Varicose veins are enlarged veins, usually on the legs. These enlarged veins are unsightly and often painful. While many people feel embarrassment or pain from this condition, the thought of undergoing surgery to fix it can be terrifying. If you're currently suffering from varicose veins, and don't want to have surgery, try these four nonsurgical treatments first.
Lifestyle changes
Making a few changes to your daily routine can make a big difference in the look and feel of your veins. These changes can be very simple, such as not crossing your legs when you sit down, and keeping your feet elevated when sitting or lying down. Not standing for long periods of time will also take pressure off of your veins, and keep them from getting any worse.
Exercise is helpful, even if you're not overweight. If you're overweight, exercise can help you to lose weight, which will take pressure off of your varicose veins. Exercise improves your circulation, and gets more blood moving through your varicose veins. This will make them feel better.
Compression stockings
Compression stockings may not be stylish, but they are a great treatment for your varicose veins. These stockings put pressure on the outside of your leg, which in turn puts pressure on the varicose veins. When the varicose veins are compressed, they work more efficiently.
Compression stockings won't get rid of your varicose veins for good, but they will make you feel a lot better while you're wearing them. They will also slow down the progression of your varicose veins so that they won't get any worse than they are now.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins. This procedure can be done in your doctor's office or a place like Vein Clinic Of Las Vegas, without any need for anesthetic.
The doctor will inject a saline (salt water) solution directly into your varicose vein. Multiple veins can be treated at once, if you have a few that are causing you discomfort. The whole procedure will be done in as little as 15 minutes. You may experience a few minutes of cramping during the procedure, but no pain.
How does salt water treat varicose veins? It irritates the lining of your vein, causing it to swell shut. This forms a clot, and later, the vein turns into scar tissue and dies. Your vein will feel hard after the treatment because of this scar tissue, but don't worry. Eventually, the entire vein will fade away. This can take as long as several months.
Laser treatment
Laser treatment is non-invasive and can be done by your family doctor or by a doctor who specializes in veins. No incisions or anesthetic are required.
In this treatment, the doctor will point a laser at your leg, directly on top of the problem vein. He or she will then use the heat from the laser to damage your vein. This works in the same way that sclerotherapy does; scar tissue will be formed, then the scar tissue will cause the vein to die, and then it will fade away.
One appointment isn't usually enough. You will have to go back for follow up appointments every 6 to 12 weeks, and the treatment will be repeated. The number of treatments you will require depends on the severity of your varicose veins, so only your doctor will be able to tell you how many visits you will need.
Varicose veins are painful and unattractive, but not wanting to have surgery doesn't mean that you're stuck with them forever. There are many nonsurgical treatments that you can try, ranging from simple lifestyle changes to laser treatments. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your options and start your new treatment.
