Treatment Varicose Veins: Varicose and spider vein treatment options

How are varicose veins and spider veins treated?  Varicose veins and spider veins can be treated in several ways, including a change in lifestyle and medical treatment.  Both of these means of varicose and spider vein treatment can relieve symptoms, improve appearance of the patient and prevent further medical complications.  Both of these means of treatment for veins are utilized and your doctor will determine which varicose and spider vein treatment depending on the severity of your condition. 

Some of the treatment for veins and treatment for varicose veins include the following:

1.      Compression stockings:  This varicose and spider vein treatment  is commonly the first mode of treatment and is utilized to put pressure on the veins, thus, hopefully reliving the symptoms caused by spider veins and varicose veins.  The three primary types of compression stockings for treatment of veins and treatment of varicose veins are a) support pantyhose; b) Over the counter gradient compression hose; and c) prescription gradient compression hose used for varicose vein treatment and needing to be correctly fitted at your doctor’s office.

2.      Sclerotherapy (SKLER-o-ther-a-pee):  Sclerotherapy is a common varicose and spider vein treatment whereby the physician will uses a needle to inject a liquid chemical into the vein. The chemical causes the vein walls to swell, stick together, and seal shut. This stops the flow of blood, and the vein turns into scar tissue. In a few weeks, the vein should fade. This treatment does not require anesthesia and can be performed in the doctor’s office.   The majority of people receiving this treatment for veins can return to work immediately after the varicose and spider vein treatment.  Additionally, this treatment for veins may require that the same vein may be needed to be treated more than once every 4-6 weeks.  Moreover, after utilization of this treatment for veins, most physicians will require that the patient receiving varicose vein treatment wear prescription gradient compression hose.  Some of the side-effects of this mode of treating spider veins and varicose veins include stinging, red and raised patches of skin and possible bruising where the treatment for veins was done.  These symptoms after vein surgery in Montana usually go away and subside within hours or days after treatment for veins.    

3.      Radiofrequency and laser endovenous techniques of varicose vein removal:  This treatment for veins, especially the deeper veins of the leg, termed saphenous (SAF-uh-nuhs) veins, is commonly done in the physician’s office for varicose vein removal.  When the physician uses this treatment for varicose and spider veins, he/she will place a small tube, or catheter, into the vein.  Thereafter, a small probe is placed through the catheter and a device at the tip of the probe heats up the inside of the vein and closes it off.  During this treatment for veins, the physician will either use radiofrequency or laser energy to seal the vein.  After the vein is closed off, healthy veins surrounding the closed vein will take over the normal flow of blood and the symptoms for the varicose vein will dramatically improve.  Additionally, when this treatment for veins is utilized, surface veins connected to the varicose vein will typically shrink after the varicose and spider vein treatment.  However, if they don’t substantially subside, it is common to utilize sclerotherapy while utilizing this treatment for veins. 

4.      Ambulatory Phlebectomy (AM-byoo-luh-TOHR-ee-fluh-BEHK-toh-mee):  Large varicose vein and spider vein treatment may include ambulatory phlebectomy in conjunction with the above treatments.  This treatment for veins and treatment for varicose veins is performed in the physician’s office and local anesthesia is utilized.  In this form of varicose vein removal, tiny incisions are made in the skin and small surgical hooks are utilized to remove the vein from the leg.  This treatment for veins is commonly used for large varicose veins removal. 

As indicated above, there are several means of treatment for veins and more specifically spider veins and varicose veins.  Many of these treatment for veins are performed in the physician’s office and the varicose and spider vein treatment can result in eradication of the problem in a short period of time without invasive procedures.  Varicose vein treatments Montana, varicose vein treatment Great Falls and varicose vein treatment Helena are options offered by Dr. Michael Orcutt at Centers for Advanced Vein Care Montana.  Dr. Orcutt is a vascular surgeon who provides varicose and spider vein treatment.  He expertly utilizes the techniques for varicose and spider vein treatment.  These  treatment for veins  are often used in conjunction with each other as a complete treatment for veins so that the problem is eradicated.  

Knowledge About Varicose Veins Treatment

Understanding the cause, symptoms and treatment of varicose veins is critical to the process of treating the problem.  The staff at Centers for Advanced Vein Care Montana (CAVC) believes that patient education is the first step in helping them seek and obtain professional treatment for their problem.  Given this fact, it is extremely important that the patient understand the facts regarding varicose and spider veins.  In general, varicose veins are typically swollen veins that present in the legs, ankles and feet of a patient.  A condition called venous reflux, or alternatively, venous insufficiency, whereby blood that circulates through the lower limbs fails to properly return to the heart, but rather pools up in the distended and bulging veins.

It is conservatively estimated that over 25 million people living in America suffer from venous insufficiency.  Common symptoms of venous insufficiency include:

 1) swollen ankles; 

2) swollen calves;

 3) pain in the legs;

 4) fatigue in the legs;

 5) skin discoloration;

 6) presentation of leg ulcers;

 7) burning skin; and 

8) itching skin.

  At CAVC, Dr. Orcutt, a board certified vascular surgeon, provides varicose vein surgery to correct these issues and problems.

Although varicose and spider veins occur at varying ages and irrespective of gender, both gender and age are risk factors associated with the development of venous reflux and venous insufficiency.  Estimates of the prevalence of venous insufficiency are that over 70% of American women and over 40% of men experience symptoms created by varicose veins by the time they reach age sixty.  Additionally, women who have had more than one pregnancy and individuals who suffer from obesity, have an increased risk of experiencing symptoms from varicose veins.  Moreover, absent treatment or varicose veins removal, the vein disease will progressively worsen.