Varicose veins

Varicose veins are thickened, knotty veins that visibly bulge just under the skin. Often they are mainly a cosmetic problem, but they can also lead to symptoms such as cramps or dangerous complications. Find out here how you can prevent varicose veins and how they can be removed.

Remove Varicose Veins: Invasive Measures

If the veins are already knotty, you should have the varicose veins removed to avoid complications such as blood clots (thrombosis), water retention (edema) or open legs. Warning: removing varicose veins yourself is not a good idea. See a vein specialist ( phlebologist ). He can operate on varicose veins and pull them, for example. But there are other methods of removing varicose veins as well. redditbooks

Removing varicose veins: stripping

 When pulling varicose veins, the doctor makes two small incisions in the affected vein, inserts a probe and pulls out the varicose vein - either completely or only part of it, depending on how large the pathologically changed part is.

Remove varicose veins: phlebectomy (tick method)

 Here the doctor makes small incisions along the diseased vein and pulls them out with a special hook.  superhealthiness

Remove varicose veins: CHIVA method

An outpatient, vein-preserving way to get rid of varicose veins. The doctor searches for the affected vein using ultrasound, then makes an incision and ties it off.

Removing varicose veins: external valvuloplasty (EVP)

If the doctor performs a so-called external valvuloplasty (EVP), he sews a cuff around the vein where the large superficial leg vein (rose vein) opens into the groin. This narrows the vessel diameter, which should make the venous valves functional again. The vein is preserved during this procedure.

Obliterate varicose veins (sclerotherapy)

When varicose veins become obliterated, the doctor injects an agent into the diseased vein, which causes inflammation there. The vessel sticks together, causing the varicose veins to close.

Remove varicose veins: saline solution

With this, varicose veins can be injected away. The doctor obliterates the vein by injecting a highly concentrated saline solution into the diseased vein. This is done on an outpatient basis and without anesthesia.

Remove varicose veins: radio wave therapy

With this method, the doctor obliterates the varicose veins using heat. He makes a small incision to insert the probe into the diseased vein. The radio waves heat the blood and the vein walls close. The doctor can carry out this procedure on an outpatient basis and with local anesthesia.

Remove varicose veins: laser therapy

It is also possible to laser the varicose veins. The procedure is similar to that for radio wave therapy. Instead of radio waves, a laser generates the vein-occlusive heat, which is many times higher.

Glue varicose veins together

In this case, instead of obliterating the varicose veins, the doctor sticks them together with a special adhesive that he inserts into the vein via a catheter, a thin tube. The patient is only anesthetized locally and then immediately "ready for action" again.

Correct behavior after varicose vein surgery

How you should behave after varicose vein surgery or sclerotherapy depends on the method used. After an operation, for example, the patient should wear a compression stocking for a while, keep the leg up and not let any water get on the operated leg for the first few days.

Other methods, such as gluing, do not require compression stockings. If in doubt, ask your doctor - if he does not already tell you how to behave in the days after the varicose vein removal.

Treating Varicose Veins: Conservative Methods

In addition to invasive measures such as stripping or sclerosing, there are also varicose vein treatments without surgery, the so-called conservative methods. What helps against varicose veins depends on the severity, shape and trigger of the disease. In general, conservative measures are more suitable for mild varicose veins.

General measures against varicose veins

First of all: It is not possible to cure varicose veins by taking medication. Naturally there are remedies (for example with horse chestnut or sweet clover ) to treat varicose veins naturally, but their effect has not yet been proven. Fighting varicose veins with cream is possible and if the varicose vein ointment has a cooling effect, the application can also feel pleasant. However, little research has been carri out on whether and how well such products actually help with varicose veins.

Massaging the legs for varicose veins can reduce the feeling of heaviness, strengthen the connective tissue around the veins and promote the removal of blood from the legs. Be careful when doing this: Varicose veins are sensitive. You should avoid strong knocking and kneading, otherwise bruises may occur. tophealthfitnesstips

Varicose veins: these home remedies are there

One of the oldest home remedies for varicose veins is Kneipp, i.e. stepping in cold water. As an alternative to the Kneipp pool, you can also rinse your legs cold in the bathroom at home. In general, the cold is considered to be helpful for varicose veins; those affected often find cool quark compresses, for example, pleasant.

Exercise is important to stimulate blood flow back to the heart. Regularly putting your legs up can also have a positive effect on the veins and at least alleviate the symptoms. Wearing stockings with varicose veins that exert light pressure on the leg veins (compression stockings, support stockings) also supports the backflow of blood and can help prevent water retention.

Those affected often see varicose veins as a cosmetic problem and do not go to the doctor or go late if they already have (serious) symptoms. As these can severely impair the quality of life, you should go to the doctor as a precaution if you discover varicose veins.

Varicose veins: when to see a doctor?

At the latest when the tissue around the varicose veins is red, warm and swollen , you should make an appointment in the practice to find out whether it is a phlebitis or “just” varicose veins.

Varicose veins: which doctor is the right one?

An experienced family doctor can definitely be the first point of contact, but also an internist, a vascular specialist (angiologist) or a vein doctor (phlebologist).

Varicose veins: treatment costs

For procedures such as stripping, i.e. for varicose vein surgery, the costs are covered by (statutory) health insurance. If you would like to have the varicose veins lasered, you usually have to pay the costs yourself. The prices for this vary between a few hundred and several thousand euros, which among other things depends on the severity of the varicose veins and the associated treatment costs and the necessary follow-up treatment. However, some health insurance companies voluntarily cover the costs of sclerosing varicose veins. fashionglee