It is estimated that approximately half of the U.S. population suffers from some type of venous disease, with women making up about 55 percent of those affected. Of those afflicted with vein problems, 20 to 25 percent of women and 10 to 15 percent of men will have visible varicose veins. Varicose veins affect approximately one out of every two people age 50 and older, with many studies suggesting that those percentages increase significantly after age 70.

Varicose veins are common and, although often unsightly, they are generally not a serious health problem. In fact, many people can manage their varicose veins with home treatments, such as exercising, wearing compression stockings, and elevating the legs.

However, a few warning signs can indicate a more serious problem that warrant a doctor’s intervention. Below are six reasons you should see your doctor about your veins:

1. Your vein becomes swollen, red, tender, or warm to the touch.
2. One of the varicose veins begins to bleed.
3. There are sores or a dark rash on the leg or near the ankles.
4. The skin on your legs changes color and texture.
5. Pain in the legs keeps you from your daily activities.
6. The appearance of the veins is causing you distress.

Some of these warning signs may indicate serious problems, such as a blood clot in a deep vein, which can be serious and needs prompt attention. Others could be a sign of a clot or inflammation in a vein just under the skin, which is usually not dangerous but may still require treatment.

If you’re having pain, even if it’s just a dull ache, or are just generally worried about your varicose veins, don’t hesitate to get help.

Varicose veins are an unsightly nuisance that affects up to 40 million Americans. But they’re also a potential health hazard that could put you at risk for blood clots, ulcers and worse.

Swollen and twisted, and visible just under the skin, varicose veins develop when the one-way valves inside your veins become weak or damaged. When these valves don’t function properly, blood backs up and pools in your veins, causing them to swell. This occurs most often in the legs and ankles, but it can happen in other parts of the body as well. Hemorrhoids, for example, are a type of varicose veins.

This isn’t just a problem for women. Men can get varicose veins too. Anyone with an occupation that requires a lot of standing such as nursing, waitressing or bartending, is at risk.

If you don’t treat your varicose veins you will continue to experience pain, fatigue and swelling that keeps you from enjoying your life. In addition to the discomfort of varicose veins, there are a number of possible complications from untreated varicose veins:

• Lipodermosclerosis: Blood that pools in the varicose veins is depleted of oxygen and nutrients. The veins don’t tolerate high pressure and red blood cells and fluid to leak into the tissues of the leg, which causes painful swelling. The red blood cells in the tissues cause chronic inflammation and the skin becomes dark and discolored. The medical term for the dark discoloration is hyperpigmentation. When the skin and the fat under the skin are inflamed for years, the tissues become woody and firm. The medical term for this woody, hard tissue is lipodermosclerosis.

• Venous Leg Ulcer: A condition that may occur over time, with chronic venous insufficiency, is a venous leg ulcer. The ulcers due to varicose veins are painful and difficult to heal. In some cases, the ulcers cannot heal until the backward vein blood flow is corrected.

• Spontaneous Bleeding: Another possible consequence of untreated varicose veins is spontaneous bleeding from the varicose veins. As the skin over the veins becomes thin, eventually the vein can be exposed and easily injured by clothing, bedding, etc. The blood loss can be significant but is painless.

• Superficial thrombophlebitis (ST): ST is an inflammation of a vein just below the surface of the skin. The inflammation is not cause by and infection – rather, the inflammation is caused by decreased blood flow through the vein, damage to the vein and blood clotting. The symptoms of ST include skin redness and a firm, tender, warm vein. Localized leg pain and swelling often occur.

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): DVT is often first noticed as a “pulling” sensation in the calf of the lower leg, and it can be quite painful. Symptoms also include associated warmth, redness and swelling. The swelling often extends to above the knee.

If a clot in a superficial (close to the skin) vein grows, it can move into a deep vein. These clots can break loose and move through the bloodstream to the lung, where it can cause a pulmonary embolism (a sudden, potentially life-threatening blockage). However, clots can be identified through ultrasound and then treated, typically with anticoagulants (blood thinners).

Varicose vein removal is covered by most insurance plans, a reflection of the procedure’s value beyond cosmetic concerns. If you’re not sure whether you need to treat your varicose veins, come in and see us.

Vein Center of Indiana is a leading provider in the treatment and removal of varicose veins and spider veins, including Phlebectomy, Sclerotherapy, Vein Imaging, and Compression Stockings. We serve the greater Indianapolis area, including Carmel, Westfield, Fishers, Noblesville, Geist, Broad Ripple, and Castleton.

