There are numerous causes for the itching, burning, cramping and skin discoloration that come along with varicose leg veins. Here are the most common:
Obesity
Diabetes
Heredity
Pregnancy
Lack of exercise
Excessive standing or sitting
When the valves inside veins that direct blood flow become incompetent, blood pools in the legs and feet. The stagnant blood causes swelling, skin discoloration and potentially open wounds & ulcerations.
Is Treatment Possible?
Yes it is! Treatments are also covered by Medicare and most health insurance. Check out the video and slideshow below to see the options available for you.
If you suffer from the pain from bulging varicose leg veins visit Top Clinic Chicago and see patient reviews and treatments from the highest rated Vein Doctors in the city and suburbs.
With the exploding number of Americans suffering from burning, itching, heaviness and throbbing in their legs from varicose veins, Top Clinic Chicago put together the slideshow below to inform and educate the public about the causes, symptoms and treatment options available.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that 50% of Americans over age 50 have a vein disorder. They also reported 40-45% of U.S. men and 50-55% of U.S. women have venous insufficiency.
High rates of obesity are a contributing factor along with diabetes, pregnancy, standing or sitting all day and the one we can't avoid -- heredity.
Years ago people with bulging leg veins and the burning, itching and heaviness that comes along with them would be stuck with painful legs for life. Now, thanks to innovations in treatments for Chronic Venous Insufficiency, numerous minimally invasive treatment options are available. Most of these are covered by Medicare and insurance.
Anyone in Chicago, Northern Illinois or Northwest Indiana suffering from painful leg veins needs to visit Top Clinic Chicago for education about venous ulcer and varicose vein treatment options. Featuring video interviews with the best Vein Specialists and the patients they've helped, Top Clinic Chicago is an invaluable tool in the battle to defeat Chronic Venous Insufficiency.
While most of us know varicose veins as the twisted blue leg veins that bulge out grotesquely, many of the worst varicose veins can't be seen by the naked eye at all.
The problems in the circulatory system that causes the valves in veins to become incompetent usually begin in the deep vein system.
Symptoms from varicose veins include:
Leg Cramps
Itching Legs
Burning Legs
Throbbing Legs
Skin Color Changes
Ulcerations
Oftentimes the problem leg veins that cause the above mentioned symptoms won't show up on the surface of the leg. People suffering from pain and swelling in their legs need to find a Clinic in Chicago specializing in varicose vein removal to get an ultrasound of their venous system.
If the ultrasound examination shows circulation issues due to varicose veins you and your Vein Doctor can move forward on a treatment plan.
In the YouTube video below we interviewed a Suburban Chicago Woman who began feeling stabbing pains in her legs during pregnancy. She didn't have large blue leg veins sticking out, but she did have pain & heaviness in her legs before treatment at a Chicago Varicose Veins Clinic. After just 1 treatment her symptoms were gone and her varicose vein treatment was covered by insurance.
At her 2 week follow-up visit she said, "The pain in my legs is gone! No more pain on my commute to and from work. My skin is smoother too. I'm so excited! I would definitely recommend this treatment to anyone in Chicago with varicose veins."
Years ago she would have suffered with the pain in her legs for the rest of her life. Thanks to the great minds in modern medicine, innovations in treating varicose veins have given her and millions of other people a new symptom free life.
Unfortunately you can't. Varicose veins are caused by numerous factors, including heredity. However, you can lessen your chances by staying in shape. Regular cardiovascular exercise strengthens the circulatory system while keeping off excess weight.
Obesity is one of the leading causes of vein disease with all the extra weight placing pressure on the venous system and making normal circulation extremely difficult. Pregnant women often get varicose veins as well, because of the extra weight and the pressure the baby puts on the venous system.
In the YouTube video below we interviewed a Chicago woman who had "pins and needles" stabbing pains in her legs that began during pregnancy. After an ultrasound exam of her venous system it was determined she needed to have a complex surgical and laser vein removal treatment combination that is covered by Medicare & most insurance.
"The symptoms started during pregnancy. It felt like pins and needles stabbing my legs. If I sit for too long my legs also get tired and heavy," she said.
Normally she would only need Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT), but her veins were swollen to 6 times the normal size. So her Vein Surgeon had to surgically remove a segment of the vein and tie it off while closing the other end with EVLT, removing the diseased veins from her system all together.
