VARICOSE VEINS CAN LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT LEG PAIN. Treatment can be life changing.

Chronic venous disease of the legs is very common. Approximately half of the U.S. population has venous disease — 50 to 55 percent of women and 40 to 45 percent of men. Of these, 20 to 25 percent of the women and 10 to 15 percent of men will have visible varicose veins. You may notice the darkened leg veins first as a cosmetic nuisance, a reason not to wear shorts. But for some people, varicose veins and related conditions can lead to significant leg pain, swelling and difficulty sleeping, along with more serious complications such as wounds, ulcers and dangerous blood clots.

According to Hossein Nasajpour, M.D., Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeon in Laurel, “The Vein Center of South Central Mississippi can help provide relief and long-term solutions for venous diseases.”  When veins become blocked as with a blood clot or when the valves fail to work properly, blood will pool in the leg. As time goes on, the increased pooling of blood and increased pressure in the veins may cause the veins to become enlarged and painful. Also the high pressures in the veins can cause blood to leak out of the vessels and into the tissues. The blood becomes trapped in the skin, and turns brown. This brownish pigmentation typically occurs around and above the ankles. Over the course of years, the leakage of blood and fluid into the leg can cause damage to the skin. Ulcers of the skin can occur, usually in the ankle area.One percent of adults over age 60 have chronic ulceration.

Up to 35 percent of adults have leg veins that do not work properly. Risk factors include age, family history, obesity, jobs that require long periods of sitting or standing, gender (more common among females) and pregnancy. Symptoms caused by venous insufficiency and varicose veins include aching legs, leg fatigue, throbbing, swelling and leg heaviness.  Many people find they need to elevate their legs to relieve these symptoms.

 “If people think they have problems with their veins, they should be evaluated. However, not everyone who suffers from venous disease sees the darkened veins close to the skin’s surface that are commonly known as varicose veins – or spider veins when they are lighter. Yet they may experience other symptoms such as pain and swelling in their legs and ankles, especially at the end of the day,” Dr. Nasajpour stated. “Those who have this condition suffer from aching legs that feel heavy and sore. Some people get home at night, and their legs hurt so much they can’t exercise or go for a walk. That is a warning sign that deeper veins inside the leg muscles have become weakened, with blood possibly pooling or leaking outside the vein instead of flowing effectively to the heart,” he said. 

Only 1.9 million seek treatment annually, while the vast majority remain undiagnosed and untreated. Without treatment, those with the disease may experience progressive symptoms that can be debilitating and significantly impact quality of life. In fact, more people lose work time over vein disorders than from artery disease. Specialists can pinpoint trouble spots within the deeper veins through ultra- sound technology then provide a long-term fix with a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. “This helps resolve problems and prevents others from developing,” says Dr. Nasajpour. “Patients who have the procedure are much less likely to develop ulcers or even discoloring skin changes.”

The Vein Center of South Central Mississippi is conveniently located inside The Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Center in Laurel at 1410 Jefferson Street. To schedule a free screening for varicose veins, call The Vein Center of South Central Mississippi at 1.855.501.VEIN or 601.649.5931.