Varicose Veins
Twisted and swollen varicose veins can show up anywhere on your body, although the most common place is on the legs. Abnormal, bulging veins aren't a strictly cosmetic issue. Untreated, they can lead to serious complications, including ulcers and blood clots. The condition also can be quite painful. Unlike spider veins, which have much milder symptoms and are more likely found on your face, hands and arms, varicose veins are dark blue or purple and present with a more noticeable bulge.
You can take some steps at home to relieve the discomfort of varicose veins, but it's best to first get examined by a specialist to ensure you don't have any related, underlying conditions. After a careful examination, Dr. Febin Melepura at the Sports Injury & Pain Clinic NYC recommends the best varicose vein treatment for your specific problems.
Varicose Veins NYC · SPIN Sports Pain Specialists
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Varicose Veins Symptoms
Your NYC vein doctor recognizes varicose veins by their appearance. And even though you may not have any serious leg pain symptoms yet, other symptoms may be evident, such as:
- A heaviness or aching in your affected leg
- Swelling, burning or throbbing sensations
- Annoying itching around the site of a twisted, bulging vein
- Discoloration of the skin surrounding the vein
You often feel varicose vein pain after standing or sitting in one position for long periods of time. When your condition becomes more serious, the pain becomes constant. You may notice swelling that doesn't subside, surface ulcers, and skin sores that don't heal.
Causes of Varicose Veins
One of the main causes of varicose veins is venous inefficiency, a medical condition from weakened valves. When these valves malfunction, they lose the ability to move blood toward your heart, allowing it to collect in one spot. As a result, blood pools, causing the vein to twist and stretch. Many cardiologists including well-known cardiac expert Dr. Reysman do not treat venous disease, because varicose veins aren't life-threatening, but we do. We offer a wide range of treatment options.
Varicose veins occur in the lower legs more often because they are furthest from your heart and have to fight harder against gravity. Risk factors that foster the development of varicose veins and venous insufficiency include:
Obesity or carrying extra weight
Pregnancy
A lack of physical activity
A family history of vein problems
Advanced age
If you work at a job that requires you to stand all day, you may be at a higher risk, especially if you have other risk factors. Hormone therapy and female hormonal changes, such as during menopause, pregnancy and puberty, put women at a higher risk of developing the bulging veins.
New York Pain Management Diagnostics
Dr. Melepura has state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to provide the most accurate diagnosis, which is needed for your varicose vein treatment. After looking for discolored and swollen areas on your legs, he may order a non-invasive diagnostic test called a duplex ultrasound. Through a hand-held wand, the soundwaves indicate how well your veins function. The test also shows if blood clots are present.
The best New York City pain doctor understands the causes and symptoms of chronic pain. Before embarking on any treatment, your vein specialist in NYC takes a complete medical history to understand your overall health. Tell him when you first noticed your leg pain, when it's most acute and when the bulging began. He also asks about your goals regarding the appearance of your legs.
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Treatment for Varicose Veins
In the early stages, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and home remedies, such as wearing compression stockings and elevating your legs whenever possible. If the bulges don't subside and you continue to suffer with varicose vein leg pain, your vein specialist in NYC may recommend other treatment options, such as:
- Ambulatory phlebotomy, during which your doctor removes veins through small incisions in your leg
- Laser treatment that works best on small veins, using bursts of laser light that cause the veins to fade so that they're no longer evident
- Sclerotherapy, is a process that involves injecting larger veins with a solution that causes the vein to scar and then close
- Surgery for varicose veins, the path used to completely remove the errant vein endoscopically or by stripping it
Preventing Varicose Veins from Reappearing
After your treatment, the best New York City pain doctor always ensures that you're comfortable and that chronic pain isn't plaguing you any longer. To maintain healthy blood flow following varicose vein treatment, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes to keep you healthy. Steps you can take include:
- Exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Wearing compression stockings as needed
- Changing positions often throughout the day: get up or sit down once in a while
- Elevating your legs
- Quitting cigarette smoking
- Eating a high-fiber diet that's low in salt
- Wearing low-heeled shoes
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Dr. Febin Melepura, MD
Double Board-Certified Pain Specialist
Meet Dr. Febin Melepura: Your Varicose Veins Specialist in NYC
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD is a double board-certified interventional pain management specialist and the founder of the Sports Pain Institute of New York. He completed his residency and fellowship training at New York Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.
He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine, and has treated more than 7,500 patients and performed over 5,250 procedures throughout his career. He has been named a Top Pain Management Doctor in New York and one of America's Top Doctors™ by Castle Connolly.
Dr. Melepura's approach to varicose veins is rooted in precision: identify the exact source, treat it with a targeted injection, and get you back to your daily life as quickly as possible.
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