Venous Disease

This is a good option for treating a venous disease that is causing mild pain or swelling. Compression socks, bandages, or pumps work by gently squeezing the affected area in your legs. This helps blood flow back up to your heart more easily, reducing swelling, fatigue, and pain.

Compression therapy is a simple way to treat mild symptoms of venous diseases, including chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, or spider veins.

This treatment is a minimally invasive option for small varicose veins and spider veins. A thin needle injects a chemical solution that causes the vein to seal close and shrink. Over time, the treated vein fades away. This procedure can improve the appearance of your legs and may also reduce discomfort.

In some cases, multiple sessions might be needed, and it’s not suitable for larger varicose veins.

Certain medications can be used to improve symptoms and prevent complications of venous disorders. There are two main types: diuretics, and venotonics.

Medications for venous disorders are usually used with other treatments like compression therapy. Your doctor will help you consider the risks and benefits of starting medication for venous disorders.

Surgical stripping is a treatment option for severe varicose veins that cause significant pain, discomfort, or skin problems. During this procedure, damaged veins are removed through small incisions.

Most doctors opt for less invasive options, as this procedure requires the patient to be under anesthesia with a longer recovery process. 

Ambulatory phlebectomy is a minimally invasive procedure for varicose veins, offering a good middle ground between compression therapy and surgical stripping. Like stripping, it removes varicose veins, but through much smaller incisions, for less scarring and quicker recovery.

It can often be done as an outpatient procedure. This may be a good option if you suffer from varicose veins that can’t be treated through sclerotherapy but aren't severe enough for stripping.

There are two main types of ablation: radiofrequency and laser ablation. Both types of ablation are minimally invasive treatments for venous disorders that use heat to close affected veins. A thin catheter is inserted into the vein and delivers radio waves or laser energy to heat the vein walls, causing them to seal shut.

Both types of ablation treatments offer faster recovery time and less scarring than surgery. 

Veins are the blood vessels that return blood from the body to the heart. The body uses one-way valves inside the veins to help blood move towards the heart and prevent it from flowing backward towards the feet, overcoming the force of gravity.

When these valves cannot function correctly or if the vein is damaged, causing the valves not to close completely, blood can accumulate in the vein. The accumulation causes congestion and increased pressure and can lead to more health issues.

Spider veins are small, thread-like colored veins you can see on the skin's surface. Spider veins are usually a sign of hidden disease in the underlying veins in the legs.

Varicose veins are enlarged, "rope-like" surface veins that can reach a diameter of one-fourth of an inch or larger. Varicose veins often grow in size and length over time and can result in pain and complications if not treated. They are also usually caused by underlying vein disease.

Read more about spider and varicose veins.

Patients experiencing symptoms of vein disease such as pain, swelling, heaviness, cramping, aching, burning, itching, or restlessness in the legs should consider seeking treatment.

Those with visible varicose veins, spider veins, or other signs of venous insufficiency are also good candidates for treatment. Early treatment can prevent the progression of vein disease and improve quality of life.

Patients who benefit from treatment include:

• Individuals with visible varicose veins or spider veins.
• Those experiencing leg pain, swelling, heaviness, cramping, or restlessness.
• Patients with a family history of vein disease.
• Individuals whose daily activities are affected by symptoms of vein disease.
• Those with previous vein treatments but are experiencing recurrent symptoms.

It’s recommended to wait at least three months after pregnancy or major surgery before seeking treatment for vein disease.

For those with vein thrombosis who also have limited mobility due to other conditions, certain vein treatments may not be suitable. However, conservative management options are available.

If you think you have a blood clot or vein thrombosis, seek medical care immediately.

The blood that would have flowed through the closed vein redirects and flows through other healthy veins after the procedure. Losing the diseased vein is not a problem for the circulatory system.

Varicose veins generally worsen over time. Initially, you will feel slight pain and restlessness in the diseased leg.

If untreated, your pain can increase, you might get cramps during sleep, and it can be more challenging to walk. Varicose veins may lead to sores, non-healing wounds, and tissue loss on the lower legs.

Sclerotherapy and endovenous ablation therapies are seldom linked to significant complications when carried out correctly. Furthermore, any discomfort following the procedure is typically minor.

Common minor complications of these procedures include bruising, mild redness, numbness, tenderness, and tightness in the treated leg for a few days to up to two weeks after the treatment.

Most vein diseases can be seen on the surface of your skin. However, some diseased veins are deeper and not visible.

Monitoring other symptoms for diagnosing vein disease is essential. Common symptoms include heaviness, cramping, aching, burning, itching, swelling, soreness, restlessness, or feeling of "tired" legs, especially in the lower legs.

If you experience these symptoms, a physician can give you an easy and fast test to diagnose vein disease.

Vein disease of the legs is one of the most common medical conditions. Approximately 80-100 million people have some form of vein disease. Varicose veins are common, affecting 15-25% of adults and nearly 50% of people over 50. Women are diagnosed with vein disease more often.

Yes, vein disease is heredity. Approximately 70-80% of all patients with varicose veins have a parent with vein disease.

Vein disease can also result from pregnancy.

Age, obesity, and jobs requiring extended periods of standing can also lead to vein disease.

If you have a family history of vein disease, you cannot change your genetic predisposition.

However, maintaining a healthy weight can help slow the progression of vein disease, as excess weight can put additional pressure on your veins. Prolonged periods of standing can also exacerbate vein problems.

While diet and footwear are not typically direct causes of vein disease, they can influence its progression and overall vein health.