I cannot thank you guys enough. The main reason for coming to the Vein Center was because my legs ached nightly with extreme pain right behind the knee. I work standing in same spot or sitting in captain chairs with knees bent for extended hours. Thinking the problem was my shoes, I would repeatedly buy expensive shoes to try to fix the pain.
The procedure took about one hour start to finish. Being very diligent on the Ibuprofen there is no need for pain medication at all. Six days after the first procedure I went on a cruise. I thought my leg would swell because of the recent procedure but was able to do anything I planned. The relief in the first leg was a welcome blessing and made me want to get on with the rest of my treatments.
Just 6 months after the first treatment and 1 month after last treatment I flew to Zimbabwe, Africa. 32 hours of airports and no putting my legs up or sleep. I called Doctor Asay from Africa to thank him for how I felt, no swelling and no pain. So has this all been worth it? ABSOLUTELY!
The Vein Center from door to door on every appointment was very professional. They treated me with respect and truly listen. The reception desk is friendly, both PA’s answered all my questions, the ultrasound techs explained what they were doing, procedures were quick and procedure techs all supportive. The Doctors, all caring! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
Leg discomfort: If you experience aching, heaviness, throbbing, burning, itching, cramping, or numbness in your legs, then there is a good chance you have venous insufficiency. In many cases, these symptoms are exacerbated by long periods of standing or sitting.
Fatigued or heavy legs: If your legs get tired after standing for a few minutes or after a short period of activity then you could have venous insufficiency.
Restless legs or leg cramps: Patients who suffer from venous insufficiency often complain of an uncomfortable tingling sensation in their legs or legs cramps in the evening. Patients often feel forced to move their legs, especially when at rest. If you suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome and experience some of these other symptoms, it is best to visit a vein specialist and have an assessment done for venous insufficiency.
Discoloration of skin on legs: Venous disease can cause brown stains on the skin (hyperpigmentation). In severe cases, the skin tissue around the lower legs and ankles scar so that it looks and feels like leather. It does not have to be this severe to be seen by a specialist. If you experience redness or inflammation around the lower legs and ankles, you may have venous disease.
Visible varicose veins or spider veins: Varicose veins and spider veins can be visible to the naked eye. If you see them then you have them!
Many women come into the Intermountain Vein Center with leg pain that increases in intensity during their menstrual cycle. As an ultrasonographer, when a patient mentions that to me I start to thinking of pelvic congestion syndrome. Some of the symptoms include a heavy or full feeling in the pelvic area, lower back pain, and an increase in pain in the leg during their menstrual cycle.
Unfortunately women do not only deal with the hereditary factor of varicose veins but many women develop varicose veins that get worse with pregnancy. ” Britney Spears today is the equivalent of the average American woman- a single mother of two with dashed hopes, little faith in romance and varicose veins.” (The Varsity 2007) http://www.veindirectory.org/blog/2007/10/celebrity_varicose_veins_britn.html#ixzz1d2zvDKgA
We know that you are not Britney Spears and the quote seems humorous however, there is validity to the quote. Pregnancy can increase the size and the amount of varicose veins in the pelvic area as well as in the legs. There are treatment options out there for you! Please feel free to call us if you have any questions.
My name is Vickie. I have been asked by IVC to document my experience so other reluctant individuals can know of my experiences, my treatment, my pain or non-pain, and recovery process. I am a retired educator from a suburban/rural school district where I taught or was in administration for over 40 years. I like to travel, take pictures, read, crafts, scrapbook, and most anything that does not include chores around the house. One of my new hobbies is baking cupcakes.
I have had issues with my legs for a long time. After standing in the classroom I would find myself experiencing leg aches and in the night, leg cramps. Sitting down just doesn’t work when students needed help understanding what I taught. I have several other physical conditions and was never sure what caused the tired legs and leg cramps, but when my very active family wanted to walk, run, play ball, or other exercise my response was always “this body wasn’t made for exercise.”
When I was traveling I sometimes was restricted in my activities because my legs hurt. I found ways to compensate but I still missed out on some of the fun. I only take pictures until I can’t stand any longer, not because the subjects have disappeared. It takes two days to bake cupcakes–one to bake and one to frost.
I attended the Mother’s Day screening IVC conducted at the Marriot. I didn’t know for sure if varicose veins were part of my problem but my family did have a history of having varicose veins. No one really did anything about them because striping them was too costly and painful. Sure enough, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and I have varicose veins in both legs.
Because Intermountain Vein Center is privately owned we contract and accept most insurance companies.
See the card above for a list of some of the major insurance providers we work with.
If you do not see your insurance here, that does not mean that we do not accept them. Please feel free to contact us at any time. Our receptions or I will be able to let you know if we are in contract with your insurance.
With more and more doctors dabbling in vein treatments it is important that you do your homework on selecting the right healthcare provider. There are a few easy steps you can take when making this selection:
Ask other people who suffer from the same condition as you for advice. Chances are you know someone who has sought treatment for their varicose veins. Friends and family will be able to tell you of their experiences on a more personal, relatable level. Find out which doctors they respect and why.
Ask your primary care physician for recommendations and direction. Although primary care physicians are not always fully aware of the treatments available for vein disease, they may have suggestions as to where to start. Varicose vein treatments have come a long ways from ten years ago. It is difficult for physicians to stay up-to-date on all the new developments; therefore, do not be surprised if your primary care physician is not encouraging. You may need to take the lead on creating a two-way conversation with your physician regarding treatment.
Research online. The internet is a massive location for information. Many vein specialists can be found through web searches. A word of caution: There are quite of number of doctors attempting to add vein treatments to their practices. Doctors who dabble, or half commit, to vein medicine can do a disservice to their patients. The best place to seek treatment is with a vein specialist who has been treating vein problems on a full-time basis, for at least two years.
Ask for a free screening. Most vein specialists offer a free varicose vein screening. Take the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the office and staff. Ask them questions about the disease and treatment options at the time. Test their knowledge. It is important that you feel completely comfortable with the environment and specialists before starting treatment.
Armed with this information, you are well on your way to finding the best practice for you to start your road to treatment of varicose veins.
Stasis ulcers are open wounds on the medial or lateral portion of the calf or foot that are at risk of infection. They may take a long time to heal and they may need the assistance of a podiatrist or wound clinic to help them heal. An ulcer is caused by the stasis or pooling of blood in the ankles or feet. This pooling blood causes a breakdown of the skin. Over time the skin becomes very fragile and a small scrape can cause an ulcer to develop. Treating varicose veins can aid in the healing process of active ulcerations.
A perforator vein is a small vein that connects the deep and superficial systems together. They are usually short in length and have only a few valves in them. They can have reflux just like other veins in the legs. These small connector veins run horizontally across the leg and not vertically up and down the leg. It is like the horizontal cross on the letter H. These perforators can be the source to visible varicose veins in the calf or thigh.
Every patient at the Intermountain Vein Center is unique. Therefore, everyone is not going to be the same. Most patients will have a treatment plan that will take anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks up to 14 to 16 weeks depending on how many veins need treatment. The initial plan may change after the first couple of treatments and could be shortened or lengthened compared to the initial plan. Follow-up appointments are how we determine what needs to be done next and if we need to change the treatment plan. Varicose vein treatment is not something that can be treated all at one time so expect anywhere from 8 up to 16 weeks for completion of your treatment plan.