What is Ambulatory Phlebectomy?

Ambulatory (micro) phlebectomy is a procedure that removes and disrupts varicose veins through a series of tiny (micro) skin incisions. We can perform this procedure at the same session as an EVLT procedure, or at a separate time.

Who Needs a Phlebectomy?

Ambulatory (micro) phlebectomy is performed on an outpatient basis for patients with large bulging veins. This procedure is done for the large branches off the greater saphenous vein that would be treated with EVLT.

How is the Procedure Done?

After the leg is prepped and draped using sterile technique, the skin around the varicose veins is numbed with local anesthetic. We then remove/disrupt the varicose veins through a series of tiny incisions. The large bulging veins are then removed.

What Can I Expect after An Ambulatory Phlebectomy Procedure?

When we’re done, small pressure dressings are applied to the incisions and the patient is instructed to wear a thigh-high compression stocking for two weeks. Long-term results of this safe, effective procedure have been shown in the medical literature (and in our own practice) to be excellent.

What is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is an outpatient procedure that involves injecting a sclerosing liquid through a tiny needle into the spider or varicose vein. This solution replaces the blood in the vein and causes irritation and scarring of the walls of the vessel. The body then begins its natural healing process and the vein begins to shrink and disappear. Sclerotherapy is one of the most common treatments for spider and varicose veins and has been in use for more than 75 years.

Who is a Candidate?

Our physicians and staff will evaluate your varicose and spider veins. We will order a preliminary ultrasound (particularly patients with large bulging veins) to see if EVLT or ambulatory phlebectomy needs to be performed before the sclerotherapy. The treatment strategy is discussed in detail with each patient prior to starting therapy.

Describe a Treatment Session

The sclerosing agent is injected into the spider or varicose veins through a tiny needle. Discomfort is minimal and no anesthesia is required. You will need to bring support hose to your appointment.

What are the Risks?

Sclerotherapy has been proven to be remarkably safe. Reported complications, including overlying skin burns, nerve injuries, or blood clots developing in other untreated veins, are extremely rare. The risks are well below 1 percent; we have not seen these complications in our practice to date.

Do Insurance Companies Cover EVLT?

The overwhelming majority of insurance companies cover EVLT, ambulatory phlebectomy, and sclerotherapy for treatment of symptomatic varicose veins. But not all insurance companies will cover spider vein sclerotherapy. We will submit your information to your insurance company for preapproval prior to your treatment.

Warmer temps are right around the corner. So, now is the time to get ready to show off your legs. Don’t suffer through another season when you can take care of those painful and unsightly varicose veins and spider veins with non-surgical, minimally invasive, outpatient treatments that get you back to your healthy lifestyle – and those shorts.

Varicose vein and spider vein treatments can eliminate veins that create bulging and twisting lines in the lower body – and relieve common symptoms like: pain, aching, fatigue, swelling, leg heaviness, burning, and itching. Symptoms that can be so painful you can’t enjoy the active lifestyle you once did.

Both varicose veins and spider veins are cause by venous insufficiency. A real health concern, this backward flow of blood occurs when the tiny valves inside veins which keep the blood flowing in a certain direction, are damaged, and wear out, allowing blood to collect inside the affected area. This results in swelling of the vessels, which can often be seen on the outside of the legs. If unchecked this can result in tissue damage, as well as damage to the surrounding blood vessels. Skin changes, like discoloration and thickening will most often occur as well. Open sores may also develop around the ankle area, and can be prone to infection and challenging to treat..

Out-patient treatments such as Sclerotherapy, Endogenous Laser Therapy (EVLT), and Ambulatory Phelbectomy successfully treat both the symptoms and appearance of varicose and spider veins. These treatments are covered by an overwhelming majority of insurance companies for varicose veins and in some cases spider veins.

In addition, there are a number of reasons to treat your problem veins in the colder months:
– Wearing seasonally appropriate long pants and tights will hide the mild bruising/swelling that comes from vein treatment.
– It is more comfortable to wear compression stockings and conceal them in the cooler months.
– While wearing winter clothes, affected, treated areas are unlikely to be exposed to sunlight, which can cause discoloration during the time of treatment.
– More time to see the results is provided, since warmer weather is still a few months away.

While your instinct may be to put off treatment, your symptoms are reminding you that there is no better time to get rid if your varicose and spider veins and get back to your life.