Varicose vein disorders are a medical disease that cause the valves in your superficial leg veins to malfunction. Varicose veins can be painful and lead to feelings of heaviness, itchiness and restlessness in the legs. If you’re experiencing these symptoms and feel self-conscious about the appearance of your legs, contact us today!
What should you know about varicose vein treatment? Access answers to some common concerns by clicking the questions below.
2. What Can I Expect at My Varicose Vein Consultation?
3. What Are the Different Treatment Options for Varicose Vein Removal?
4. Is There Any Pain with the Varicose Vein Treatment Procedures?
5. What Are the Patient Restrictions After a Venous Procedure?
7. Are These Procedures Like the Old Vein Stripping Surgeries?
8. Will Insurance Pay for Any of These Vein Procedures?
9. After I Have the Treatment, Will I Get New Varicose Veins?
10. What Is Your Personal Experience with Varicose Vein Treatment?
1. What Are Some Symptoms of Varicose Vein Disease?
Patients present with a variety of symptoms, including itching, throbbing, aching, leg fatigue at the end of the day and sometimes at night, leg restlessness and nighttime cramping, which can be quite severe. The symptoms progress over time, so once someone has varicose vein disease that is symptomatic, they tend to get worse over time. The ultimate expression of varicose vein disease is ulcers on the inside of their ankles.
2. What Can I Expect at My Varicose Vein Consultation?
In our offices, we offer a complete evaluation and diagnosis of a patient’s vein problem when they present the first time. They meet with their vein team, including a physician and an ultrasound technologist. We will do a history and physical, examine their legs and do an ultrasound exam. We’ll then tell the patient the results of the examination and present them with treatment options. When they leave, they know exactly what’s wrong and we can help them.
3. What Are the Different Treatment Options for Varicose Vein Removal?
At Vein Centers of Connecticut, we offer a complete spectrum of vein treatment, including endovenous laser ablation and radiofrequency ablation. We also offer phlebectomy of varicose veins and injection sclerotherapy of various veins in the body, so we offer a complete line of vein treatment options for the patient.
4. Is There Any Pain with the Varicose Vein Treatment Procedures?
With modern day varicose vein treatment, there is very minimal pain. With the new treatments, as they continue to evolve, all we’re using is local anesthesia. A patient comes into the office, lays down, gets their leg treated and they’re up and back to their normal life. Actually, what’s now coming is a new treatment that requires no anesthesia at all, so there will essentially be no pain and no recovery.
5. What Are the Patient Restrictions After a Venous Procedure?
After our procedures, we ask that the patient refrain from heavy exercise such as jogging, jumping and heavy weight-lifting, but they should resume their normal activities. We want them walking, climbing stairs, doing their normal occupation and performing light cardio exercises. Most important is not to go under water, such as swimming or tub bathing, for a week.
6. After the Procedure, Will the Circulation In My Legs be Affected?
Your circulation will definitely be affected; it’s going to be improved! You do not need these veins. As a matter of fact, they’re impairing your circulation. Instead of getting the blood back to your heart quickly, the blood is staying in one place. It’s stagnant, pooling in the legs, which gives people their symptoms. When we fix that problem, the blood gets back to the heart quickly, people’s legs feel more energized, more healthy and they feel rested. The cramping, swelling and achiness that people usually experience is gone.
7. Are These Procedures Like the Old Vein Stripping Surgeries?
Absolutely not, it’s really the opposite end of the spectrum. Vein stripping was typically performed in a hospital with general or spinal anesthesia. Our procedures are performed in an office setting with minimal local anesthesia. The outcome is much better than traditional surgery, the recurrence rate is much lower and the patient satisfaction is much higher.
8. Will Insurance Pay for Any of These Vein Procedures?
Yes, varicose vein treatment is covered by insurance companies and we partner with all insurance companies. If the patient has symptoms, varicose vein treatment is covered by the vast majority of insurance companies.
9. After I Have the Treatment, Will I Get New Varicose Veins?
Surgical treatments had a much higher recurrence rate. Our procedures, since we do them to completion, have a very low likelihood of recurrence.
10. What Is Your Personal Experience with Varicose Vein Treatment?
I have a history of varicose veins in my family and after I had my second child, I developed varicose veins. My legs felt terrible. I was in my 30s and it looked like I had the leg of a 90-year-old woman. So, I did have my legs treated. As a matter of fact, I got them treated on my lunch hour, here at the Vein Centers. I got treated, got up, worked the rest of the day, felt great, took great care of my patients and now my legs are energetic, they look appropriate for my age and I can only say great things about the treatment, it’s wonderful.