| Frequently
Asked Questions - Vein Care
Do I need
to do anything about my veins?
Why did
I get varicose veins?
What could
happen if I don't do anything about the veins?
What can I do, or not do, after vein treatments?
Will they
come back after treatment?
Should
I fix the veins before or after I start a
family?
Are varicose
veins dangerous?
What about
long distance travel with varicose veins?
I'm pregnant
and the varicose veins are getting very bad,
what can I do?
How will
the blood get out of my legs if the veins
are removed?
How do
I know if I have a DVT?
Do I NEED to do anything about
my veins?
NOT IF YOUR veins are not bothersome.
Doing nothing is always an option. However if they
bother you in any way, look or feel, then there
are several treatments which may suit you.
The veins will worsen over time in appearance and symptoms,
and it is easier to treat a small problem than a large one.
Men in particular tend to leave their varicose veins until
a late stage, when sometimes the damage that the veins have
caused is irreversible.
BUT, you will certainly benefit
from treatment if you have:
- heavy, tired legs
- aches, pain, cramps in the legs
- swelling at the end of the day
- small dark veins that bleed
easily
- venous eczema (rash) especially
over the inner, lower calf
YES, YOU SHOULD seek medical advice,
if the skin (especially over the lower leg) has
become pigmented, itchy and "woody" or
if the varicose veins have ever become very
tender, inflammed or developed clots (thrombophlebitis).
The skin changes could mean you may develop a
venous ulcer (which are very difficult to heal),
and the thrombophlebitis is potentially dangerous.
........................................
Why did I get varicose
veins?
Usually varicose veins are hereditary, with a parent or close
relative also having them. If this is the case, nothing you
do, or do not do, would prevent you from developing them
if you going to. Often patients will complain that they the
only one to get them, while their brothers & sisters
haven't!
However, what you do, once you already have varicose veins,
can make them more or less bothersome. Pregnancy is often
the time when women first notice them and they worsen with
sucessive pregnancies. Prolonged standing can make varicose
veins a lot worse, increasing swelling and discomfort.
Sometimes varicose veins are as a result of a leg injury
or a previous deep vein clot.
Hormonal changes often seem to trigger the development of
veins - adolescence (especially males), pregnancy and menopause,
but often there is no apparent reason.
........................................
What could happen if I don't
do anything about the veins?
The veins will not disappear without treatment. Usually over
time (years) they will worsen in symptoms and appearance,
with more developing as well.
At the best, they may not ever become problematic, and at
the worst you could develop venous ulcers or thromboses (clots).
The extra weight of the blood in the enlarged veins exerts
pressure on the surrounding tissues and over time, this pressure
damages those tissues. If left untreated the changes may
become irreversible.
However it is best to consult with a doctor to assess the
extent of your problem, and be guided as to which treatment
( if any) would be best for you.
........................................
What can I do, or not do, after
Vein Treatments?
- No long distance travel (more
than 4 hours) for 1 month before or after
treatment.
- No high impact exercise (jogging,
aerobics, tennis) or heavy lifting while
in stocking.
- Walking is encouraged - 45
minutes a day, while in stockings.
........................................
Will they come back after treatment?
Once a particular vein has been
removed or damaged beyond repair (which is what
the non-surgical treatments try to achieve),
then that vein cannot come back. Using ultrasound,
the problem veins are easily identified and targeted
with the non-surgical techniques, and by marking
veins not visible from the surface, surgery now
is very accurate.
A true recurrence happens when a treated vein heals itself, re-opens, and becomes
incompetent again. This can and does happen in a small percentage of people.
With regular follow up, this is recognised and treated. Occasionally, the treatment
itself causes small spider veins to develop. Usually they will be evident within
a few months and are easily treated if desired.
Over years though new spider or varicose veins may develop. These are the "next
set" and can be treated in the same ways.
........................................
Should I fix the veins before
or after I start a family?
These days we recommend that
you do treat the varicose veins before pregnancy
as they can make the pregnancy very uncomfortable.
You still might develop new veins during the
next pregnancy, but we also recommend the wearing
of compression stockings which minimize the
effect the veins will have on you. The stockings
should be worn throughout the entire pregnancy.
