VARICOSE VEIN DISEASE

Introduction

Vein diseases impact both men and women of all ages. According to published medical studies, as many as 48 million people in the US have developed a form of vein disease during their lifetime. There are several common symptoms and related skin changes that indicate the presence of vein disease. At Elite Pain & Health, our specialty trained vein specialist doctors have the expertise to diagnose and treat your vein condition with the most advanced surgery-free vein treatments.

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VEIN SYMPTOMS & VISIBLE SKIN CHANGES

10 Signs of Varicose Vein Disease

1

Leg and ankle swelling

2

Leg aching

3

Leg cramping

4

Skin itching

5

Restless legs

6

Skin Rash

7

Skin discoloration

8

Spider veins

9

Large bulging veins

10

Open leg and ankle sores

VEIN DISEASE IS TREATABLE

Vein disease is a progressive medical condition, with earlier treatment, the better chance you have of improving your symptoms. If you are experiencing some of the symptoms above, it is likely affecting your lifestyle. You may find simple activities such as walking or standing for long periods very uncomfortable. But you don’t have to suffer. Consider a specialized evaluation with our team and start feeling better now. You owe it to yourself to live your best life!

TREATING PATIENTS AS INDIVIDUALS

BEYOND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT

At Elite Pain & Health, the first step in treatment is a thorough evaluation to find the origin of the problem. We perform a detailed history and physical exam for every patient. Following this, you may need advanced testing of your veinous, nervous, or musculoskeletal systems. Dr. Jason Jackson will oversee your care as a certified physician. He holds specialized certifications from the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine as well as the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

UNDERSTANDING VEIN DISEASE

Veins in your arms and legs are the blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart and lungs. The direct cause of most vein disease is unhealthy valves in your veins that allow blood to flow in the wrong direction, which leads to bulging of veins. Weight gain, pregnancy, and aging can aggravate vein disease. Other factors–such long periods of standing or sitting–can worsen varicose vein symptoms over time, requiring vein disease treatment.

Symptoms of vein disease can affect everyday life. Most people in the United States that suffer from vein disease will notice visible varicose veins or spider veins. Physical symptoms can include pain, itching, tiredness, cramping, or feelings of heaviness. Vein disease not only causes discomfort, but makes patients feel embarrassed, and prevents them from living the vigorous, active lives they want to live.

WHAT ARE VARICOSE VEINS?

Varicose veins are large, bulging, twisted veins that you can see protruding like a cord under the skin surface. They’re most commonly found in the legs and may look more pronounced when standing. The underlying disease resulting in these changes is treatable. Vein disease isn’t always visible; it can be present deep underneath the skin’s surface. Vein disease can lay unseen, worsening over time. So vascular specialists need to use advanced imaging, such as live ultrasound, to diagnose these deeper vein problems.

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SYMPTOMS OF VARICOSE VEINS

In addition to unsightliness, symptoms can include: pain, itching, fatigue, burning, cramping, swelling, restlessness, and throbbing.
APPEARANCE: Large, bulging, rope-like; color varies
LOCATION: Most commonly legs, rarely arms or other areas
SEVERITY: Moderate, and indicative of vein disease
DISCOMFORT: Moderate; frequently a problem

WHAT CAUSES VARICOSE VEINS?
Most people have varicose veins because of malfunctioning valves. These problems inside the veins interfere with the flow of blood as it returns to the heart. Blood pools in the veins, enlarging and distorting them. Ultimately, inflammation and irritation may increase the risk of blood clots.

WHO GETS VARICOSE VEINS?
Men and women of all ages can develop varicose veins, but it becomes more common as we get older. Many of us will eventually encounter vein health issues. It’s usually hereditary, so if your parents or grandparents have or had varicose veins, you’re more likely to experience them. If you become pregnant or have a job or lifestyle that requires standing for long periods, this may worsen the condition.

