he or she uses an ultrasound probe to guide the catheter into the affected vein. Then the doctor applies electrical energy in 20-second bursts to segments of the affected vein, which causes it to shrink and collapse. This causes the affected vein to seal and then be reabsorbed by the body. These procedures can usually be performed in your provider’s office.