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EXCLUSIVELY DEVOTED & FOCUSED ON VENOUS DISEASE

Month: February 2018

Foam sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment for spider veins. The procedure takes place in-office, and you can walk out right after the treatment and resume your normal activities immediately. But if your job involves prolonged standing or driving, or if both your legs were treated at the same, you may need a few days off.

Sclerotherapy Recovery Time & Aftercare | Vein Specialist in Ventura & LA

Here’s what to Expect:

On the day of the procedure

After your sclerotherapy treatment with Dr. Shah, you can expect the following:

  • The treated leg will be bandaged from the foot to the top of the treated vein
  • Your blood pressure and bandages will be checked
  • You will be given custom compression stockings
  • You will receive a prescription for any pain relievers that you need
  • You will be given a discharge letter

The treatment is not painful, and you should be able to walk out of the center about 30-minutes after the procedure. However, it is best that you get someone else to drive you home or to work for the next 48 hours.

The Following Day

On the following day of your treatment, the local anaesthetic will have worn off, so the bandaged leg will feel a little uncomfortable. It will also be slightly swollen. Just take your painkillers prescription as directed for the first few days.

The Second Day

You should remove the bandage after 24 hours and gauze and wear the compression stockings during the day for the next two weeks. Remove the stockings when taking a bath and going to bed.

Other precautions

  • Although the stockings may feel tight and uncomfortable, it is important that you wear them correctly to optimize the results of the procedure.
  • Try to walk as normally as possible to keep blood flowing properly
  • Avoid strenuous work or exercise for the first few days, and gradually build up the amount you need to do
  • Avoid driving for at least 48 hours
  • Avoid flying long haul (more than 4 hours flights) for at least 4 weeks after the procedure as it increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis

When to contact us

If you have any concerns about sclerotherapy or treating your varicose veins, please contact the Center for Vein Wellness.

Deep Vein Thrombosis also referred to as DVT is a venous complication that involves a blood clot (thrombus) forming in a deep vein in your body. DVT typically affects a deep vein in a leg running through the thigh and calf muscles of one of your legs.

What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis? | Vein Specialist in Ventura & Los Angeles

DVT is a complicated vein problem that may develop due to a number of factors such as medical conditions affecting how your blood clots; or prolonged immobility, like when confined to bed following an accident or surgery.

Symptoms of DVT

If you have deep vein thrombosis, you may not necessarily experience any pain or discomfort. However, most people report feeling:

  • A strong ache around the affected spot
  • Warm sensation in area around the clot
  • Swelling, pain, and tenderness around the calf
  • Red skin below your knee
  • Intense pain when bending the foot upwards towards the knee

If left untouched, DVT can lead to even more serious complications such as pulmonary embolism, which is a result of a piece of the blood clot in the leg vein breaking off and traveling in the bloodstream and lodging in the blood vessels in the lungs.

If pulmonary embolism develops, you may experience other symptoms like:

  • Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
  • Chest pain or discomfort that intensifies when coughing or taking a deep breath
  • Sudden shortness of breath
  • Coughing up blood
  • Rapid pulse

Pulmonary embolism affects about 10 percent of the people who delay treatment for deep vein thrombosis. So it is important that you visit a vein specialist at the Center for Vein Wellness as soon as you notice signs of DVT.

Treatment for deep vein thrombosis

If you suspect that your symptoms are due to deep vein thrombosis, Dr. Shah will perform a few tests to ascertain that. A D-dimer specialized blood test may be necessary to check for the presence of broken blood clots in your bloodstream. If you have recently had a surgical procedure, injury, or pregnancy, other tests may be necessary, like a Doppler ultrasound or a venogram.

If detected, you will have to take anticoagulant medicine to prevent your blood from clotting and making any existing clots bigger. Dr. Shah will also help you devise a strategy to prevent DVT from occurring again.

To learn more about deep vein thrombosis, please visit the Center for Vein Wellness.

