Vein Care - Simple Ways to Get Rid of Varicose Veins

Varicose veins aren’t just an aesthetic issue – they can be painful and may lead to more serious conditions down the road. The good news is that there are some simple ways to alleviate symptoms and even prevent the condition from recurring over time.

Most of the Vein Care Center involve elevating the legs above heart level several times a day to use gravity to get blood moving out of unhealthy veins and back towards the heart. Some of these also involve massage, especially gentle massage in the areas that feel swollen or tense. Getting enough fluids is another simple way to help keep the blood flowing.

Lastly, wearing loose clothing can reduce tightness around the legs and waist and promote more natural flow of blood. During hot days, this can be particularly beneficial as heat and higher temperatures make it harder for the valves in the veins to function properly and cause pain.

It is important to talk with your GP or vascular specialist (a doctor who specialises in veins) to look at the best long-term vein treatment options for you. The choice will depend on the size, position and severity of your varicose veins. Some treatments will require a small cut to be made near the affected veins and then either using energy from high-frequency radio waves (radiofrequency ablation) or lasers (endovenous laser treatment) to destroy the varicose vein. This can be done with local anaesthetic and doesn’t generally require a hospital stay. Some patients are also given compression stockings to wear on their legs which can help to improve the circulation and keep the blood moving well.

Other varicose vein treatments are more like injections, and are typically able to be completed in the office. These can include the injection of a chemical into small and medium-size varicose veins which then scars and closes them. This is usually called sclerotherapy. There are also newer catheter-based procedures that can also be used to treat these large twisted and bulging veins, such as EVLT or VNUS closure.

The older, surgically invasive method of treating varicose veins, known as ligation and stripping, is no longer very common, but does still occur. This involves surgically removing the damaged veins by making incisions in the leg under general anaesthetic. This can lead to bruising and bleeding, but can help with the relief of symptoms and prevent more complications such as DVT. However, these more invasive vein treatments are becoming increasingly less popular as less-invasive alternatives become available, such as ultrasound guided EVLT or VNUS closure. These are a much safer alternative to surgery, and they can be performed in the clinic, allowing for quick recovery. They are also often covered by health insurance.