Category Archives: Spider Veins

The Importance of Vein Screenings

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Midwest Vein Care of St. Louis offers a variety of treatment options for vein disorders.  If you suffer from spider or varicose veins and are unhappy with your appearance or are living with pain, itching or discomfort, please know that solutions are available.

Our office provides effective pre-screenings of the legs so that we can:

  • Clarify if special treatment is needed
  • Set up a treatment plan
  • Detect if there is a deeper health issue to address

Let’s discuss the three main conditions of the legs…

Spider Veins are small, dilated blood vessels, which form near the surface of the skin. These unsightly veins appear as if a child has taken a pen to your skin and scribbled.  Spider veins also have a lack of oxygen, which can cause them to itch and burn. As the condition worsens, a cluster of spider veins often results in pain and swelling of the leg.

Varicose Veins are the enlarged and torturous veins seen on legs. The condition is caused by a valve defect, which allows blood to flow backwards. Not only are varicose veins even more unsightly than spider veins, they are also intensely more painful. If standing pain worsens and the condition is allowed to persist, the veins can lead to severe side effects such as leg swelling, venous eczema, skin thickening, and ulceration.

Deep Vein Thrombosis is a blood clot that occurs in one or more deep veins in your body. Varicose veins are often confused with deep vein thrombosis, but it’s important to know the difference. Deep vein thrombosis can cause massive swelling of the leg without the visible pen effect of spider veins or the bulge of varicose. If you’re not sure of the difference, it’s important you have a vein screening so we can put your mind at ease.

What’s Next?
At Midwest Vein Care, we offer multiple safe and effective treatment techniques for vein disorders. You don’t have to continue living with pain, discomfort, and unsightliness in your legs. Our many services include injections with sclerotherapy, laser removal, retractions with phlebectomy, and others.

Spider and varicose veins can exist in different severity.
Vein screenings allow us to determine the severity of your condition and discuss the best options.

Midwest Vein Care offers free vein pre-screenings of the legs in physicians’ offices all around the St. Louis area. We also conduct more in-depth screenings in our office.

We hope you’ll join us for our free Vein Health Event on August 14th to learn more about the importance of vein screenings.  You are also welcome to call our office to schedule a consultation at your convenience.

Pregnancy and Vein Health

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Pregnancy creates many challenges for the body, and unfortunately, vein health is one of the things that can be impacted by the experience. There is a substantial increase in the risk for developing blood clots and leg-vein disease for up to six months following delivery.

Causes of Vein Issues During Pregnancy

  1. Additional stress is placed on leg veins during pregnancy due to the volume of blood increasing as much as 50 percent.
  2. The main vein in the body (called the vena cava) drains blood from the lower half of the body. As the fetus in the womb grows bigger, there is increased pressure applied against the inferior vena cava and certain body positions can cause the fetus to practically block blood flow. When obstruction of the vena cava occurs there is a dramatic increase of vein pressure in the lower body and legs.
  3. Hormones spike dramatically during pregnancy, particularly estrogen and progesterone. The positive effect of this spike is that the smooth muscles of the veins relax, increasing their storage capacity and their propensity to dilate. Negatively, however, this creates an increased risk of varicose and spider veins.

Can You Prevent Varicose and Spider Veins During Pregnancy?
Particularly if there have be pre-existing leg-vein issues, it’s a good idea to wear compression hose during pregnancy and for two weeks following delivery. The health benefits of wearing compression hose include:

  • Limiting the risk of blood clots
  • Slowing the progressions of vein disease
  • Providing substantial relief from leg swelling and discomfort.

Treatment Recommendations
The third trimester of pregnancy is the worst for stress on the legs, but the negative effects, such as pain and swelling, will often subside or completely resolve through the weeks following delivery. Patients should wait for a few weeks before opting for invasive treatment of varicose and spider veins to see if the problem goes away on its own.

Treatment for varicose and spider veins is not typically done during pregnancy or while a mother is breastfeeding, though exceptions are sometimes made for severe pain or disability. Medications used for vein treatment are not harmful to a mother or child, but can get into breast milk. Therefore, it’s better to err on the side of caution. It’s advised that a mother save and freeze breast milk if treatment is done before a baby is weaned. The day of treatment and for one day following, the frozen milk should be used while any pumped milk during that time is discarded. Regular breastfeeding can be resumed 48 hours after the venous treatment occurs.

If you have any questions regarding pregnancy and it’s effects on vein health
or would like to make an appointment to see a vein specialist,
contact the Midwest Vein Care office today.

Risk Factors for Leg-Vein Disease

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Leg-vein disease refers to the varicose and spider veins that form on the legs. Why be concerned about them? Progressed leg-vein disease causes pain, discomfort, swelling, scarring, restlessness, and sometimes-even sores.

There are multiple risk factors for leg-vein disease. Although some risk factors are unavoidable, awareness of some others may help you prevent varicose and spider veins.

Awareness and proactive prevention can help minimize the development and severity of leg-vein disease.

