varicose vein pain reliefVaricose veins are like snowflakes. They are as unique to patients as the treatments are to fix them. Often considered a cosmetic issue, varicose veins are a medical condition called venous insufficiency. And they can be quite painful if not treated. Here’s how to ease the discomfort. 
 

What is Venous Insufficiency?

The cause of venous insufficiency is malfunctioning vein valves. They can’t push blood from the legs back up to your heart, causing the blood to pool in the legs.
Venous insufficiency symptoms often include
  • Heaviness in your legs 
  • Pain/cramping
  • Swelling
  • Restless legs
  • Discoloration

How to Relieve Varicose Vein Pain

If you find yourself in pain from your varicose veins, you should seek treatment with a vein specialist. But here are some options to ease the discomfort at home:
1. Elevate Your Legs. For immediate varicose vein pain relief, elevate your legs above your heart. Place your feet against a table, stretch them up a wall, or lie down in bed and rest your legs on three or four pillows. This helps make it easier for the blood to flow toward the heart. Stay with your legs elevated for at least 15 minutes at a time — that should help reduce the swelling and ease the pain.
2. Exercise and Stretch Your Legs. Flex your feet, especially during long trips when your legroom is limited. If you have to sit or stand all day, change position at least every 30 minutes and your bend knees.
3. Hydrate. Proper hydration supports healthy blood circulation. Drink enough water and move around as often as possible.
4. Use Cold Water. Shower your legs with cold water. Cool temperatures cause blood vessels to shrink, which reduces swelling and feelings of heaviness.
If your varicose vein pain symptoms progress, worsen or don’t go away, see a vein specialist. They can offer a treatment plan based on your symptoms. There are several non-invasive procedures to help ease your pain for good.

Delaware State riding a bicycle to healthier veinsAt Delaware Advanced Vein Center, our medical staff has years of experience helping people with their spider and varicose veins. We would love to welcome you to our family of satisfied patients. 

Contact us today to schedule a FREE virtual consultation and vein evaluation.

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vein procedure for varicose veins vein stripping versus ambulatory phlebotomyTechnology and treatment for varicose veins have developed significantly over the years. Before, varicose veins were only treated with a procedure called “vein stripping.” It involved surgically removing the veins from the body. Thankfully, vein treatment these days is less invasive.

An Out of Date Vein Treatment

Yes, vein stripping is considered outdated. More recent technology allows physicians to no longer remove a patient’s vein.
Vein Stripping requires general anesthesia and extensive incisions on the affected area. A large varicose vein is usually removed or tied off in the leg. The procedure requires a long recovery period, about 2-4 weeks. But, your recovery time will vary on how many veins are stripped and where they’re located.
 
Your doctor may recommend varicose vein stripping if you’re experiencing:
  • constant pain, throbbing, and tenderness in the legs
  • skin sores and ulcers
  • blood clots
  • bleeding from the veins

The New, Better Vein Treatment

An Ambulatory Phlebectomy is the removal of bulging leg veins through tiny needle incisions. A phlebectomy is a more recently developed vein procedure and is less invasive. Your doctor will make a smaller incision and remove the varicose vein in several sections.
 
Local anesthesia is used and recovery time is significantly less than vein stripping. Most patients can return to their regular activities within a day. The results are permanent, allowing you to get rid of those painful and unsightly veins for good!

Out with the Old, In with the New

Ambulatory phlebectomy and vein stripping are similar. Both procedures remove severely swollen veins so blood can circulate elsewhere. But the phlebectomy is the new and improved treatment. Nonfunctioning veins can lead to more problems down the road. Try to get treatment from a certified vein center that uses up-to-date treatment for the best results. 

Delaware State riding a bicycle to healthier veinsAt Delaware Advanced Vein Center, our medical staff has years of experience helping people with their spider and varicose veins. We would love to welcome you to our family of satisfied patients. 

Contact us today to schedule a FREE virtual consultation and vein evaluation.

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can varicose veins come back after treatment?
There are lots of reasons why you might seek treatment for varicose veins. Often times it’s because you’re self-conscious of their appearance. But others experience painful symptoms like heaviness, itching, burning, swelling, and discoloration. Luckily, a vein specialist offers a variety of treatments for your vein condition, cosmetic or health-related. But what does it really take to get rid of your veins for good? And can your varicose veins come back?
 

How Varicose Vein Treatment Works

Varicose vein treatments are not a one-size-fits-all process. It usually involves non-invasive procedures like sclerotherapy, micro-phlebectomy, or ablations.
 
Each patient has individual health needs and risk factors. One single treatment method may not be enough to achieve the results you want. There’s even a possibility that your varicose veins may return after treatment.
 

Why Varicose Veins Come Back After Treatment

The likelihood of your varicose veins returning after treatment depends on several factors:
  • What caused your varicose veins to develop in the first place
  • Which method(s) of treatment was performed
  • The underlying factor of your vein disease like obesity or genetics
If your varicose veins do reappear, more treatments may be advised. Regardless of why your varicose veins return, it’s important to get treatment. Don’t you want to avoid pain, discomfort, and other serious health conditions in the future?
 

