Physical Signs of Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are large blood vessels that bulge out of the skin, and are usually dark purple, green, blue, or red in color. They are most commonly found in the legs, but can also occur on the thighs, buttocks, and lower pelvic areas. Varicose veins usually follow a twisting path, which is a distinguishing factor from healthy veins that run in a relatively straight line, and tend to look like a knotted rope, with uneven distribution and areas that bulge. Their effects vary widely, from being asymptomatic to causing significant discomfort by throbbing or causing a burning sensation. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may be dealing with a vein disease and should look for a “varicose vein center near me California” to seek treatment from a vein doctor in California.
Underlying Cause of Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are almost always indicative of a deeper issue, and the most common one is a vein disease known as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Healthy veins throughout the body have one-way valves that ensure that blood makes its way to the heart but doesn’t flow back out to the limbs, but when the valves in the veins of the legs become leaky, gravity takes over and blood travels backwards to pool in veins near the feet, leading to chronic venous insufficiency. The venous system is no longer able to sufficiently do its job of returning blood back to the heart, and over time, the pressure in the vein increases due to fluid build-up, which causes the bulging varicose veins you may be experiencing.
If the vein disease is severe, you might notice some dark red/brown patches or ulcers on your skin. Those skin discolorations are a condition called stasis dermatitis, and the staining comes from red blood cell breakdown. The ulcers, which are typically found on your shin or calf, are usually open wounds that don’t heal very quickly or easily because there is not enough blood flow to send platelets and other clotting factors to the area.
When you’re asking yourself if you are experiencing these signs and symptoms, think back to what your legs looked and felt like five or ten years ago. Take note if your legs are noticeably more tired or achy at the end of the day than they used to be, and if you have varicose veins and spider veins, it is extremely important to get screened at a vein clinic for any underlying venous insufficiency. Many people tend to think that all of these signs and symptoms are just normal experiences with aging, but Chronic Venous Insufficiency can be treated, so it is important to set up an appointment with a vein center specialist in venous medicine to make sure that the damage to the veins does not lead to any further problems down the road.
Once you are evaluated and diagnosed by a vein doctor at a “varicose vein center near me California,” he or she can make recommendations on what kind of varicose vein and spider vein treatment would be best for your individual case. In most instances, this is a minimally-invasive procedure to fix the “leaky pipe” and close unhealthy veins to make sure that blood can flow in the right direction and prevent build-up. Although treatment for varicose veins used to be exclusively through surgical procedures, medical innovation has brought us to a time in which we can treat varicose veins and spider veins through minimally invasive treatments.
At a varicose vein treatment center, varicose veins and venous insufficiency can be treated with non-surgical minimally invasive treatments including VenaSeal, varithena, or radiofrequency ablation. All of these treatment options cause minimal discomfort and take less than a half-hour. There is no anesthesia or recovery time involved, so you can go home or back to work wearing compression stockings after the procedure at the vein clinic.
VenaSeal is a vein adhesive that is used to close the saphenous vein that causes varicose veins, and doesn’t require any local anesthetic. It acts almost instantaneously upon application to seal the diseased vein, which will eventually reroute the blood automatically through the healthy veins in your legs. Varithena is a pre-made sclerotherapy foam and is injected into the vein to reduce the appearance and symptoms of varicose veins.
Radiofrequency ablation is another non-surgical minimally invasive treatment that starts with the administration of a local anesthetic, followed by the insertion of a catheter into the unhealthy vein using an ultrasound. Once the numbing solution is delivered to the length of the vein, the catheter is activated and thermal energy is delivered to the walls of the vein to close them down.
Dr. Billy Schoenfield and Dr. Carly Guthrie at the San Diego Vein Treatment Clinic are both Harvard-trained and double board-certified vein doctors who are highly experienced and well-versed in vein care. They are kind and approachable, and prioritize patient care above all else, as they strive to provide everyone who sets foot in their vein treatment clinic with a pleasant visit.
Our clinic in San Diego is located in a beautiful neighborhood called La Jolla, near the Torry Pines Beach State Park and Westfield UTC Shopping Center. End your search for a “varicose vein center near me California” and set up an appointment to come visit us! You can call our office, where a friendly staff member would be happy to speak with you, or book an appointment online.