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© 2021 by PRISTYN CARE Pristyn Care® is a trademark of GHV Advanced Care Private Limited
© 2021 by PRISTYN CARE Pristyn Care® is a trademark of GHV Advanced Care Private Limited
How to treat, what causes, and how painful are varicose veins ?
Get help from experienced vascular surgeons and get permanent relief from the painful symptoms of varicose veins with the most advanced, effective, and painless USFDA-approved laser treatment for varicose veins at Pristyn Care.
Table Of Index
What are Varicose Veins?
How does it form?
Types of disease
What are the Causes for Varicose Veins ?
What are the symptoms of varicose veins?
Diagnosis
Severity
Risks & Complications
When to consult a doctor ?
Our Varicose Vein Specialists
Questions to ask your doctor .
Treatment options & cost
Insurance coverage
Recovery rate
Long term outlook of the treatment
What are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted or swollen veins, that usually appear on the legs or feet, just beneath the surface of the skin and are commonly caused due to defect in the valves within the veins that allow blood to flow in the wrong direction, often appearing in blue or dark purple. Varicose veins can occur in any part of the body but most commonly affect the legs. Legs are generally affected by varicose veins because of the pressure that is exerted on the legs due to prolonged sitting and standing hours or due to obesity. Every year, more than 23 percent of adults are estimated to be affected by varicose veins.
How does it form?
Varicose veins is a medical condition that takes place when veins in any particular part of the body are under increased pressure and blood is pushed back towards the heart. The increased pressure and force in blood flow results in the damage or weakening of the valves that lie within the veins, causing the blood to pool and even flow backwards which leads the veins to bulge out and become visible through the skin.
Types of disease
Saphenous/Trunk varicose veins
Reticular varicose veins
Spider or Thread veins
What are the Causes for Varicose Veins ?
- Family history/hereditary
- Sitting or standing for a long period of time
- Obesity/overweight
- Pregnancy
- Age
- Hormonal changes
What are the symptoms of varicose veins?
- Itching around the veins
- Pain or heaviness in the legs
- Skin discoloration around the varicose veins
- Swelling in the lower legs
- Throbbing
- Burning and muscle cramps in the legs
- Severe pain after sitting and standing for a long duration
Diagnosis
- Doppler test: This test uses ultrasound to determine the blood flow in the veins located in the arms, legs and the large arteries. This is a simple non-invasive test and generally it is well-tolerated by the patients. During the test, a water-soluble gel is placed on a handheld device, which is known as a transducer. Once this device is gently passed over the skin above the blood vessels, it helps in directing sound-waves to the artery or the veins that are being tested.
- Ultrasound scan: This scan helps in carrying out a detailed examination of the deep veins, particularly if the patient has a history of deep vein thrombosis. A venous ultrasound helps in identifying the damaged valves and abnormal blood blood in the body.
Severity
In this stage, small, thin damaged veins appear on the surface of the skin, usually in the legs and face. Usually, they do not cause any harm and are painless.
Risks & Complications
- Allergic reaction to the anaesthesia: Before the surgical procedure, a person might be put under the influence of anaesthesia in order to ease the pain and discomfort during the surgery, which might cause problems like difficulty in breathing and other complications during the procedure, depending upon how the body reacts to the anaesthesia.
- Nerve injury near the site of treatment: Although rare, there is a slight possibility of a nerve injury during the surgery that can be caused by stretching, exerting pressure or cutting the nerve.
- Blood clots: Deep vein thrombosis is a condition that complicates any surgery from time to time. Even though the complication is rare, patients suffering from a severe condition of varicose veins are at a greater risk being exposed to blood clots.
- Heavy bleeding: If certain medications like aspirins and blood thinners are not avoided prior to a week before the surgery, it may lead to heavy bleeding during the surgical procedure.
- Surgical hand plays an important role: You might consider the expertise of the surgeon as an important factor before going for the surgery as identifying the damaged or problematic vein plays an important role in the success rate of a varicose vein surgery.
Prevention Although there are no proven ways to prevent the formation of varicose veins, there are a number of measures that one can take up in order to prevent an existing condition of varicose veins from worsening which includes avoiding prolonged sitting or standing, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy lifestyle by having a proper diet that is rich in fibre, losing weight, not wearing tight-fitted clothes or high heels for a long period of time, wearing compression stockings, and keeping the legs elevated.
Celebrities diagnosed with varicose veins- Tapsee Pannu: Popular Indian actress Tapsee Pannu took to social media and stated that she got her varicose veins operated and removed six weeks before she started training for her film “Rashmi Rocket.”
- Serena Williams: Tennis superstar Serena Williams has had a medical history of blood clots in the deep veins and had been prescribed to take blood thinners. Shortly after giving birth to her baby in September 2017, she experienced a major complication of pulmonary embolism.
- Britney Spears: American pop-star Britney Spears developed a condition of varicose veins as a result of her pregnancies and had to seek medical help in order to treat her veins, back in 2012.
