At my Leesburg,
Virginia office last week I saw a 42-year-old nurse who has being feeling achy, heavy legs for well over 5 years. Her
symptoms become more notable toward the end of the day and she needs to elevate
her legs at work and at home. Her sister and mother have significant varicose
veins and had vein stripping many years ago.
Genetics are a prime factor in determining who will develop varicose veins, as most patients have a close relative with venous insufficiency.
Even without visible varicosities, her history was
significant enough that I felt a duplex ultrasound exam was necessary to
investigate venous reflux. As I anticipated, her great saphenous vein was
incompetent in both legs, allowing backflow of blood down the legs. The pooling
of blood in the lower legs, accentuated by gravity, leads to the common
symptoms of aching, heaviness and fatigue. Even swelling and restless legs can be caused
by this problem. My patient is a perfect
example of how venous insufficiency can lead to very significant and
debilitating symptoms, even in the absence of visible varicose veins.
The optimal method of treating this condition is the VenefitProcedure (VNUS Closure), which allows us to place a small wire in the vein
through an IV access near the knee. After a small dose of local anesthesia, the
problematic vein is painlessly heated, leading to its collapse and elimination
of backflow of blood. Normal veins in the leg take over and bring blood up the
correct direction, improving circulation. This eliminates leg symptoms in the
matter of a few days. This office-based procedure allows normal activity
immediately afterward.
The key instructive point of this patient's experience is
that venous insufficiency can most definitely cause very real symptoms, even in
the absence of varicose veins. When patients experience heavy, achy tired legs,
a thorough investigation with a venous duplex ultrasound is a reasonable and
recommended option. Seeking the advice of an experienced vein professional is
key to getting the help you need.
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