Has anyone gotten varicose veins treated?

[mommyoffive]

Has anyone gotten their varicose veins treated?

 

Which treatment did you go with?

 

Did it work?

Side Affects?

 

 

[rainbird2]

Bump.

[momto3innc]

I had a bad section of vericose veins in my lower right leg. First I had shots in them to collapse them. That was probably about 1999. Worked for a while but came back. Then I had the main one removed. This was 2003. It stayed gone for awhile but then I had 3 pregnancies. Came back part way through the each pregnancy and then never left after the third: it's gotten really bad again. At this point, I've given up and just think it appears I'm meant to have varicose veins there :(

So my experience hasn't been the best.

[mommyoffive]

Oh no.

 

They are there now and have gotten much worse each pg.  When I am pg they are HORRIBLE.

 

Did your insurance cover the treatment?

I read though that they often come on during menopause. 

 

If you had it removed then it was a different one coming back right?

 

Was the treatment painful?

[Lanny]

That's not a "Cosmetic" problem. That's a Vascular problem. The woman who introduced my wife and me lives in the USA.  She had that problem. She came here (to Colombia) years ago and she had surgery.  That's a task for a Vascular Surgeon.  Investigate thoroughly any treatment you contemplate having. 

Edited July 22, 2016 by Lanny

[mommyoffive]

Do you just make an apt with a Vascular Surgeon?  Or do you go to your primary doc?

[momto3innc]

I went to a vascular Doctor. At that point my insurance required a referral from primary but that would totally depend on your insurance. My procedures were both covered by insurance but I had really good insurance back then...don't know that it would be covered by my current. All things you would have to look into for your specific insurance. The treatment wasn't painful...they knocked me out for the removal and numbed the area when they collapsed them.

Yes, It's a new vein (veins) that are vericose. It's frustrating they came back. Again, just kind of done at this point unless they get really painful. If they do I'll go back in.

[Guest]

I have had them treated twice. The first time was when I was in my early 20s, it was only the saline injection nd it was mainly for spider veins. This was not covered by insurance.

 

The second time was about 10 years ago after having four babies. This was the venous closure surgery, which was covered by insurance. It helped, but did not eradicate problems completely and now I am back in the same boat. As I get older, they just get worse and worse and worse. I have both vericose veins and a couple million spider veins. The fix my veins cosmetically only, it would be many thousands of dollars and I can't psychologically face going through those procedures even if they were free. To fix the vericose veins, I could probably get coverage, but I would try to do it early in the year to meet my insurance deductable. Of course, this still means I would have to pay thousands of dollars before my deductible was met.

[samba]

I had the vein treatment where they make several tiny incisions up and down the leg and pull out the no-longer functional veins. It was 2009 so my memory is a little fuzzy on the details. I was 41.

 

My problem started in one leg during my first pregnancy, got a little better in between, then worse again with the second and then never improved. The doctor said it would have been considered cosmetic by the insurance company except I had heat, throbbing and aching sensations after standing or brief periods of activity...so mostly covered by insurance. Mine was located in the front of my leg, mostly in the knee and just below. Doctor also said this was a very unusual place to have this issue. The procedure I had corrected the problem and I have not had a reoccurrence (those particular veins are gone...no chance of them coming back, I suppose.) Afterward, the doctor said that my knee was a jumbled mess of blown-out veins and he removed more than he had initially thought he would need to. But he also said there is such a surplus of networking veins that there was no need to be concerned.

 

I have tiny, tiny scars where the incisions (basically punctures) were made but they are barely noticeable. I think there were 20 something incisions made from mid-thigh to mid- calf.There have been no negative side effects. The incisions were covered for about a week and I tried to elevate my leg when I could. I went to a homeschooling convention shortly after and was able to do lots of walking with no issues.

 

I have a bazillion spider veins...more every year. I tried laser surgery once and now instead of looking like spider veins, those areas look like permanent bruises. I won't do anything strictly cosmetic ever again. The treatment was inexpensive so I was willing to try it once. I won't do it again.

 

Edited to add: I think I went to my primary doctor first and was referred to a vascular surgeon. I probably could have gone straight to the surgeon.

Edited July 22, 2016 by samba

[The Girls' Mom]

I'm glad to hear your story Samba!  I am pretty sure I'm getting varicose veins in a similar area.  The inner side of my knee and just above.  I can't see them much yet, but they ache when I stand (or sit for too long without my feet up) and I can feel the bulge.  They run in the family too.  I've been trying to decide if it would be worth having something done eventually.  

[JFSinIL]

Hum, glad to have found this thread, as I have met my deductible and might as well take care of my veins.  My leg that is still somewhat numb or aching (two years ago, car crash, leg has two rods and multiple screws that I am told can not be removed yada yada yada) and more and more purple vein stuff is showing up.  Might as well get it looked at. Vascular surgeon you say?  Oh, haven't
collected one of those yet!  ;-)