Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination, observing your legs while standing to assess for swelling. They may also inquire about any pain or aches you’re experiencing in your legs.
Diagnostic Procedures
To diagnose varicose veins, your healthcare provider might suggest a venous Doppler ultrasound of the leg. This noninvasive test employs sound waves to examine blood flow through the veins’ valves and detect potential blood clots. During this procedure, a small hand-held device, called a transducer, is moved against the skin over the area being examined, transmitting images of the leg veins to a monitor for evaluation.
Mayo Clinic Care
At Mayo Clinic, our dedicated team of experts can provide comprehensive support for your varicose vein-related concerns.
Treatment Approaches
Treatment for varicose veins can involve self-care practices, compression stockings, as well as surgical or procedural interventions. Most procedures for varicose veins are performed on an outpatient basis, allowing you to return home the same day.
It’s advisable to check with your insurance provider regarding coverage for varicose vein treatment. If the treatment is solely for cosmetic purposes to enhance leg appearance, insurance coverage might not be applicable.
Self-Care Measures
Practicing self-care, including exercises, elevating legs while seated or lying down, or wearing compression stockings, can alleviate varicose vein pain and potentially prevent their worsening.
Compression Stockings
Initially, wearing compression stockings throughout the day is often recommended. These stockings exert pressure on the legs, aiding in more efficient blood circulation in the veins and leg muscles. Compression levels vary by type and brand. Compression stockings are typically accessible at pharmacies and medical supply stores. Prescription-grade stockings might also be available and could be covered by insurance if varicose veins cause symptoms.
Surgical Interventions or Procedures
Should self-care and compression stockings prove ineffective or if varicose veins are severe, your healthcare provider might suggest surgical procedures:
Sclerotherapy: A healthcare provider injects varicose veins with a solution or foam to close and scar the veins, leading to their fading over a few weeks. This might require multiple injections and doesn’t involve anesthesia, often performed in an office setting.
Laser Treatment: Utilizing strong light bursts onto the vein to gradually diminish and eliminate it without using incisions or needles.
Catheter-based Procedures: Involves inserting a thin catheter into an enlarged vein, applying radiofrequency or laser energy to collapse and seal the vein shut.
High Ligation and Vein Stripping: Tying off a vein and removing it through minor incisions, an outpatient procedure that doesn’t disrupt blood flow as deeper veins manage larger blood volumes.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy: Removing smaller varicose veins through tiny skin punctures, an outpatient procedure where only the pricked areas are numbed, leading to minimal scarring.
Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination, observing your legs while standing to assess for swelling. They may also inquire about any pain or aches you’re experiencing in your legs.
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