Your superficial veins send blood into your deep veins before it flows to your lungs to pick up oxygen. Blood moves through flaps in your veins that help make sure it flows in the right direction. Otherwise, it would pool. Varicose veins occur when these flaps fail to do their job properly. Blood pools, which causes bulges that are observable directly underneath your skin.

When you develop varicose veins, you’ll begin to experience feelings of fatigue. You may also feel a dull throb or ache in your legs, where they typically form. Over time, they’ll grow worse as blood continues to accumulate in the area. The defective flaps will not get better. There are a few ways to treat varicose veins, including compression stockings, stripping, and ablation. In this article, we’ll take a close look at another alternative: sclerotherapy.

Sclerotherapy Explained

Sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical into the affected vein. The chemical used is generally a salt-based solution which not only destroys the vein, but causes it to go away. It irritates the inside lining of the blood vessel, which is called the endothelium. As a result of this irritation, the vein expands.

Pressure is used to force the inner walls to stick together while the blood clots. The vein becomes restricted, and thus unable to fill with blood. Eventually, it turns into scar tissue and disappears. Blood that once traveled through the obliterated varicose vein finds an alternative route to your heart.

When Is Sclerotherapy Suitable As A Treatment Option?

Not every patient who suffers from varicosities in the blood vessels is a good candidate for sclerotherapy. For example, this form of treatment is normally ruled out when the patient is pregnant, or when the affected vein may be needed down the road for a bypass operation (e.g. the saphenous vein). Also, the treatment is typically given only for small varicose veins since it is much less effective for resolving those that are larger. You should discuss this matter with your doctor who can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for varicose vein injections.

How Treatment Is Administered

The salt-based chemical is usually injected directly into the vein. While the blood vessel become irritated, you’ll experience discomfort and mild pain. This part of the procedure normally lasts a few minutes with the entire session lasting less than a half hour.

In most cases, multiple veins may need to be injected with the solution. However, if you suffer from a serious preexisting condition, your body may not be able to withstand the chemical. In that case, your doctor may target the blood vessels that are most severely affected and leave the others.

Are There Side Effects?

While there are side effects associated with varicose vein injections, they are usually mild and dissipate over a few days. For example, you may experience an allergic reaction to the chemical, including a pervasive itching or stinging. You might also feel burning in the areas in which the chemical was injected. This burning can potentially last for several weeks, but typically disappears within a single week.

There are a few longer-term side effects, though it’s worth highlighting that not all patients experience them. Skin discoloration is a possible outcome and will normally disappear within six months. A form of discoloration called brown staining can be permanent in rare instances.

If the chemical is introduced into a large blood vessel, the blood vessel might become stiff and lumpy. Also, while smaller veins will often fade away within days, larger ones can take up to several months to disappear.

Consult your physician regarding whether sclerotherapy is a suitable treatment option for your varicose veins. While the sessions can be costly and there are potential side effects involved, injections may offer the best way to eliminate an unsightly, and uncomfortable, problem.

Author Bio: Find the right doctor for Varicose Veins Visit a vascular surgeons. Early diagnosis can lead to successful results.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: varicose veins, vascular surgeon, varicose vein injections