How to Prevent Varicose Veins from Coming Back

Varicose vein treatments are highly effective, but that doesn’t mean your veins are gone for good. If you experience risk factors like genetics, obesity, or pregnancy, you might develop varicose veins in a new spot after vein treatment. You can help prevent the reoccurrence of varicose veins by:
  • Losing excess weight
  • Exercising daily 
  • Moving around frequently throughout the day
  • Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet
  • Avoiding prolonged periods of standing or sitting
  • Managing underlying health conditions
  • Wearing compression socks

can varicose veins come back after treatment?

No treatment ensures you won’t experience the recurrence of new varicose veins. But, you can improve your vein health by scheduling an appointment with a vein specialist to ensure the best possible outcome.

Delaware State riding a bicycle to healthier veinsAt Delaware Advanced Vein Center, our medical staff has years of experience helping people with their spider and varicose veins. We would love to welcome you to our family of satisfied patients. 

Contact us today to schedule a FREE virtual consultation and vein evaluation.

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venous insufficiency CEAP stagesVenous Disease is Complex But Can Be Described

So how does your vein doctor know the severity of your varicose veins? We use the Comprehensive Classification System for Chronic Venous Disorders (CEAP). And you can use it too!

Before CEAP, there wasn’t a method for healthcare professionals to classify vein disease. Instead, they would describe symptoms and rate them as mild, moderate, or severe. The approach wasn’t helpful and lacked specificity. Communication was often lacking between providers.

What the CEAP Acronym Stands For

C = clinical condition 

E = etiology

A = anatomic location 

P = pathophysiology

What is CEAP Classification?

The American Venous Forum wrote the first CEAP classification in 1994. It provides a comprehensive classification that’s accepted worldwide. Most published medical papers now use all or portions of the CEAP system. It has two parts: classification and severity scoring of lower extremity vein disease. CEAP classification ranges from C0 (no venous disease) to C6 (an open and active ulcer).

Today, all healthcare professionals use the CEAP system when describing vein disease. It’s designed to be very specific. In short, it offers everything that the previous system failed to do.

The 7 Stages of the CEAP Classification System

C0: A functioning, healthy venous system. Leg veins pulse blood back towards the heart exactly as they’re supposed to.

Severity: mild

C1: Presence of spider veins, reticular veins, or telangiectasia. By themselves, spider veins are nothing more than a cosmetic nuisance. But they do point out some level of reflux in the larger veins of the legs. They’re a direct precursor to varicose veins.

Severity: mild

C2: The formation of varicose veins. Patients begin to experience symptoms like achy legs, swelling, and cramping. This leads to increased pressure, which in turn causes surface veins to swell. Over time, they become stretched out and become varicose veins. Without treatment, it’s likely the condition with progress to the following stage.

Severity: moderate

C3: The presence of edema, a medical term for fluid retention and swelling. Compression stockings and edema pumps can manage symptoms. But treatment will help the underlying condition. A patient’s vein disease will worsen if not treated.

Severity: moderate to severe

C4: Visible skin changes. Fluid retention leads to changes in the color, texture, and appearance of the skin. The presence of eczema and brownish, purplish, or reddish blotches is common.

Severity: severe

C5: Painful ankle ulcers around the ankles that heal on their own. Chronic fluid retention will cause increased blood pressure within the leg veins. This can lead to an impaired circulation which can cause a breakdown of the overlying skin.

Severity: severe

C6: Lower extremity ulcers that don’t heal. About 1% of patients with vein disease will progress to CEAP stage 6. As the condition worsens ulcers won’t heal without specialty wound care. At this point, treatment is medically necessary. 

How Can I Classify Myself with CEAP?

Most people with varicose veins know they have bulging veins in their legs. The CEAP system will help them understand the severity of the varicose vein problem and seek the right treatment.

But when using CEAP, remember that it’s external observations of underlying health issues. A venous ultrasound scan can examine all the veins underneath. Without it, there is no full diagnosis.

 

 

Delaware State riding a bicycle to healthier veins

At Delaware Advanced Vein Center, our medical staff has years of experience helping people with their spider and varicose veins. We would love to welcome you to our family of satisfied patients. 

Contact us today to schedule a FREE virtual consultation and vein evaluation.

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apple dressed as doctor talking to Delaware patientIf you’re seeking treatment for vein conditions like spider and varicose veins, you’re probably thinking it will all be fixed in just one visit. Alas, that’s just not the case. Veins don’t disappear overnight. They need a lot of TLC. The reality is, you may need more than one treatment to get the best results.

There are several treatment options available like sclerotherapy, ablations, and laser therapy. Most are non-invasive and can be performed in your doctor’s office with little to no downtime. The number of times you’ll need vein treatment varies from patient to patient. Everyone’s veins are different sizes and at different stages. Typically, the more severe your veins are, the more treatments you’ll need. Below, we look at two different vein treatments and estimate how many times you’ll need them. 

