Could It Be Varicose Veins?

Do you have aching, painful or restless legs, swollen ankles, heaviness in your legs or cramping? If so, the cause of your discomfort could be varicose veins. More than half of all women and about 45 percent of men will suffer from varicose vein disease in their lifetime. Heredity is the number one risk factor for varicose veins. If your mother or grandmother had varicose veins, the chances are you will develop them as well. Even without the hereditary line, other risk factors include a sedentary lifestyle, weight gain, prolonged standing or sitting and pregnancy.

Vein disorders are not always visible to the naked eye. An examination and diagnostic ultrasound by a qualified physician to determine the cause and severity of your vein problems is needed. State-of-the-art corrective treatments to eliminate varicose veins include endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) and sclerotherapy or ultrasound guided sclerotherapy With these procedures there is minimal downtime and no sedation so patients are able to return to their normal activities immediately.

Endovenous Laser Ablation, or EVLA, is the treatment of choice for varicose veins. During this procedure, the physician will inject a local anesthetic into the area to be treated, insert a very small fiber into the vein through an intravenous catheter and then activate the laser. As the fiber is slowly pulled out of the vein the heat from the laser will seal the vein shut. Several sessions of laser treatment may be needed depending on how many veins need to be treated.

Sclerotherapy is a treatment in which a tiny needle is used to inject veins with a medication that irritates the inner lining of the vein and causes it to close. Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy uses ultrasound technology to locate the veins below the surface of the skin while the medication is injected. This procedure is often used in combination with EVLA.

You cannot completely prevent varicose veins but if you watch your weight, exercise regularly, eat a diet high in fiber and low in salt and wear compression stockings, you will decrease your risk for venous disease.

For more information, you may contact Vein Specialists of Illinois at 847-468-9900, located at 1670 Capital Street, Suite 500 in Elgin. You may also use this form to schedule your Free Vein Screening!