- Emma Thompson: Popular British actress Emma Thompson had been diagnosed with a condition of varicose veins as soon as she entered her 50s and had to undergo a surgery in order to have it removed.
- Sydney Loreux: Olympic gold medalist and professional football player Sydney Leroux openly admitted to having varicose veins while she was pregnant with her first child. However, considering her sporting career, it is possible that she developed the condition due to spending a long time on her feet.
Myths & factsMyth 1: Spider and Varicose veins are the same thing.
Fact: No, varicose and spider veins are very different from each other in terms of size, symptoms, and appearance.
Myth 2: You will get varicose veins if you cross your legs.
Fact: Certainly not. Varicose veins are a result of weakened or damaged valves. Crossing your legs does not lead to weakened or damaged valves.
Myth 3: Varicose veins only occur among women.
Fact: Varicose veins do not necessarily occur among women. However, it is more common in women than men.
Myth 4: Exercise will make varicose veins worse.
Fact: The answer is no. Exercises help in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Even doctors recommend exercising in order to boost blood circulation in the veins.
Myth 5: Varicose veins always recur after treatment.
Fact: Necessarily not. Varicose veins do not always come back after treatment. With the help of advanced minimally invasive techniques, the chances of recurrence are cut down to a greater extent.
Myth 6: Everyone can go for a laser treatment to treat varicose veins.
Fact: Laser treatment is not applicable for patients who are suffering from tropical ulcer or varicose eczema.
Lesser known facts about varicose veins- The first ever case of varicose veins dates back to 86 BC.Claus Marius, a Roman general, is said to be diagnosed with this condition according to texts.
- It is roughly estimated that 30% of the male population experience venous issues.
- Wearing compression stockings and support hoes cannot cure vein damage, although they might help in blood circulation and give temporary relief.
- Leonardo Da Vinci was the first person to map the anatomy of varicose veins back in the 15th century.
When to consult a doctor ?
Varicose veins might not be a medical emergency and most of the cases go untreated until it leads to complications like blood clots or thrombophlebitis, bleeding around the skin and non-healing ulcers around the ankle that cause decomposition of the skin. It is important to seek medical assistance if you notice signs like sores or ulcers, bleeding, feeling of pain and heat around the veins, and swelling, as it can cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and can also lead to potentially life-threatening conditions like pulmonary embolism.
Questions to ask your doctor .
Do I need to treat my varicose veins immediately?
Are there any medications that can help me in treating my varicose veins?
What are the treatment options available to me?
What are the measures I should take to ease the pain and discomfort?
When will I be able to return to performing my daily activities after the surgery?
What are the chances of my varicose veins recurring?
Will the anaesthesia have any effect on my body, given my health conditions?
How should I avoid exerting pressure on my legs while sleeping, sitting or standing?
Treatment options & cost
- Sclerotherapy: This non-surgical procedure involves the injecting of a solution directly into the veins. This medical procedure helps in eliminating varicose and spider veins by making them collapse and forcing the blood to reroute to flow in healthier veins. Once the veins are destroyed, they disappear over time. This process is typically used in treating spider veins and helps in improving the appearance of the skin that is affected. Whereas, in case of larger veins, a procedure called foam sclerotherapy is used, where the sclerosant solution is turned into a foam before injecting it into the veins as foam can cover a larger surface area, compared to liquid.
- Radiofrequency Ablation: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), also known as fulguration, is a medical procedure that involves heating a part of the pain-transmitting nerve with a radiofrequency needle to create a heat lesion. This resulting lesion prevents the nerve from sending pain signals to the brain. Generally, a patient can go home on the same day after undergoing this procedure.
Insurance coverageThe treatment of varicose veins and certain other vascular problems can be covered under a health insurance policy at Pristyn Care in India. You can get in touch with our medical coordinators to gather more information and related queries for getting your varicose veins treated in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
Recovery rateThe process of recovery depends upon the severity of the condition and method of treatment. It usually takes two to four weeks to recover from a varicose vein surgery. During the initial days of the surgery, the doctor will advise you to stay off of your feet and it is important for you to keep your legs elevated while you are in a sitting or sleeping position as much as possible. You should avoid heavy lifting and refrain from performing any strenuous activities during the initial few weeks after the surgery.
The doctor will ask you to walk and pump your ankles as much as possible as it will help in keeping the blood flow intact in your legs during the process of recovery. The surgeon will prescribe certain medications, in order to help you manage any sort of pain or discomfort. With the introduction of advanced minimally-invasive procedures, the recovery as well as success rate of certain vascular diseases like varicose veins has been reduced to a greater extent over the due course of time.
Long term outlook of the treatment
Almost like in every other condition, surgeries do not necessarily end up solving the problem. Properly following the instructions of the doctor, as well as taking adequate measures during the recovery period is a vital factor in ensuring the best possible outcome. Generally, varicose veins do not lead to any severe health conditions, but can lead to complications like pain, blood clots, DVT, ulcers and other vascular problems. Surgery and other procedures of treatment can help in reducing the pain and other symptoms, including the appearance of the legs. The surgical treatment of varicose veins is successful in most cases, however, there are a number of factors that increase the chances of recurrence, such as obesity, pregnancy, or the development of incompetence in a pre-existing vein, which had not been ligated by the previous surgeon.
