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Get rid of varicose vein pain, embarrassment
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Dr. Daniel Day and Elizabeth Moseley,
a registered vascular technologist, remove varicose beins from a patient's leg. |
You don't have to tolerate the pain and discomfort of varicose veins, nor keep your legs hidden behind long pants or dark stockings because you're embarrassed by the dark and bulging veins in your legs.
The surgeons at Jackson Surgical Associates offer several procedures to treat varicose veins. Patients usually walk out of the clinic after having these office-based procedures and can be at work the next day.
"The pain and swelling caused by varicose veins is life altering," says Dr. Daniel Day, surgeon at Jackson Surgical. For most patients, the varicose veins worsen over time. Untreated, he says, they can cause edema and significant wound-healing problems.
Veins carry blood back to the heart. Varicose veins can occur when valves in the saphenous vein don't do their jobs correctly; instead of pushing the blood to the heart, incompetent or leaking valves allow some of the blood to flow backwards and pool up or collect in the lower legs.
Varicose veins can be a job hazard for people who stand a lot, such as teachers. Pregnancy, obesity and being female also are risk factors.
To diagnose varicose veins, Day uses a duplex ultrasound to find veins that are dysfunctional. In functional veins, the blood flows one way towards the heart, while in dysfunctional veins, the blood flows in both ways. After diagnosis, doctors have a number of ways to treat varicose veins.
Compression stocking therapy is a first option. The stockings, prescribed by a doctor, produce a gradient of pressure to push the blood in the veins back towards the heart, Dr. Day said. These stockings work for some patients, while others find that they are very hot, uncomfortable and often hard to put on.
Another option for treatment, known as the VNUS Closure Procedure, uses radio frequency catheters. This procedure works for patients who have superficial venous reflux, which is where the valves in veins become damaged or diseased. Catheters are inserted to close and seal the damaged vein. The vein is then heated by radio frequency energy, causing the collagen in the vein wall to shrink and close.
The patient is given a mild sedative and local anesthetic. The doctor treats one leg at a time. Patients normally walk out of the office and go to work the next day.
Dr. Day likes to do the procedures on Fridays, giving patients the weekend to take it easy on their legs before returning to work. After having the procedure, patients are scheduled for a follow-up ultrasound to make sure blood is not clotting and veins are sealed and healing properly, Dr. Day said.
Eventually, the body reabsorbs the bad vein, and blood is rerouted to healthy veins. Dr. Day works on the major veins causing the problem; by sealing the veins causing the underlying problem, other bad veins decompose and go away.
A third option for treatment is called an ambulatory phlebectomy, where the doctor removes the bad veins by making small incisions and pulling the vein out. During this procedure, patients are under local anesthesia, and the incisions are so small no stitches are required. After this procedure, soreness and bruising may occur. Patients usually wear compression stockings for up to three weeks.
Dr. Day started doing the VNUS Closure procedure and treating varicose veins in more patients after arriving at Jackson Surgical Associates about a year ago because it has a varicose vein treatment center.
"Patients are coming back and saying 'yes,' that helped," he explained. All of the patients he has treated say they have benefited; the range of how better they feel differs with each patient. "Because of the positive response, I really like doing the procedure."