Leg-Vein Disease Risk Factors

Age
Age is an unavoidable risk factor for leg-vein disease. As you get older, you have an increased risk of leg-vein blockage.

Race
While leg-vein disease can affect people of any race, it is most commonly found in Caucasians.

Gender
Around 70 percent of leg-vein disease is seen in women and only about 30 percent is seen in men. This means women are 2 ½ times more likely to contract leg-vein disease.

Family History
You can’t go back in time and change your family history. Just be aware that genetics do affect the legs. Keep on the lookout as you age if your parents or grandparents have suffered from leg-vein disease.

History of Leg Injury
If you have experienced traumas in your legs or ankles you can have a higher risk of vein disease. Common traumas that can increase your chances are surgical incisions, the impact of a ball, or the result of being kicked by a large animal.

Being Overweight or Obese
Overweight conditions and obesity are certainly a risk factor to consider in avoiding leg-vein disease. Obese patients are more difficult to treat and sometimes have a higher risk of varicose and spider veins returning. Some doctors believe the higher abdominal pressure seen in obese patients can interfere with the rising flow of blood through leg veins. Overweight or obese patients also have swelling in their legs, which can put pressure on the lymph vessels and create blockage issues.

Living a Sedentary Lifestyle or Lacking Exercise
One hundred years ago leg vein issues were far less common. Modern lifestyles often include a lot of time spent either standing at work or sitting down at computers or in cars. Because of this, regular exercise is imperative to combat vein issues by keeping your blood flowing properly.  If you do spend a large amount of time either sitting or standing, you may not necessarily contract leg-vein disease, but if you’re genetically prone to leg-vein disease or currently have it, a sedentary lifestyle can quicken or upset leg-vein conditions.

Experiencing Multiple Pregnancies
The risk of developing leg-vein disease increases with each pregnancy. While possible leg-vein disease is probably not a deterrent for most people wanting to have children, awareness and other preventative measures (such as exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight) should be considered.

If you have questions regarding the risk factors for leg-vein disease
or would like to make an appointment to see a leg-vein specialist,
contact the Midwest Vein Care office today.

Why See a Vein Specialist?

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Finding the best professional help for vein disease can dramatically improve your quality of life.  Primary care physicians or other medical practitioners who do not specialize in the treatment of vein disease typically do not have the training and technology necessary to accurately assess vein disease.  For this reason, it is highly recommended that you seek the care of a vein specialist if you have or have had any of the following conditions:

  • Pain, discomfort, tiredness, or swelling in your legs and feet (common symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI)
  • Vein-related wounds (venous stasis ulcerations)
  • Varicose veins
  • Blood-clot complications or hemorrhaging of your leg veins

Cosmetic and Medical Benefits
Many patients with spider veins seek treatment primarily for cosmetic reasons.  Unsightly spider veins can cause feelings of embarrassment and self-consciousness. Women are especially prone to hiding their legs and feet with heavy clothing during the hot, summer months to avoid revealing their spider veins in shorts, skirts, and sandals.  This solution is not only uncomfortable, but it also has a negative impact on one’s quality of life.

If the unsightliness of veins in your legs and feet are limiting your lifestyle and damaging your self-esteem, then the cosmetic issue also becomes a substantial health issue.  Treatments for spider and varicose veins typically provide both cosmetic and medical benefits, improving aesthetic appeal and reducing vein-related medical symptoms.

Early Intervention
Leg-vein disease is progressive and can lead to serious future problems if left untreated.  Even if your symptoms are mild and non-debilitating now, you may develop an increased risk of blood-clot complications, including superficial phlebitis and the more serious deep vein thrombosis (DVT).  Early intervention of leg-vein conditions can slow the progression of disease and can also reduce the number of treatments required.

Modern vein treatment techniques address the root causes of vein disease, providing comprehensive and lasting results.  With advances in technology, there is no reason to postpone treatment and allow a minor cosmetic problem to grow into a major medical issue. A trained and experienced vein specialist can provide you with a thorough assessment and treatment options now so that you don’t have to worry about the consequences later.

Selecting Your Vein Specialist
Advances in vein medicine have started to become more widely known and appreciated.  Because of this, there has been an increase in the number of doctors attempting to add vein treatments as one aspect of their practices.  Please be aware, however, that just because vein treatment services are offered does not mean that the doctor is a specialist.  When seeking professional medical care for your vein conditions, please carefully consider the experience and dedication of your physician.

Dr. William Goldstein at Midwest Vein Care has more than 20 years of experience treating varicose and spider veins and is Board Certified in Plebology – the art and science of assessing and treating vein disease.  MVC utilizes state-of-the-art technology and techniques to offer surgical and non-surgical vein procedures.

We understand the importance of self-improvement and are committed to providing the safest and most effective vein and skin care treatments available in St. Louis.

Call Midwest Vein Care today
 to schedule a FREE vein consultation.
 636.536.0241

Do You Have Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)?