Pristyn Care for the treament
Case Study
On 6th of September, a 50-year old female patient came to us with large bulging veins in both thighs and lower legs. As a teacher, her occupation involves prolonged standing hours on a daily basis. By the end of the day, her legs were extremely fatigued and for several hours she would keep her legs elevated in order to feel better.
She got in touch with one of the best vascular surgeons at Pristyn Care- Dr. Sanjit Gogoi and had a thorough and detailed consultation. Her primary concern was about the unsightly aesthetic appearance of the Varicose veins. But, upon examination and further questioning, she revealed that she had been experiencing heaviness, redness, tiredness and throbbing in her lower legs. Dr. Sanjit recommended her to go for a duplex ultrasound which revealed that she had a Great Saphenous Vein, which was directly feeding the surface of the varicose veins in her thigh.
Since it was already revealed that she had an underlying feeding vein, Dr. Sanjit decided to begin the treatment with Endovenous Laser Ablation [EVLA] of the Great Saphenous Veins. This procedure would be followed by an Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy of the surface tributaries and directed Microphlebectomy of the larger surface of varicose veins.
The EVLA procedure on both of the legs took approximately 45 mins to complete and the patient was able to walk immediately after the treatment. Dr. Sanjit prescribed her to keep wearing a class 2 compression stocking and had also told her to expect some slight discomfort and bruising in the legs during the days following the surgery.
Additionally Dr. Sanjit recommended her for two follow up appointments to treat the surface veins in each leg. Each of these appointments lasted for an hour and were performed within the gap of two weeks.
Today, Miss Anita Kumari is an extremely happy patient who did not only get results from a cosmetic perspective, but also from a health perspective. She no longer suffers from venous problems and is able to return to work with full capacity.
Latest research about Varicose veins
USFDA approves first trial with Theraclion’s Sonovein therapy for varicose veins
FAQ
How common are varicose veins?
About 23% of all adults have varicose veins and the condition is more common in women than men.
Does drinking water help varicose veins?
Drinking water and staying hydrated can help in improving the strength of the muscles that support the veins.
What exercise is best for varicose veins?
Exercises like walking, cycling, biking, swimming and running help in building the calf muscles, which help in proper blood circulation in the legs.
Does massage help varicose veins?
Massage can provide temporary relief from the pain and discomfort. However, intense pressure from a massage can end up worsening the condition because the exerted pressure can cause the already weakened veins to burst and increases the risk of pulmonary embolism.
Facts and statistics around varicose veins:
- Although rare, varicose veins can lead to serious circulatory malfunctions that may end up in loss of a limb or even death.
- Animals are immune to varicose veins.
- A single vein consists of three layers, namely the tunica intima, the tunica media and the tunica adventitia.
- Varicose veins are very common in India, with over 10 million cases of the disease every year.
- In India, over 30% of the adults are estimated to suffer from varicose veins.
Why choose Pristyn Care for treating varicose veins?
- Pristyn Care houses some of the best vascular surgeons of the country who have more than 8 years of experience in delivering laser surgery for treating varicose veins with a proven success rate.
- Pristyn Care is associated with the top hospitals in the country that are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities required to perform advanced varicose veins laser treatment.
- Vascular Surgeons/General Surgeons working with Pristyn Care do a thorough consultation in the case of every patient to understand the health condition and then determine the minimally-invasive approach to treat varicose veins.
- To ease out the commuting process for our patients, we also provide free cab facilities to bring you from home to the hospital and help you return back home after the surgery.
- Pristyn Care strives to make the whole surgical experience for every patient a seamless one. A dedicated ‘care buddy’ is assigned to every patient on the day of the surgery to provide the patient with a hassle-free experience to take care of all the formalities and paperworks on your behalf.
- Pristyn Care also provides a free cab facility to ensure proper treatment of the patient. You will be picked up from your home to the hospital and on the completion of your surgery, you will also be dropped off at home.
- A free-of-cost follow up is provided to every patient within the first seven days of the surgery.
How to book an appointment with vascular surgeons at Pristyn Care?
Every surgery at Pristyn Care is done using the most advanced and USFDA-approved medical technology and equipment. Being one of the leading health tech startups in India, dedicated to simplifying the surgical experience of every patient, we provide end-to-end facilities to our patients and give complete assistance in their treatment journey. Pristyn Care ensures that a patient has a care-filled and hassle-free experience. You can book an appointment and get in touch with our doctors virtually from the comfort of your home or anywhere by dialing on the given numbers or by filling up the ‘Book Appointment’ form below.
During the initial consultation, the doctor will have a detailed discussion with you and will carry out a diagnosis of your condition. After a thorough assessment, the doctor will come up with the best treatment plan for you and take you through all the necessary steps to get your varicose veins treated in the most effective and efficient way.
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