Vein
disease plagues about one in three Americans over the age of 45. Varicose veins
are an unfortunate family trait, often appearing in the form of oversized,
bulging, bluish cords easily visible under the skin. Sometimes they do not
bulge, but rather are small, purplish, flooded capillaries called spider veins.
Varicose and spider veins can be painful and unsightly, but thankfully there
are several avenues of treatment you can take to healthy legs for life. At Pacific
Vein Care, we specialize in several different therapies to treat varicose
veins. The focus of this blog will be on compression therapy.
Compression
therapy is the use of compression stockings over a period of time. These
stockings squeeze the leg and allow the valves to be closer together and
function properly. This helps the blood flow easier and your legs respond
accordingly with less swelling, fatigue, discomfort, pain, heaviness,
throbbing, and cramping. Most insurance companies require this as part of their
conservative therapy criteria prior to approval for procedures.
One
thing to keep in mind about compression therapy is that while it helps relieve
symptoms, it is not a true cure for varicose veins. Support stockings are a
temporary measure that will not fix a chronic, physical problem like the new,
effective, minimally invasive technologies and treatments will. Compression
stockings are not a definitive treatment, but they are a good place to start
when it comes to vein disease.
Compression
stockings can be purchased at Pacific Vein Care, where we will measure and use
our suppliers sizing chart to get the right fit for you. Since each patient’s
diagnosis and symptoms are different, a consultation with Pacific Vein Care
will help us get you into the correct compression gradient and stocking length
for your particular situation. We will also take the time to explain how to
properly use your stockings for compression therapy, and if the compression
therapy isn’t doing the trick for your varicose veins, we’ll talk about the
next step for you in treatment. To schedule your consultation with Pacific VeinCare and be on your way to healthy legs for life, give us a call today at
815-759-2368!
