More than 80 million Americans have suffered with varicose veins, but it doesn't have to be that way.
For years the only way to remove varicose veins was stripping, which is a painful procedure that took weeks of recovery. Now, patients can go during their lunch hour and have the veins removed with virtually no pain.
For years Sally Churly suffered from varicose veins.
"I mean it was like a rope on my thigh," Churly said. "It really stood out. I haven't put shorts on for 15 years."
Two weeks ago she underwent a simple outpatient procedure to have the veins removed. The procedure took about one hour and she was back to normal the following day.
"I'm telling you, it's the best thing I've done," Churly said. "The best thing, I noticed within three days that my leg did not ache anymore, that I was not itchy, because I'd get itchy and sore. I was not itchy and sore and I thought that's weird, and I stood there in the shower, and I'm like ooh the bump that went all the way down my thigh is gone."
Patty Dye told a similar story. Last month she had varicose veins removed from her left leg. Now she's getting ready to have them removed from her other leg.
"No pain whatsoever," Dye said. "If I'd had known it was this easy, I probably would have come a lot sooner."
Dr. Rao Sudheendra from the Vein Center of Northeast Ohio, said the first step is to locate the vein with an ultrasound.
"When I press on my ultrasound probe, it winks at you," Sudheendra said. "That means the vein is open."
Sudheendra said he then administers local anesthesia at the site where the doctor will make a small puncture. That's where the microwave catheter will be inserted, he said.
The radio frequency energy heats the vein walls and causes them to collapse. Dye remained awake through the process.
Once the vein is closed, it becomes scar tissue and the body naturally absorbs it. Surrounding vessels die off and are also absorbed, so only one vein needs to be treated.
"Nothing to it," Dye said.
Nothing came out of her wallet either. The procedure is usually covered by medicare and insurance.
To find a varicose vein expert in your area, click on links and Varicose Vein Treatment.
