Vein Care – A Specialty Clinic That Diagnoses and Treats Vein Conditions

Vein Care is a specialty clinic that diagnoses and treats patients with vein conditions. Its doctors and staff help manage frustrating cosmetic problems, such as bulging varicose veins and noticeable spider veins, as well as serious medical concerns like venous leg ulcers. Center For Advanced Vein Care may recommend an ultrasound to examine your veins for signs of blood clots, measure how well your valves work, and see if you have any feeding veins under the skin that are too deep to be seen on inspection. This test is usually safe and painless.

Varicose and spider veins are caused by weakened valves that allow blood to flow backward and stretch out the veins near the surface of the skin, most often in the legs. They may be a minor annoyance but for some, they cause pain and discomfort. Some people develop the condition because of an underlying medical issue, such as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which is defined by a condition in which blood pools in your veins and causes them to become swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. Other causes of varicose and spider veins include age, pregnancy, obesity, and a family history of the problem.

In most cases, varicose and spider veins are harmless, but it is best to get treatment for them. This may include elevating your legs, wearing compression stockings, or undergoing a surgical procedure to close or remove them.

During a physical examination, your healthcare provider will feel your veins while you are sitting and standing. They will also ask you about your symptoms and your medical history.

You can relieve some of your symptoms with self-care treatments, such as wearing compression stockings and elevating your legs at least once each day. You can also take medication, such as acetaminophen or NSAIDs (such as naproxen), to reduce pain and swelling. Topical analgesics, such as a cream with lidocaine that numbs the skin, can also help.

For more serious varicose veins, your doctor may recommend a catheter-based procedure to seal the diseased vein. After local anesthesia numbs the area, your doctor will put a thin tube called a catheter into the enlarged vein. Then they will use ultrasound to guide a laser fiber through the catheter to the diseased vein. The tip of the fiber emits heat, which causes the vein to collapse and seal shut. Over time, the body will absorb the closed vein and reroute blood to other healthy veins. This procedure is sometimes known as endothermal ablation or radiofrequency venoplasty. Another option is ambulatory phlebectomy, in which your doctor uses a tool to scrape or remove the varicose and spider veins through small cuts. This procedure is an outpatient surgery and typically requires 2 to 4 weeks of recovery.

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