Vein Care - How to Get Rid of Painful Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are more than just a cosmetic nuisance. They can also cause pain, throbbing, and burning in the legs. Fortunately, there are Center for Advanced Vein Care options for vein pain.

Conservative treatments include elevating the legs and wearing supportive stockings or socks. These help relieve discomfort by improving blood flow and reducing pressure in the veins. Some people also find that acetaminophen (Tylenol) or other over-the-counter pain relievers help with occasional mild aching from varicose veins.

If self-care doesn’t improve your symptoms, you may need to see a vein doctor. They will examine your legs and perform ultrasound diagnostic tests to determine the best treatment for you. Some people may need to have an in-office procedure called radiofrequency ablation. This minimally invasive procedure uses heat to destroy the inside lining of the varicose vein, causing it to collapse and close. Then, the blood is redirected through healthy veins nearby.

Your doctor will clean the treatment area and inject a local anesthetic near the affected vein. You might feel slight pinpricks during the injection, but the pain is usually tolerable. Then, the vein doctor will insert a small tube (catheter) into the affected vein and use it to deliver short energy bursts around the surface of the vein. The heat from the catheter damages the lining of the vein, and the blood is redirected to healthy veins. You may experience some bruising after the procedure, but it typically goes away within a few weeks.

For smaller varicose veins, doctors can inject a chemical into the vein that causes it to scar and close off. The liquid chemical is injected using a fine needle. This treatment, called sclerotherapy, is done in your doctor’s office and usually doesn’t take more than 30 to 45 minutes.

Other types of nonsurgical vein treatments include phlebectomy and endovenous ablation. Both procedures involve removing the diseased varicose vein. However, phlebectomy involves making a surgical incision, while endovenous ablation can be performed with a catheter that is inserted through a small nick that doesn’t need stitches.

Factors that can lead to varicose veins include: Age: As you get older, your vein walls can stretch out. Gender: Women have a higher risk of varicose veins than men. Pregnancy, birth control pills, and menopause: Changing hormones can cause the walls of your veins to stretch out. Family history: A family history of varicose veins can increase your chances of getting them.

To diagnose varicose veins, your doctor will look at your legs while you’re standing or sitting with your feet up. They might also use a Doppler ultrasound, which sends sound waves through your body to produce pictures of your blood vessels. This test can show if your varicose veins have weakened walls and if you have blood clots in them.