What problems do varicose veins cause?

Small veins can be a cosmetic concern, and this is a very real problem for women who want to enjoy an active Australian lifestyle and want to wear shorts and go to the beach and feel good about their legs. Often people with these veins have significant symptoms also.

Larger veins can give rise to other symptoms. These include aching, heaviness, dragging, swelling and restless legs. Itching and cramps can occur.

Severe and long-term back pressure can lead to eczema around the ankle, ankle swelling, skin pigmentation and even ulceration. Successful treatment of the veins by sclerotherapy can alleviate or eliminate these symptoms, some symptoms can even improve within 1-2 days of starting treatment.

Can varicose veins be stopped?

Wearing specially medicated gradual support stockings compress and support the veins, and avoiding standing for long periods can help delay the progression of vein problems. This doesn't get rid of veins, however, and long term improvement will require some form of direct treatment to the veins.

Investigation. How are varicose veins best assessed?

Just as with any medical problem, getting to the source of the problem, is most likely to lead to an effective, long term solution.

In the last few years, ultrasound has been used extensively to help diagnose the site of reflux.

Modern ultrasound is non-invasive and not painful or uncomfortable, it does not require any anaesthesia or sedation and takes about 30 minutes to map out the veins in the lower legs. Ultrasound machines show up even small veins very well and special settings can be used to demonstrate clearly whether the flow in the vessels is normal or if there is backflow or reflux.

It is now clear that even problems which seem to be due to local defects in vein function can be due to reflux in larger vessels. If these larger vessels are treated it makes it easier to treat the smaller vessels and this makes the process more effective and long-lasting.

At the Alia Clinic mapping is performed by an experienced radiographer with qualifications in medical ultrasound. Once a mapping study has been performed, a course of treatment can be planned and an accurate costing worked out. All of the mappings and treatments are carried out at the Crows Nest surgicentre.

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