WHAT ARE VARICOSE VEINS?
They are dilated elongated tortuous worm like veins of the lower limbs.
WHY DO THEY HAPPEN?
Veins take blood from foot upward towards heart against gravity. Due to weakness in the valve or vein blood leaks back downwards instead of going up. This causes excessive dilatation of veins- presenting as varicose veins.
WHO ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE VARICOSE VEINS?
HOW DO THEY PRESENT?
They usually present as
DO THEY CAUSE PAINOR WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF VARICOSE VEINS?
WHY SHOULD I GET TREATED IF PAIN KILLERS GIVE ME RELIEF?
Pain killers are dangerous as regular use have their own side effect of gastric ulcer and kidney damage. Pain killers do not remove the cause of varicose vein.
WHICH IS “THE TEST” FOR VARICOSE VEINS?
WHAT IF I DON’T TREAT AT THIS STAGE OR WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS?
Bleeding with recurrent episodes and Non healing venous ulcer of the leg are two most common complications in untreated varicose veins.
SHOULD WE STILL BELIEVE IN SURGERY OR UNDERGO THESE NEWER MODALITIES?
These newer modalities are standard of care world wide and have results no way inferior to surgery. Instead they can be done under local or regional anaesthesia with same day discharge. No rest or recovery is required. They are all pinhole or endovascular procedures. Surgery is meant for people who do have facility or access to these modalities.
WHAT FORM OF TREATMENT ARE AVAILABLE?
Medical laboratory and specialists services
Earlier surgery was offered to patients. These days treatment varies according to clinical state and severity and ranges from
- Doing nothing and follow up.
- Customised compression stockings
- Customised leg wraps for elderly.
- Injection Sclerotherapy
- Thermal Ablation(Laser/Radiofrequency Ablation)
- Glue Application.