Fortunately, she found the best Vein Clinic in Chicago for her varicose veins. At her 2 week follow up exam she was extremely happy with the results. "The pain in my legs is gone! I was shocked. It was what I wanted, but I didn't think it would work this good. I would definitely recommend this treatment to anyone suffering from varicose veins," she said.
We are fortunate to live in a large market with access to some of the world's best surgeons. Many people afflicted from pain, swelling and restlessness in their legs needs to know that Vein Clinics in Chicago specialize in treating varicose veins and these treatments are covered by Medicare and most insurance.
You can't prevent varicose veins altogether, but you can remove them and their symptoms after seeing a qualified Vein Specialist.
Among the many symptoms of varicose veins, leg cramps are one of the most common. Often described as feeling like a "charlie horse" these painful cramps can severely impact a person's life. Most patients complain of cramps at night and having extreme difficulty sleeping.
Bulging leg veins don't always show up on the surface. In order to find out the cause of your leg cramps it is best to see a Chicago Vein Specialist and get an ultrasound examination of your venous system. The exam is covered by Medicare and most insurance. If a problem is discovered your vein doctor can then develop a treatment plan.
Every patient's situation is unique. That's why it is so important to visit a Vein Clinic in Chicago IL or Suburbs and have a qualified vein doctor evaluate your venous system. Circulation problems are serious and you deserve to put your legs in the hands of the best Vein Specialists in Chicago.
Advances in medical technology over the years have proven effective at eliminating leg cramps and the other symptoms associated with varicose veins. Medicare and most insurance cover these procedures and the recovery time is minimal.
Yes, Medicare does cover non healing leg ulcers, but a few conservative therapy conditions must be met first.
For patients with venous leg ulcers compression stockings must be worn for 3 months. If the ulcer is still open and showing no signs of healing the patient should be treated at a Vein Clinic in Chicago to close the varicose veins that feed the ulcer.
While under the care of a Vein Specialist in Chicago the patient will typically undergo a laser vein removal treatment. The amount of treatments vary from patient to patient depending on the number of diseased veins in their legs. The procedure is relatively painless, requires no hospital stay and has a fast recovery time. These varicose vein removal treatments in Chicago have been proven effective and boast a 96-98% vein closure success rate.
Laser Vein Removal Side Effects Include
Bruising
Itching
Tightness
Check out this video where we interviewed a woman who had a leg ulcer that was open for 4 years before receiving laser vein removal treatment at a Vein Clinic in Chicago:
Another treatment option is a compression pump. These pumps act similar to compression stockings, but involve a device wrapped around the legs and are actuated manually or mechanically.
Regardless of the treatment option you choose there are a number of highly qualified Vein Specialists & Vein Clinics in Chicago available to heal your leg ulcers and get you back on your feet.
In most cases Medicare does cover varicose veins. Normally there is a 3 month period where patients suffering from symptoms of varicose veins use compression stocking or conservative therapy to see if that alleviates their symptoms. After this period if the symptoms persist your Chicago Vein Specialist can develop a treatment plan.
1) Varicose vein excision and ligation involves tying off the affected vein and removing the varicosity. Removal of symptomatic, malfunctioning, superficial veins restores the venous circulation to a more normal state and provides relief of symptoms of venous hypertension including cramps, swelling, burning, stabbing and heaviness.
2) Sclerosing injections, or sclerotherapy of varicose veins is performed generally for signs and symptoms of diseased vessels, as an adjunct to surgical therapy or for cosmetics.
Sclerotherapy treatment destroys the lining of the affected vein by injecting an irritant solution (either a detergent, osmotic solution, or a chemical irritant), ultimately resulting in the complete obliteration of the vessel. Too little destruction leads to thrombosis without fibrosis and ultimate recanalization. Too much destruction leads to vascular dehiscence.
3) Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation (ERFA) has been developed as an alternative to vein ligation and stripping. The procedure is designed to damage the internal wall of the vein, resulting in collapsing of the vein.
The procedure is performed by means of a specially designed catheter inserted through a small incision in the distal medial thigh to within 1-2 cm of the sapheno-femoral junction. High frequency radiowaves (200-300 kHz) are delivered through the catheter electrode and cause direct heating of the vessel wall, causing the vein to collapse. The catheter is slowly withdrawn, closing the vein.
