What are the symptoms of moderate varicose veins?

The signs and symptoms of moderate varicose veins may include aching and heavy legs, tiredness, burning, itching, and throbbing.

Some patients may present with none of these symptoms, and may feel that there is nothing wrong with the affected leg. However, there can be real medical consequences to leaving varicose veins untreated. This can be a progressive condition and new faulty veins can develop with time, along with worsening symptoms and complications.

How do we treat Moderate Varicose Veins?

Moderately severe varicose veins can be treated non-surgically with a combination of Endovenous Laser Ablation and Sclerotherapy using Ultrasound. Some doctors may also perform Modified Ambulatory Phlebectomy for any larger problem veins.

Vein Health Medical Clinic’s treatments are deemed to be safe and effective procedures. These varicose veins treatments do not require general anaesthetic or hospital admission, and avoid the potential scarring effects of surgery. In the past, an in-hospital stay for surgery was necessary, but now patients can walk-in, have varicose veins treated in less than an hour, and walk out. No downtime from work is required; patients can return to normal duties immediately.

Dr Paraskevas performs non-surgical treatments of varicose veins of all levels of severity.

Conditions

Can Pelvic, Vaginal, and Vulvar Varicose Veins be Treated?

Pelvic, vaginal and vulval varicose veins can be treated quite effectively with ultrasound guided sclerotherapy. This procedure is performed by experienced senior phlebologists. It requires the use of advanced ultrasound equipment and careful isolation of the pelvic veins. As with lower leg varicose veins, the treated veins will undergo a hardening process referred to as sclerosis and will eventually get absorbed by the body. Once these veins have been treated, any congestion or symptoms associated with the build-up of blood within them, should resolve.

Can Varicose Veins in the Groin Region Occur in Men?

Yes. It is not just women who suffer from varicose veins of the groin area. Doctors report men can also suffer from pelvic varicose veins.

When Should You Seek Treatment?

Regardless of the location of the varicose veins, whether in the pelvic region or in the thighs, legs or ankles, getting the appropriate treatment from an experienced phlebologist is important. Treatment will help relieve symptoms and prevent further deterioration of vein disease.

For patients who are currently pregnant, it is appropriate to recommend treatment between pregnancies. Treatment during pregnancy is not recommended. In our experience, varicose veins in the pelvis and legs should be treated before the next pregnancy to avoid deterioration with subsequent pregnancies.

Varicose Vein FAQ’s

Who is affected by varicose veins?

Varicose veins usually run in the family. If one parent has had venous disease you have about a 33% chance of developing vein problems; with both parents this increases to about 90%. Contrary to popular belief, both men and women are affected. It may be noticed earlier in women as symptoms can be exacerbated by pregnancy.

Do I need to treat varicose veins? Isn’t this just cosmetic?

Many patients complain about their varicose veins being ugly – however, we need to be clear, we are dealing with a medical issue that can become worse over time, and lead to complications. Learn more about how varicose veins are more than just cosmetic.

How can I prevent varicose veins?

Patients who have varicose veins are predisposed to developing them at birth. The best thing to do to manage them conservatively (in other words, without having any treatment) is to ensure that you get enough rest, eat a healthy diet, and keep your weight down. This will help your overall health, including your veins. Learn more about how to prevent varicose veins.

Do you still need those veins?

Varicose veins are no longer serving a useful function to circulation. In fact, when the vein becomes defective, the body develops alternative pathways and bypasses the varicose vein altogether. You will never run out of alternate pathways. When a phlebologist closes down a varicose vein, the circulatory system improves, as do many of the symptoms. The problem veins will not resolve themselves without medical intervention.

Varicose Vein Recurrence: Will treated varicose veins come back?

Not the same ones, no. However, there are three reasons varicose veins can recur. One, the progression of venous disease. Not a one-off problem for many, venous disease will continue to progress over a lifetime, so new varicose veins can develop. Secondly, inadequate diagnosis where the origin or feeding veins are not identified so new problem veins spring from this source. And finally, neovascularity following vein stripping surgery is a complication of the surgery where primitive blood vessels develop inside the upper thigh area of the leg and the groin. Learn more about varicose vein recurrence here.

How do phlebologists classify the severity of venous disease?

In the past, it has been tricky for phlebologists and health professionals to define vein disorders because of the range and severity of symptoms. By creating the CEAP venous disease classification system, the discussion of conditions and treatments is standardised across the world. Read more about the CEAP classification system.

Other Vein Conditions