VARICOSE VEINS DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT

An efficient outpatient clinic visit is the first step. At Elite Pain & Health, we use the latest diagnostic tests and treatment options to address the root cause, not just the symptoms. Varicose veins and their underlying causes are usually treatable with excellent results. We offer quick, minimally invasive treatments that seal off malfunctioning veins without the need for surgery. Redirecting blood circulation directly to healthy veins with properly working valves allows rapid recovery. Your body ultimately absorbs the sealed veins.

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SPIDER VEIN DISEASE

WHAT ARE SPIDER VEINS?

These are small veins just under the surface of the skin indicate underlying disease.
Spider veins are tiny, thin veins that you can see just under the surface of your skin. The name spider vein originates from the resemblance to spider webs.

SPIDER VEIN SYMPTOMS

One of the many symptoms of vein disease you may notice is the appearance of spider veins. These can be associated with discomfort.
APPEARANCE: Tiny, thread-like; variant colors
LOCATION: Usually in the legs but can appear in the face, chest, and other locations
SEVERITY: Some are a minor cosmetic issue, but some cases may cause persistent itching or pain

WHAT CAUSES SPIDER VEINS?

Malfunctioning valves in veins can cause blood to flow backward instead of upward toward the heart. Some of these backed-up veins can lead to non-functional, “dead-end” veins that appear underneath the surface of the skin as spider veins.

WHO GETS SPIDER VEINS?

Spider veins can appear in both men and women, young or old, but are slightly more common in females. Many of us will eventually experience unhealthy vein issues, and it becomes more common the older we get. Vein disease often runs in the family. Based on genetics alone, your risk of having vein disease can range from 20% to 90%. Your likelihood also increases if you become pregnant or have a job or lifestyle that requires standing for long periods.

SPIDER VEIN DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT

If you have spider veins, a painless examination identifies the cause. Some patients seek treatment for cosmetic improvement, and others need relief from pain and swelling. The good news is that the causes of spider veins are easily treatable and often covered by insurance.

VEIN DISEASE IS PROGRESSIVE

Vein disease gets worse over time and can progress to severe complications. It is essential to identify symptoms early and get properly diagnosed. If untreated, vein disease can lead to these potentially severe conditions.

Potential Complications of Vein Disease:

1

Corona Phlebectatica: When spider veins become more numerous and form clusters in the legs, they are known as "telangiectasia" or "corona phlebectatica." These are signs of chronic and more severe disease.

2

Rash (venous stasis dermatitis): A red rash or red dots on the shins or legs may indicate a condition called venous stasis dermatitis, which is caused by blood pooling in the legs.

3

Pigmentation Changes: Patients may see a darkening of the skin or lightening of the skin. Significant color changes are a sign of more advanced vein disease.

4

Lipodermatosclerosis: A condition where the skin on the legs becomes painful, smooth, tight, and hardened. These symptoms result from longstanding untreated veins in the legs.

5

Open sores and venous leg ulcers: Occur in 1% of the population and risk factors include genetics, age, female gender, and obesity. Having varicose veins increases risk 5 to 10-fold. The lesions appear in areas around or just above the ankle.

6

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): Patients who regularly feel an uncomfortable urge to move their legs, have trouble relaxing the legs when traveling, sitting, or sleeping. Vein disease is one of the common causes of RLS.

DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2018 showed that the presence of varicose veins increases the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). With the correct diagnostic tools, the cause of vein disease is apparent. Your doctor will discuss the best treatment plan for your vein disease with you.

GET VEIN TREATMENT

Seeking treatment early in the process may provide better results and give you a healthier life. At Elite pain & Health, we offer multiple options as part of a custom, comprehensive treatment plan.

ENDOVENOUS LASER ABLATION

WHAT IS EVLA OR EVLT?

EVLA involves the use of a small optic fiber inserted directly into targeted veins with the use of live ultrasound guidance. Laser light delivers heat to collapse veins with damaged valves safely. Your body absorbs the treated veins, and circulation naturally improves with blood now directed through improved vein circulation. In most cases, symptoms improve within just days.

