How To Treat Damaged Veins

The health of your damaged veins in legs is vital to your overall well-being. But like other parts of your body, your veins can become damaged over time. If you've noticed painful, swollen or discolored veins in your legs and feet, it may be a sign of a more serious problem called chronic venous disease (CVI). Your doctor can help you decide the best course of treatment to manage symptoms and prevent further damage.

All veins have a series of one-way valves that stop blood from flowing backward and facilitate the flow of blood up toward your heart. But these valves can wear out over time due to a variety of factors, including age, heredity, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and hormonal changes. When this happens, your veins will start to enlarge, which can cause them to look purple or red and feel tender and swollen. This issue is the underlying problem behind varicose veins and spider veins, and it's also a leading cause of the leg ulcers known as venous stasis ulcers.

Symptoms of venous disease include itchy or restless legs, swelling and redness of the skin, and feeling like you have a heavy weight on your legs. You may also develop a deep, painful bump that appears under the surface of your skin. These conditions can be caused by a clot, which is sometimes called a deep vein thrombosis, or by a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

CVI is when the blood vessels in your legs don't work properly and fluid pools in the veins, causing them to enlarge. This can lead to venous stasis ulcers, which are open wounds that appear on the bottom of your foot or thigh. It can also lead to a serious condition called pulmonary embolism, when a blood clot in your leg breaks loose and travels to the lungs.

Your doctor can offer you several treatments to treat your damaged veins, ranging from at-home treatments to surgical procedures. For minor conditions, you can use compression stockings and elevate your feet to improve your circulation. Changing your lifestyle can also help. Avoid sitting or standing for long periods, and take breaks to stand up or walk around. Exercise can also promote healthy veins. Try exercises such as walking, swimming, or rollerblading.

Non-surgical treatments for varicose veins include sclerotherapy, which involves injecting foam into the damaged vein to seal it. You may need several sessions of this treatment before you see results. Another option is a procedure called radiofrequency occlusion, which uses heat to damage the walls of your damaged veins and causes them to close. This is performed in your doctor's office and typically requires less bruising than other surgical treatments.

Surgical treatments for severe varicose veins include ligation and stripping, in which your vascular surgeon cuts or ties off the damaged veins and then removes them with a special tool called a phlebectomy hook. Another surgical option is venous bypass, in which your surgeon takes part of a healthy vein from somewhere else in your body and uses it to reroute blood away from your damaged vein.