Having swollen or knotty veins protruding from your skin isn’t the most pleasing sight, but varicose veins aren’t just a superficial problem. They are an indication of heart trouble and degenerating veins. They could even cause some serious pain if not treated on time. It could lead to skin trouble, pigmentation, and ulcers.
However, this condition is manageable and there are a number of treatment options for you to choose from. Let us take a look at the various treatment options you have and what each of them entails.
Conservative methods
During the initial stages of this condition, patients can be selective regarding the approach they choose for treatment. Among the first few options that they will consider is prescription medication. There are a few over-the-counter medications like aspirin and ibuprofen which can help treat this condition. There are a number of doctors who would also prescribe a compression stocking to treat varicose veins.
These stockings help reverse the pressure of the blood flow and resolve most of this condition. Leg muscle training and weight loss have proven to be quite beneficial since it takes the load off your limbs. These treatments aren’t going to cost you too much since they don’t involve invasive techniques.
Non-surgical methods
If the above treatments aren’t proving to be effective or satisfactory, then perhaps it is time for you to visit the Intermountain Vein Center of Utah. You should meet with them before you consider surgery for relief. There is no denying the fact that surgeries will always be risky and should be your last resort. On the other hand, these treatments are performed by phlebologists. They are basically doctors who specialize in vein care. Now let us look at the four options available to you:
~ Endovenous Thermal Ablation: The treatment uses lasers in order to reduce the incidence of varicose veins. Your leg will be sterilized and then local anesthesia will be administered. A catheter will then be inserted into your veins through a tiny incision. The laser will be inserted through the catheter and the heat generated from it will close the vein permanently. This procedure lasts a couple of hours. Most people require around three treatments with intervals of three months in between for the best results. The veins start fading as early as two weeks during the treatment.
~ Ambulatory Phlebectomy: This procedure takes around a couple of hours. The diseased veins are first mapped using an ultrasound. Local anesthesia will be injected into the area from where the veins have to be removed. The physician will then make a number of small incisions in the area, and then use a special hook to take out the varicose veins. Once they are removed, steri-strips will be placed on the incisions. These incisions don’t usually need stitches. After this procedure, it is advised that you wear a compression stocking for the next 5 days. The incisions will need to be cleaned regularly and kept dry during this period as well. You will be allowed to resume your daily activities but heavy lifting or exercise isn’t recommended.
~ Pelvic Venous Insufficiency: During this procedure, a thin, plastic, flexible catheter is inserted into the jugular vein of the neck. A liquid contrast agent will then be injected into the veins in the pelvis. X-rays are then taken to visualize the pelvic varicosities and seal them with sclerosant or coils in the abnormal veins. The catheter will be removed after this and a dressing is applied. Once the treatment is completed, patients will be able to return to their normal activity.
~ Sclerotherapy: This is the most common non-invasive treatment for varicose veins. It involves injecting medicine into the veins, which make them shrink and resume normal functioning. You will need to attend two or three hourly sessions every month for at least a couple of months for effective results. More than 80% of the veins that are injected during each procedure will be eliminated successfully.
So now that you know the various options available to you, what are you waiting for? It is time you got rid of those ugly varicose veins from your legs and protected yourself from any complications in the future.
*Our content is not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis of individual problems or circumstances, nor should it be implied that we are a substitute for professional medical advice. Users / readers are always advised to consult their Healthcare Professional prior to starting any new remedy, therapy or treatment. Your Wellness Group accepts no liability in the event you, a user of n-gage and a reader of this article, suffers a loss as a result of reliance upon or inappropriate application of the information.