Varicose Veins Treatment

Varicose Veins Treatment

If you notice dark, bulging veins on your legs, you may have a common vascular problem known as varicose veins. Varicose veins are one of the symptoms of Venous Insufficiency, or veins that do not work properly.  Other symptoms include leg swelling, leg pain, and skin changes.  Varicose veins can be ugly, and painful. Your doctor can help you get rid of varicose veins, so you can show off your legs again. Dr. Scott Grover at Cache Valley Surgical Consultants in Logan, UT, provides a wide range of medical services, including treatment of varicose veins.

What You Need to Know about Varicose Veins

Varicose veins have some characteristics you need to know about. Varicose veins are veins that:

• Are enlarged and prominent
• Are more common in your feet and legs
• Are caused by constant pressure from standing or walking
• Can result in constant aching, throbbing pain

You can do a lot to prevent varicose veins. You should try to:

• Maintain a healthy weight to reduce pressure on your legs
• Eat a low salt diet to prevent water retention and swelling in your legs
• Walk frequently to keep your blood circulating and fluid from building up
• Wear low-heeled shoes and loose clothes
• Avoid crossing your legs when you sit
• Move around every 30 minutes
• Try not to sit or stand still for a long period of time
• Elevate your legs as often as you can

For troublesome, painful varicose veins, it’s best to visit your doctor. At Cache Valley Surgical Consultants, our doctor offers several treatments to eliminate varicose veins.  If you have varicose veins, the first step is to determine if you have venous insufficiency.  Both can get relief by use of 20-30 mm compression stockings during the day.  Insurance will only pay for compression stockings if you have an open wound.  They will only pay for vein treatments if you have completed a medically supervised trial of compression stockings, elevation, and NSAID (Ibuprofen) use for at least 90 days.  

Treatments include:

Endovenous Ablation, which is performed under local anesthesia. Treatment takes 60 - 90 minutes. During this treatment, a catheter is inserted into your vein. The catheter heats the vein and causes the vein to close.  The vein that is no longer being used will be reabsorbed into your body.  If varicose veins are fed by one of these veins (most are), the varicosities may resolve with this treatment.  

Chemical Adhesive, which also uses a catheter is a similar type of treatment. An adhesive is placed in the vein to close up the vein. This treatment uses less local anesthesia, enabling you to have minimal downtime, so you can get back to enjoying your day.  Varicose veins can improve with this type of treatment as well.  

Microphlebectomy, during which a small incision is made and the vein is removed. This technique may be used for larger varicose veins, leaving minimal scarring.

Sclerotherapy, which is used to treat both varicose veins and spider veins. During this procedure, an injection of a chemical agent into the vein causes inflammation and closure of the vein.  It is eventually reabsorption into the body, similar to a thermal Endovenous Ablation. 

Want to Know More?

To find out more about the treatment of varicose veins, call Dr. Grover at Cache Valley Surgical Consultants in Logan, UT. You can reach him in the office by calling (435) 752-7122, so call today.