Have Varicose Veins? How They Are Diagnosed And Treated

If you have varicose veins in your legs, this can be very painful at times. This is a common problem, especially if you stand on your feet much of the day. Below is information on how varicose veins are diagnosed, as well as treatment options that may be available to help you. 

Diagnosing Varicose Veins

Your doctor will ask you to stand up and they will then inspect your legs to see if there is any swelling. There may be visible veins in your legs as well. The doctor will ask you how much pain you feel in your legs and where you have the most pain. 

If the doctor thinks you have varicose veins, there are tests they will run to be sure. One common test is known as venous doppler, which involves doing an ultrasound on your leg. This test is noninvasive and does not cause any pain. Sound waves are used to determine how much blood flow there is in the valves inside the veins. If you have a blood clot in your leg, which can also cause pain, this test will also show this. This is important, as blood clots can be dangerous to your health. 

Treatment Options for Varicose Veins

The treatment offered will depend how bad your varicose veins are. The doctor may first start out by asking you to do exercises and keep your legs raised as much as you can when you are sitting down or when lying down.

The doctor may also ask you to wear compression stockings. These stockings can help because they squeeze your legs, which helps your leg muscles and veins move blood much better through the veins. These stockings come in different compressions. Your doctor will tell you what you should purchase. 

If self-care is not working, there are treatments the doctor can perform to take care of this problem. One common treatment is called sclerotherapy. With this, the doctor injects a solution into each varicose vein. This solution causes the vein to close, and then the veins will fade in a few weeks or completely disappear. This procedure is done in the doctor's office and does not require any anesthesia. 

Laser treatment is another option you have, which involves sending bursts of lights into the varicose vein. This will cause the vein to close up. Over time the vein will fade and then completely disappear. The doctor does not have to use any kind of needle or make any cuts. This is also done in the doctor's office. 

A vein specialist can tell you of other treatments that are available to help you.


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