Sclerotherapy

What: A common treatment for spider and small varicose veins.

How: Your doctor injects a solution into the vein, which irritates the wall of the vein and makes the veins stick together so the blood can’t flow through it anymore. 

Healing Time: Spider veins usually disappear within 3 to 6 weeks. Varicose veins take 3 to 4 months.

Number of Treatments: In most cases, patients typically need 2 to 5 treatments to completely eliminate the appearance of spider veins, especially if the veins being treated are large or if new veins reappear.

Radio Frequency Ablations (RFA)

What: A treatment for varicose veins and venous insufficiency.

How: RFA procedures use a catheter that is inserted into the vein. It uses a high-frequency radio-frequency current, causing the vein to spasm and collapse. 

Healing Time: Within one week, patients may start to notice a difference in the prominence of their varicose veins, but complete results may take weeks to months.

Number of Treatments: Some patients may require several procedures depending on the severity of their varicose veins or if both legs are being treated.

how spider veins and varicose veins are treated

Follow-Up Appointments Are Important

While it’s necessary to get the proper amount of treatments done to ensure you get the best results, it’s also important to follow-up. These appointments help make sure your treatment is going in the right direction. This is also the time to address any concerns or questions you may have to your vein doctor. 

If you don’t schedule follow-up appointments or receive all of your vein treatments, you may experience the reappearance of veins or even health complications. 

Skill is the Key to Getting Best Results

The results you will see depend largely on the person performing the vein treatment. So make sure you find a vein specialist that performs vein treatments regularly to get the best results possible.

 

 

Delaware State riding a bicycle to healthier veinsAt Delaware Advanced Vein Center, our medical staff has years of experience helping people with their spider and varicose veins. We would love to welcome you to our family of satisfied patients. 

Contact us today to schedule a FREE virtual consultation and vein evaluation.

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Internal versus external varicose vein ruptureWhile varicose veins cause aching pain and discomfort, they can sometimes lead to more serious problems and can even burst, especially when left untreated. This is a critical time to seek medical help and finally get treatment for your varicose veins, because if a vein pops once, it may happen again.

Here, we explain why varicose veins burst and the next steps to take for a safe and healthy recovery.

What Makes a Varicose Vein Burst?

A varicose vein can burst from increased pressures within the veins. This build-up of pressure causes the walls of the vein to stretch, making it weak and prone to sudden rupture. A ruptured varicose vein can bleed into tissues and through the skin’s surface, especially if the skin is thin.

What Are the Symptoms of a Burst Varicose Vein?

Internal Symptoms

If a varicose vein ruptures, but the skin is not broken, symptoms including bruising, dizziness, or fainting. If you experience these symptoms, visit your vein care specialist or nearest emergency room to avoid excessive blood loss and other complications.

External Symptom

If a varicose vein ruptures and the skin is broken, significant bleeding will occur. Because veins burst from excess pressure, the bleeding can be rapid and profuse. In this case, call 911 and seek medical attention immediately to prevent excessive blood loss.

What Should I Do After my Varicose Vein Bursts?

If a varicose vein has burst, elevate the leg of the affect area on a stack of pillows or up a wall. This will help reduce swelling and blood loss. Next, apply pressure on the bleeding site with a towel or cotton t-shirt. This will help slow or stop the bleeding while you seek medical attention.

To avoid excessive blood loss, visit your vein care specialist or the nearest emergency room as soon as possible. Medical treatment of ruptured varicose veins involves an ultrasound guided sclerotherapy. Patients need to undergo complete evaluation of the lower extremity veins to check for underlying cause of the rupture. We encourage you to seek treatment accordingly to prevent future ruptures.

leaf character sitting and elevating his leg after a ruptured varicose vein

How Can I Prevent a Varicose Vein from Bursting?

The best way to prevent a varicose vein from bursting is to get vein treatment. Not only does treating varicose veins and venous insufficiency help with your overall health, it can also help you avoid some serious potential long-term risks like a ruptured vein or a leg ulcer.

Treat Your Varicose Veins Today

If you, or a loved one suffers with leg swelling, rashes, or ulcers, see a vein specialist as soon as you can to prevent a potential vein rupture. If you don’t have symptoms but do have the risk factors for varicose veins, see a doctor. A simple ultrasound test will determine whether you have varicose veins or not. 

Remember, untreated varicose veins can lead to serious health problems. Don’t wait. With your varicose veins treated, you’ll feel better — and you’ll live a longer, healthier life with fewer complications.

 

Delaware State riding a bicycle to healthier veins

At Delaware Advanced Vein Center, our medical staff has years of experience helping people with their spider and varicose veins. We would love to welcome you to our family of satisfied patients. 

Contact us today to schedule a free virtual consultation and vein evaluation.

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