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Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is an abnormal flow of blood through the veins.
How do you know if you have CVI? Watch out for these SEVEN WARNING SIGNS:

1. Do You See Spider or Varicose Veins?
Spider veins and varicose veins are usually visible to the naked eye. Are your veins reddish or purple? Are they bulging? If so, this could indicate abnormal blood flow.

2. Do You Regularly Experience Leg Pain or Discomfort?
Chronic Venous Insufficiency causes the following symptoms—especially after prolonged standing or sitting:

  • Aching
  • Heaviness
  • Throbbing
  • Burning
  • Itching
  • Cramping
  • Tingling
  • Stinging
  • Numbness

If you frequently experience one or more of these symptoms, you should consult a vein specialist.

3. Do You Have Swollen Legs or Ankles?
CVI can cause swelling in the legs and ankles after prolonged sitting or standing. Aggravation often occurs later in the day. There are multiple health issues that cause the swelling of legs and ankles, but you should consult a vein specialist to rule out the possibility of Chronic Vein Insufficiency.

4. Are Your Legs Restless or Cramping?
If you have uncomfortable tingling sensations in your legs, especially late in the evening or upon going to bed, it could be caused by CVI. Patients who suffer from Chronic Venous Insufficiency are often compelled to move their legs, finding their legs uncomfortable at rest.

A correlation between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and CVI is not yet firmly established, but some research has tied them together. You may consider having a comprehensive vein screening at Midwest Vein Care before you begin taking medicines for RLS.

5. Do Your Legs Feel Tired or Heavy?
CVI can cause sudden fatigue in the legs after small amounts of activity or after standing for only a few minutes. The fatigue caused by CVI is often coupled with an overall lack of energy.

6. Do You See Discoloration and Scaring of the Skin on Your Legs?
If you have rashes, redness, or inflammation, especially around the lower legs and ankles, you may actually have venous stasis dermatitis. Untreated vein disease can turn into hyperpigmentation that causes brown or dark stains on your legs. A more serious condition is lipodermatosclerosis, characterized by the skin and soft tissue around the lower legs and ankles scaring so severely that skin looks and feels like leather.

The sooner you receive treatment for Chronic Vein Insufficiency the better.
At Midwest Vein Care, we can spot and treat vein disease before it worsens.

7. Do You Have Open Sores or Ulcers on Your Lower Legs or Ankles?
Severe CVI that is left untreated for a prolonged time can lead to open wounds known as venous stasis ulcers. Venous stasis ulcers can be slow to heal, sometimes taking months or even years.

For more information on Chronic Venous Insufficiency
or to schedule a consultation with a vein specialist, contact Midwest Vein Care today.

Sclerotherapy Treatment for Spider Veins

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Sclerotherapy is a safe and effective treatment option for patients
who suffer from painful and unsightly vein issues.

How Does Sclerotherapy Treatment Work?
Sclerotherapy treatment has three steps to its process.

  1. The skin is first sterilized to allow tiny needles to inject sclerotherapy medication. The medication is injected into the spider veins found on the surface of your skin.
  2. A heavier, more concentrated foam version of sclerotherapy medication is injected into the underlying green veins that feed spider veins.
  3. A transilluminating vein light is used to further locate veins on the skin’s surface. Skin and fat layers glow orange under the vein light while the underlying feeding green veins show up as contrasting dark lines.

How Long Does Treatment Take?
Treatment time depends on the patient’s specifics needs, but on average, it takes fifteen to thirty minutes to perform a sclerotherapy treatment. Some treatments can take up to an hour.

How Will Sclerotherapy Affect Me?
It’s generally expected that 70 percent of abnormal veins will be cleared away after each treatment. Multiple factors can contribute to how sclerotherapy treatments will affect you personally, including the severity of your vein disease, your age, and your state of health.

How Many Treatments Will It Take?
Three to six treatments are typically required to remove spider veins. Each treatment builds on the last. If you’re older in age and have allowed spider veins to increase over the years, you’ll likely need more treatments than a patient who is only beginning to see signs of spider veins. Severity of disease and your state of health also help determine the number of treatments you’ll need.

The ideal time between treatment sessions is four to eight weeks. It’s important that your body has time to re-route the flow of blood to healthy veins. Also during this time, stress will be relieved from the vein system and any bruising or inflammation will have sufficient time to clear.

When Will I See the Effects?
Patients usually notice about a 90 percent clearing of spider veins after three sclerotherapy sessions. Three further treatments can increase the benefit to 98 percent. These percentages also apply to those with severe spider vein issues.

Can I Just Have the Smaller Veins Removed?
Many patients think they’ll save time and discomfort by getting only some of their veins removed, but removing small veins before removing the largest veins will only cause the smaller veins to return.  Improper sequence of vein removal can actually worsen the issue in some situations.  Unfortunately, many doctors do not heed this recommendation.  An experienced and credible vein specialist will treat the source of your spider veins to minimize any risk of the problem returning.

If you would like to learn more about sclerotherapy treatments
call Midwest Vein Care to schedule a consultation.