The Future of Vein Care: Innovative Treatments to Watch

Varicose veins are not just unsightly, they can be uncomfortable and painful. They can also indicate a more serious health issue called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). The pain and other symptoms of varicose veins are caused by pressure on the veins from the surrounding blood vessels and weakened vein walls. Several treatments are available to relieve this pain and prevent further damage to the veins at Center For Advanced Vein Care.

A sclerotherapy procedure involves injecting a chemical into the vein that causes it to collapse and fade from view, allowing blood to flow through the healthy surrounding veins. This is a minimally invasive procedure that can be done in the doctor’s office or clinic.

In the long term, keeping your weight under control, taking walks or other forms of physical activity and wearing loose-fitting clothing can help you deal with varicose veins and their painful symptoms. If you spend much of your time sitting for work, try to get up and walk around every 30 minutes. Drinking lots of water and avoiding dehydrating drinks, like alcohol and caffeine, helps too.

Varicose veins can also be treated with a simple injection, in which a solution is injected directly into the problematic vein. This causes the vein to close, and it will eventually disappear over time.

Another injection, called a phlebectomy, can be used to treat large varicose veins that are too deep under the skin to be removed through other methods. During this procedure, the healthcare professional inserts a tiny hook-like tool into the affected vein and pulls out the diseased portion of the vein. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia and you’ll be able to go home the same day.

Some people find relief from pain and other symptoms of varicose and spider veins by taking horse chestnut extract capsules or a topical cream that contains the herb. Other herbal remedies that may be effective include adenosine and calcium carbonate.

If you are unable to control your pain and other symptoms with lifestyle changes, compression therapy or a procedure, your provider may recommend surgery. The type of surgery you get will depend on your specific situation, how far your varicose veins have progressed and your other medical conditions.

Untreated varicose veins can cause complications, including ulcers (open sores) or bleeding and inflammation. They can also raise your risk of developing a blood clot in the veins deep inside your body, known as deep vein thrombosis. Varicose veins that become painful and swollen are also a sign of CVI, which can lead to serious problems. Untreated CVI can develop into more severe varicose veins, or into a serious blood clot in the lungs, known as pulmonary embolism. These conditions can be fatal. Fortunately, most varicose veins can be safely and effectively treated with noninvasive methods.

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