Problems

What problems do varicose veins cause?

Does size matter?

Small veins can be a cosmetic concern, and this is a very real problem for women who want to feel unselfconscious about their appearance and enjoy an active Australian lifestyle – wear skirts or shorts, or go to the beach etc. However, it is also often the case that people with spider veins are on their way towards greater vein problems.

Larger veins can give rise to symptoms such as aching, heavy, dragging, swollen and restless legs. Itching and cramps can also occur. Severe and long-term pressure inside the veins can lead to eczema around the ankle, ankle swelling, skin pigmentation and even ulceration.

You don’t have to live with problem veins. Successful treatment can alleviate or eliminate the symptoms – you may even notice improvements within 1-2 days of beginning treatment.

Can I stop varicose veins occurring?

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

Assessing veins

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

Over the past few years, ultrasound has been used extensively to help map the site of pressure abnormalities inside veins. Modern ultrasound is non-invasive, isn’t painful or uncomfortable and doesn’t require any anaesthesia or sedation. Plus it only takes about 30 minutes of your time to map out the veins in the legs. Ultrasound machines can reveal even small veins very well and special settings can be used to clearly demonstrate whether the flow inside the vessels is normal or if there are pressure problems present.

It is now clear that even problems that seem to be due to local defects in vein function can be the result of pressure faults in larger vessels. And, if these larger vessels are treated, it becomes easier to treat the smaller vessels, making the process more effective and longer-lasting.

At the Alia Clinic the ultrasound is performed by an experienced sonographer with qualifications in medical ultrasound. Once a mapping of your veins has been undertaken, the ideal course of treatment can be planned and an accurate costing worked out. The ultrasound and any ensuing treatment(s) are carried out at the Crows Nest clinic.

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