Kicking Cancer: Understanding The Treatment Process

Posted on: 5 August 2015

Do you have varicose veins in your legs? Are they becoming noticeable and unsightly? Are they causing serious pain and discomfort? Varicose veins form when the valves in your leg's veins start to fail. The valves are responsible for directing blood back to the heart. If the valves fail, blood stays in the veins, eventually causing them to become clotted and swollen. The good news is that you have options available. Depending on the severity of your varicose veins, there are a number of treatment methods you can pursue. Here are some of the most effective:

Compression socks. If your varicose veins aren't too serious yet, you may be able to get rid of them just by wearing compression socks. You wear these socks all day. They place gentle pressure on your legs and, subsequently, your veins. That pressure pushes blood up through the veins and past the valves. You can buy compression socks at most pharmacies. However, you may want to talk to your doctor and get prescription stockings. They'll fit your leg perfectly and may be more effective than an over-the-counter version.

Vein stripping. This has long been one of the most common treatments for varicose veins.This is an outpatient surgical procedure in which a doctor makes a small incision in your leg and then removes the swollen vein. Your blood is then directed to other veins that are deeper in your leg and muscle tissue. While this is an effective treatment, it may come with a fair amount of pain and a little bit of recovery time. If you're averse to surgical procedures, this may not be the option for you.

Sclerotherapy. This is a relatively new treatment in which a doctor injects the vein with a foam-like solution, which serves to close off the vein completely. Blood then naturally redirects itself through other veins and, eventually, the damaged vein fades away. This is popular because it doesn't involve surgery or any incisions. However, it's possible that the solution may not work the first time, in which case you'll have to come back for repeat injections.

Laser therapy. This is also a newer treatment, but it is very popular. With laser treatment, a doctor inserts a catheter into the vein and then shoots a laser burst through the catheter. The laser gradually closes and fades the vein. Patients tend to like laser therapy because it's quick and relatively pain-free. It usually only requires local anesthesia, so recovery time is minimal. It's possible that you may need multiple sessions if the varicose vein is relatively large.

For more information, contact Elite Vein Centers or a similar organization.