ORTHOTICS PROSTHETICS RESEARCH

What Are Varicose Veins and How Are Varicose Veins Unhealthy?

If you experience bulging leg veins, restless legs, pain, discomfort, swelling, itching or discoloration in your legs, you may have varicose veins.

Varicose veins can become enlarged and in some cases quite prominent. They can be seen in some individuals are serpiginous, raised lumps in the thigh, legs and calves.

When they become prominent, they can be seen through the skin and may develop a purple-blue hue. If the skin over the varicose vein ulcerates, occasionally bleeding occurs from the thin walled vein. This can be quite dramatic.

More commonly, however, once the diameter reaches 5 mm, varicose veins cause itching, burning or an ache in the effected leg. This is especially notable when the individual is upright for several hours during the day.

If the condition is left untreated, the skin overlying the vein hardens (gets indurated) and hyperpigmentation of the skin sets in. This is followed by swelling of the lower extremity. The final step in the pathophysiology of varicose veins is ulceration of the skin.

Even in these latter stages, there is significant benefit to be gained by radiofrequency ablation of the varicose vein or phlebectomy.

How Do You Diagnose And Evaluate Varicose Veins?

Vericose Veins - The Vein Treatment Center Following the history and physical examination, the next major diagnostic step is the ultrasound examination. The ultrasound examination gives us a real time and detailed view of your varicose vein system. Next, we prepare a comprehensive "venous flow map," which illustrates the path of the blood flowing through the abnormal veins and where the trouble begins. Special attention is paid to the perforators and the saphenofemoral junction for reflux disease.

Patients are often surprised to see how extensive and complicated their varicose veins are and how superficial they are beneath the skin. This veon map that we create depicts details not visible from surface examination of the skin, that is, details that make treatment more effective.

Since each patient and each patient leg (right and left) are uniquely different, the vein map helps us configure the optimal plan to eliminate abnormal and varicose veins.

How Do You Treat Varicose Veins?

There are several treatment options for varicose veins available.

Treatment options include:

compression stockings
ultrasound guided VNUS Closure
minimally invasive vein stripping
and/or sclerotherpy

The VNUS Closure procedure treats the underlying cause of varicose veins, namely saphenofemoral reflux disease (commonly known as venous reflux disease).

What Can I Do To Prevent Varicose Veins?

Many of the things that seem to cause varicose veins are difficult to avoid such as a family history or a sedentary way of life.

Whenever possible, avoid standing for prolonged periods of time. Walking is much better for the veins and helps blood return to the heart more efficiently, preventing the pooling of blood in the legs.

In professions or occupations that require extended periods of standing, a few steps should be taken at regular short intervals to help the venous circulation. These include things like wearing support stockings. No supplements or drugs are effective in preventing the formation of varicose veins.