Full Consultation

Most people with varicose veins have a problem limited to the veins in the legs. There are, however, less common causes of leg vein problems which shouldn’t be overlooked. During your initial consultation, Drs. Sorenson and Lutz will ask questions and do an examination designed to check for these other possible causes along with her evaluation of your legs. This typically includes:

• Examining the neck, lungs, and heart to see if there is any evidence of heart failure contributing to leg swelling.
• Feeling for abdominal masses or aneurysms which could be obstructing the outflow of your leg veins
• Evaluating pulses for any evidence of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) which can overlap vein symptoms and could be exacerbated by wearing compression stockings
• Evaluating for kidney problems which could cause leg swelling
• Reviewing your medication list for anything which could be contributing to your symptoms or might interfere with your treatments
• Asking about the nature of your symptoms to make sure they’re typical for venous disease before recommending treatment
• Reviewing family history to see if there is any reason to suspect a hypercoagulable  state (tendency to blood clots)

Further testing with labs or x-rays may be recommended if anything seems suspicious on your exam.