varicose vein treatments

Varicose vein homepage

There are many different varicose vein treatments available, ranging from surgery, minor surgery, sclerotherapy and over the counter treatments in the form of creams and lotions. The surgery involves removing the bad veins, which in turn forces our blood to flow through the remaining healthy veins. Depending on the seriousness of your veins, any surgery can invlove a local, partial or general anesthetic.

There are other forms of varicose vein treatment such as microwave treatment and EVLT which uses a laser to shrink varicose veins. This treatment is also known as a catheter assisted procedure.

There is also ambulatory phlebectomy in which the surgeon removes smaller varicose veins through small incisions. I know these terms sound a bit complicated but there is no way around it. If your going to have any kind of surgery it is vital that you find out as much as you can before hand. Remember- knowledge is power!!

The varicose vein treatment i had was known as ligation and stripping, and this is the most common form of varicose vein surgery. The surgeon makes a small cut in the groin area, which is tied off (ligation) and then removed through the cut (stripping). You may also have smaller veins removed using small cuts on your legs. In my case i was told to stand up for a few minutes to allow the medical staff to see the most ugly of the veins bulging out! These nasty veins where then circled with a pen. My leg looked like a colouring book by the time they had finished! When i had my operation it was only for my right leg, not the left one which is nowhere near as bad.

Data derived from Leerink Swann and Co. Consultant survey Summary, 2005. Survey of 30 vascular surgeons on current and expected treatment patterns of varicose veins.

Varicose vein surgery is very good at getting rid of varicose veins and i was very pleased with the results i got. My ankles used to swell up after a long day spent standing up, but now i don't have this swelling. Also the worst of the bulging veins were removed, making my leg look a lot better, which does no end for self confidence.

However ,2 years on from the operation and my varicose veins have returned, but not in the same places. I did not have any veins sticking out above my knee, but now i am seeing them appear above my knee and up my outer thigh. My varicose veins are also becoming worse on my left leg, but this is happening much more slowly than on my right leg.

One of the latest treatments for varicose veins is called transilluminated powered phlebectomy. This procedure involves the surgeon using a device to suck out the varicose veins. The advantage of this method is that it involves fewer cuts on your leg, and recent research suggests that you're likely to have less pain, which is good news for all of us!!

From my own personal experience i had no problems with my operation and i wasn't in any pain after the operation. I has to take 2 weeks off work and wear tight stockings on both legs for about one month. I then had the stitches removed from my groin, which was probably the worst bit.