Endovenous Laser Ablation Treatment treats the underlying condition that causes varicose veins. With successful treatment of the cause, symptoms of varicose veins improve and resolve.

Varicose vein treatment laser EVLA Oklahoma

Reasons to consider laser therapy

Safety: Complications are rare; the most common is bruising
Effectiveness: EVLA is proven to be one of the most reliable ways to eliminate diseased veins
Simplicity: This outpatient procedure takes less than an hour, and you will be up and walking right away
Covered: EVLA is nearly always covered by insurance

Disadvantages of EVLA

There are certain cases where laser treatment is not the preferred option. Veins may be too small, winding, or close to the surface of the skin. Sclerotherapy may be a better option in these cases. Your doctor will explain a comprehensive treatment plan specifically for your condition.

SCLEROTHERAPY

WHAT IS SCLEROTHERAPY?

Sclerotherapy is a procedure used to eliminate spider and varicose veins. Through an injection of a solution, or “sclerosant,” directly into the vein, they seal. The solution irritates the vein lining resulting in the collapse of the diseased veins. These injections are used to closes off veins that have abnormal valves. Over time, the veins treated with sclerotherapy shrink and eventually are absorbed by your body. Blood flow naturally reroutes itself into healthy veins, which will improve circulation. By eliminating the root cause, we greatly reduce the symptoms of vein disease. Treatment will likely involve ultrasound (sonography) to map your venous system for diagnosis or to provide a live view of your veins. Physicians customarily utilize ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy to treat larger varicose veins. Sclerotherapy can be used on its own, or sometimes is used in addition to Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA). Below are some advantages of this technique:

Safe: Complications are very rare
Effective: Directly treats diseased veins to help symptoms of discomfort as well as improve the appearance
Simple: This outpatient procedure takes minutes and you will up and walking right away
Comfortable: Most patients find sclerotherapy treatments to be rather painless

Varithena is a brand of sclerotherapy (polidocanol) that is formulated to treat problem veins previously not amenable to sclerotherapy. This treatment is also covered by most insurance plans and takes very little time to perform with excellent results. More information can be found about Varithena by clicking HERE.

Other Vein Disease Treatments

AMBULATORY PHLEBECTOMY
This is an alternative procedure used to remove bulging veins close to the skin’s surface. This procedure requires local anesthesia before removing the veins through tiny incisions or needle punctures.

COMPRESSION STOCKINGS
Compression stockings are garments that fit snugly around the foot and gradually loosen compression as they move up the leg. They are designed to increase your blood flow through the veins to help push blood back toward your heart. The use of compression stockings may be required by your insurance company as an initial treatment before authorizing coverage for other therapies. Your doctor will help with your treatment plan based on your insurance coverage.

ADVANTAGES OF COMPRESSION GARMENTS
Compression hose can reduce swelling and thereby provide relief of pain. They can help create more efficient blood flow and improve the general health of the leg. Compression garments increase the effectiveness of other treatments and are helpful before or after sclerotherapy and EVLA treatments.

DISADVANTAGES OF COMPRESSION GARMENTS
Compression stockings may help with symptoms of vein disease, but they do not treat the underlying problem. Symptoms will typically still worsen over time unless the disease is properly treated. Some find compression stockings to be uncomfortable and hot, especially during the summer.

CONCLUSION

At Elite Pain & Health, you will get a customized treatment plan designed to improve your health and allow you to resume your active lifestyle rapidly. It is a good idea to consider surgery-free vein treatments whenever possible due to the risks of vein surgery and the length of surgical vein recovery.

The Oklahoma Pain Management Specialists at Elite Pain & Health have treated countless patients with varicose vein disease. We’re dedicated to offering you the most complete health solutions to care for your vein symptoms. Contact us and schedule an appointment today.

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VARICOSE VEIN DISEASE