Do not start treatment if you are trying to become pregnant.
Once you are pregnant, NO treatment can be done apart from
the wearing of stockings.
Many women develop vulval or vaginal varices during the pregnancy.
These can be very uncomfortable, but your midwife or doctor
may be able to give advice. Usually these varices disappear
or at least reduce in size once the pregnancy is over. These
veins originate in the pelvis, and often contribute to the
varicose veins in the legs. If you seek treatment for leg
veins following a pregnancy, tell the vein physician or ultrasonographer
that you had vulval varices (they should ask you). Our vein
physician Dr Elisabeth is very experienced with this problem.
........................................
Are varicose veins dangerous?
Varicose veins are generally
NOT dangerous, but there are exceptions:
Thrombophlebitis: (Seek medical
advice)
This is inflammation and clotting within a surface (superficial)
vein.
A superficial clot, which extends into a deep vein and continues
to develop, is potentially dangerous.
If you develop a thrombophlebitis you should seek medical
attention. A doctor needs to assess the extent and may request
a scan. The doctor will advise on treatment. Wearing a compression
stocking gives a lot of comfort.
The path of the vein will be visibly red, hot, hard and very
painful. This pain usually persists for about a week, but
the hardness (the clot) will last for weeks or months until
the body reabsorbs it, just as it would any "bruise" or
collection.
Often a scan of the deep veins is done to exclude a similar
problem there. (DVT)
Injury and Bleeding:
(Seek medical advice)
If varicose veins are very prominent they may be prone to
injury (bad bruising or even bleeding). Even small veins
can bleed spontaneously, which is frightening, The blood
will squirt in a steady stream (not pulse) because of the
pressure behind it. Elevate the leg and apply pressure.
........................................
What about long distance travel
with varicose veins?
The main concern with long
haul travel is the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis
(DVT)
Anyone with two or more risk factors for DVT should wear
compression stockings for the travel.
DVT Risk 1.
Air, train or bus travel of over 4 hours is considered "long
haul".
DVT Risk 2.
Varicose veins. This is because the surface veins could
clot under these circumstances, which in turn can lead
to a deep vein clot (DVT).
Consult with your doctor
or vein specialist if you have a history of
superficial or deep thrombosis prior to travel
in case other precautions are necessary.
The stockings should be worn on both legs (even if the varices
are only on one leg), and should cover the visible varicose
veins i.e. Do not wear knee-high stockings if the varicose
vein is visible in the thigh or around the knee above the
stocking, get a pair of thigh-high compression stockings
or pantyhose from a specialist shop or vein clinic.
........................................
I'm pregnant and the varicose
veins are getting very bad, what can I do?
Consult with your doctor, midwife,
obstetrician or vein specialist.
Unfortunately, no treatment can
be performed on varicose veins while you are
pregnant, apart from wearing compression stockings.
The stockings may need to be fitted. Nothing
can be done for vulval varices during a pregnancy.
Try to avoid prolonged standing.
If your legs begin to swell, check
with your maternity care-giver, as there can
be several reasons for this during pregnancy.
The veins will usually improve
after the pregnancy, but advice about treatment
and future pregnancies is recommended.
........................................
How will the blood get out of
my legs if the veins are removed?
The veins on the surface of the
legs only drain the blood from the skin and fatty
layers (about 10% of the total volume of blood
in the leg). There are so many veins in this
level that the blood can be returned towards
the heart via many different pathways (liken
it to driving through a city via the back streets).
In fact, removing or stopping flow
in the faulty veins actually improves the efficiency
of the remaining veins.
........................................
How do I know if I have
a DVT?
Seek immediate medical attention
if your leg becomes swollen and painful, and
if you have any of the known risk factors, which
include:
- Recent surgery
- Recent illness or injury
- Recent long distance travel
by air, bus or train
- Personal or family history of
DVT
- Known contributing blood factors
- Being pregnant
- Taking Hormones or The Pill
Make
an appointment by contacting
us on 0800 085 555, email info@veinandlaser.co.nz or
fill in our online
form. |