Although varicose veins are mostly reported by middle-aged women, studies show that they also affect between 17 and 45 percent of men. These veins are cosmetically unattractive, and appear as ropy, blue or purple blood vessels bulging out of the skin. Perhaps because women are more concerned about their appearance than men, and the fact that their clothes are more revealing, they are more likely to seek treatment for varicose veins from a vein specialist.

How Do Varicose Veins Affect Men? | Vein Specialist in Ventura & LA

Men, on the other hand, are less aware of the appearance of varicose veins. This is especially true for men who workout a lot, as bulging veins are a sign of masculinity and a good fitness session. Even when the veins cause pain and discomfort, one can easily dismiss the symptoms as muscle fatigue after exercises.

However, the bulging, ropy veins may be varicose veins that can develop into serious vein complications if left untreated.

Reasons to treat varicose veins

Failure to treat varicose veins can lead to a number of problems, including:

  • Ulcers – Ulcers can form from scrapes or cuts that don’t heal properly. They are very painful, and often form around the varicose veins on your ankles. One of the early signs of ulcers is skin discoloration around the varicose veins.
  • Blood clots – These often lead to swelling in the legs, which in turn results in leg heaviness, fatigue, and restlessness.
  • Bleeding – The bulging veins are more vulnerable to breakage as they’re very close to the surface of the skin.
  • Infections – The bleeding opens up your skin to infections

Get your varicose veins treated today

It is important that you get your varicose veins assessed and treated as soon as you notice them. If you’re not ready for treatment, Dr. Shah of the Center for Vein Wellness may recommend a few lifestyle changes and activities to improve blood flow and thereby reduce their visibility.

Some common treatments include changing your fitness routine, losing weight, stretching often if you sit or stand for extended periods, keeping the legs elevated when resting, and wearing compression sleeves. If the veins are causing complications, Dr. Shah may recommend a minimally invasive treatment like sclerotherapy or ablation.

Please visit the Center for Vein Wellness for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Although varicose veins are hereditary, they can also be caused by other factors that strain the veins in your legs, like pregnancy, surgery, trauma, obesity, and prolonged standing or sitting. These veins do not necessarily cause pain, which may prompt some people – especially men – to ignore them if they can conceal them with clothing.

Do You Need to Remove Varicose Veins? | Varicose Vein Treatment

If left untreated, varicose veins cause a myriad of symptoms like pain, leg heaviness, fatigue, and general discomfort. In severe cases, they can lead to more complicated conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT), ulcers, and skin discoloration, among others. So how should you deal with varicose veins?

Removal is not the only treatment for varicose veins

As soon as you realize that you have varicose veins, it is important that you contact the Center for Vein Wellness to schedule a consultation with a vein specialist. Dr. Shah will assess your condition and identify the root cause of the varicose veins. If caused by lifestyle factors, the doctor may first recommend a few months of self care at home.

Self care involves:

  • Regular exercise
  • Taking regular breaks to stretch your legs if you stand or sit for long periods
  • Elevating the affected area whenever you’re resting
  • Using custom compression stockings

Further Treatment through vein removal

If your varicose veins are causing symptoms or complications, Dr. Shah may recommend a minimally invasive procedure to get rid of the troublesome blood vessels.

You will discuss the best treatment for your case depending on the size of the varicose veins, their position, severity of the complication, and your general health. The procedures include radiofrequency ablation, laser ablation, and sclerotherapy.

Varicose Veins Treatment for Pregnant Patients

Expectant mothers often get varicose veins due to the increased strain in the blood vessels around the pelvis and abdomen. If they were there before, they may become more noticeable during the pregnancy period because of the strain and increase in progesterone hormone production. If your varicose veins are causing problems, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Shah to discuss the best treatments that pose the lowest risk to your pregnancy.

No one should have to live with unsightly varicose veins or other venous problems until they cause painful symptoms and complications. The Center for Vein Wellness offers many options for their treatment. Please visit us to discuss your case.