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When blood flows through the body, arteries carry it from the heart and veins carry it back to the heart. Veins contain valves that keep the blood from flowing back down the legs and pooling. When those valves weaken and fail, varicose veins form.
Discomfort from varicose veins ranges from nonexistent to extremely painful. Symptoms include leg fatigue, heaviness, and swelling. The swelling can be a slight puffiness around the ankle or severe edema from knee to ankle. Treatment for swollen legs becomes necessary to avoid living with chronic pain and discomfort. Below are four treatment options in order of least invasive to most invasive.
A conservative approach to swollen leg treatment, lifestyle changes help improve your quality of life. Things you can do specifically to help treat your symptoms are:
If lifestyle changes alone do not help, your physician may prescribe compression therapy. When you walk, your calf muscles extend and contract, pushing blood back toward the heart. Compression stockings are an aid to help the calves move blood more efficiently. The stockings also improve valve function by compressing the varicose veins and reducing the backward flow of blood.
The resulting improved circulation addresses many of the painful symptoms like burning and swelling. Compression therapy is one of the easiest swollen legs treatments used to provide pain and swelling relief.
When the swelling and other symptoms of varicose veins begin to affect your quality of life, it’s time for medical help. Varicose veins are the heart of the issue and it is time to address it. Minimally invasive treatments happen within the doctor’s office, and you can leave that day with little recovery time. Two treatment options for varicose veins are:
If the varicose vein is severe enough, a surgical option may be unavoidable. There are two main surgical options to choose from:
South Valley Vascular’s board-certified surgeons are pleased to provide their patients with high-quality care. A personal treatment plan is tailored specifically to your needs, ensuring your health is well cared for. If you have questions or would like to schedule a consultation, contact South Valley Vascular today.