Varicose Veins
I’ve had varicose veins for as long as I can remember. As an overweight female on the wrong side of fifty with three pregnancies behind me, a job that involved long hours on my feet and a family history of fellow sufferers, I am a prime candidate for the condition - but I am not alone. Up to three out of ten adults suffer from varicose veins, which are most common in the legs and feet.
Varicose veins develop when small valves within the veins become weak or damaged and stop working properly. Blood flows backwards and collects in the vein, causing it to swell or enlarge. This brings about a lumpy, bulging or twisted appearance and can also make the leg feel heavy, achy or uncomfortable. Swollen feet or ankles, muscle cramps and dry itchy skin are also possible symptoms.
For most people, varicose veins are unsightly but do not present a serious health problem, and treatment is not required, though symptoms can be alleviated by taking exercise, resting and elevating the legs. If the veins cause pain or discomfort, treatment should be considered, of which there are three main types.
Endothermal ablation is carried out under local anaesthetic when a narrow tube, or catheter, is inserted into the vein through a small cut made just above or below the knee. Heat is then applied to the vein either from high-frequency radio waves or lasers, which causes the vein walls to collapse and seal it shut. Once the vein has been sealed, blood is naturally redirected to other healthy veins. Some people experience short-term side
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effects such as pins and needles, or tightness and bruising.
If endothermic ablation treatment is unsuitable, sclerotherapy may be offered instead. Also performed under local anaesthetic, special foam is injected into the veins, which scars them and seals them closed. Following treatment, varicose veins should begin to fade after a few weeks, but more than one treatment may be required and there is also a chance that the vein will reappear. Side effects include blood clots in other leg veins, headaches, lower back pain, changes to skin colour, fainting and temporary vision problems.
If neither of the above is possible, the next option is a surgical procedure called a phlebectomy, usually carried out under general anaesthetic. A technique called ligation and stripping makes two small incisions - one at the top of the varicose vein near the groin, and the other lower down near the knee or ankle. The top of the vein is tied up and sealed and a thin flexible wire passed through the bottom of the vein and then carefully removed through the lower cut in the leg. This method can cause pain, bruising and bleeding and a full recovery could take up to three weeks.
It’s still not fully understood why vein walls stretch and valves weaken - and some people develop the condition for no apparent reason. Many of us decide to suffer in silence, but if your condition does prove unbearable, rest assured there are treatment options out there.
By Debbie Singh-Bhatti To advertise in thewire t. 07720 429 613 e.
the.wire@btinternet.com
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