Varicose Veins Symptoms & Treatment Options

Symptoms
Symptoms of varicose veins can include aching, fatigue, heaviness, burning, throbbing, itching, cramping, ankle swelling, as well as ulceration. The causes of varicose veins include heredity, pregnancy, obesity, prolonged standing and hormonal influences. The natural history of varicose veins is that of a slow deterioration over time.

Treatment Options
Treatments for vein problems have progressed dramatically over the past several years. Dr Miller uses state-of-the-art technology to eliminate those veins. These include endovenous obliteration with laser (ELT) or radiofrequency (VNUS Closure®), sclerotherapy with or without ultrasound guidance, and microincisional phlebectomy. These procedures are performed in the office under local anesthesia, with minimal or no discomfort. The type of treatment that you require will be determined after a full evaluation.

We use the following varicose vein treatments:

Endovenous Obliteration/Microincisional Phlebectomy-Usually these procedures do not require stitches and the incisions (approximately 1/8-inch) are barely visible once the healing process is complete. Patients can walk out of the office after the treatment and resume normal activities within 48 to 72 hours.

Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy/Endovenous Chemical Ablation- There is no need for any incision. This technique is used to treat varicose veins that are below the skin surface. An FDA-approved medication is injected into the diseased veins using an ultrasound to guide the placement. This ensures that the medication gets placed accurately into the vein. This usually requires no anesthesia or sedation and you may resume normal activities immediately afterwards.

Conservative Treatment-Prescription strength compression stockings are the most conservative way to treat vein disease. Compression stockings will help lessen the symptoms caused by varicose veins but they do not treat the underlying problem. These stockings must be worn on a daily basis since they do not eliminate the source of the problem in a definitive manner. Most insurance companies are now requiring a trial of compression stockings before considering the coverage of any procedure for varicose veins.