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Can Varicose Veins Go Away on Their Own?

Author: Blog Author Posted: January 15, 2020 Category:

Though varicose veins usually don’t go away on their own, several non-invasive treatment options are available. 

Varicose veins can ache, itch, and stick out like a sore thumb. Further, they rarely go away on their own, and often get worse over time. 

Fortunately, vein specialists have developed several clinical procedures to eliminate your varicose veins once and for all. These procedures are non-invasive, and boast a high success rate. Here’s what you need to know about your treatment options.

What Are Varicose Veins?

Veins are responsible for pumping oxygenated blood throughout the body. They operate using a combination of muscle contractions and valves to fight gravity and friction, transporting oxygen-rich blood back to the heart. 

To keep your blood flowing, the valves in your veins are constantly opening and closing. Certain risk factors — including advanced age, intense abdominal pressure from weight or pregnancy, or just genetic predisposition — can cause some of these valves to tire out. When your valves don’t perform their normal function, blood can back up in your veins like a stopped-up water hose. This often leads to the formation of painful, swollen varicose veins. 

Will My Varicose Veins Ever Go Away?

Unfortunately, varicose veins do not generally go away on their own. The only instances where these veins disappear naturally are cases in which the condition is due to temporary, increased pressure on the abdomen. This means that varicose veins caused by pregnancy or significant weight gain can sometimes go away once you are no longer pregnant, or if you lose weight. Otherwise, your varicose veins are probably here to stay. 

If your varicose veins are causing severe pain or discomfort, make sure to contact a doctor right away. It’s important to ensure you’re not suffering from a clotting disorder, or a potential infection that calls for immediate medical attention. 

How Do I Treat My Varicose Veins?

Now for the good news: varicose veins are highly treatable with the right tools.

If you suspect you have varicose veins, your first step should be to visit a vein specialist for a proper diagnosis. Since varicose veins are generally quite visible, a vein expert can usually diagnose the condition simply from looking at your legs. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor might perform a quick tourniquet test to examine whether the blood in your veins is flowing in reverse, which is a telltale sign of varicose veins. There is no need to get a blood test for a varicose vein diagnosis. 

Once your condition has been diagnosed, you have a variety of non-invasive treatment options to choose from. These include: 

  • Sclerotherapy: This procedure involves injecting medicine into the affected vein that causes it to close up. 
  • Radiofrequency ablation: This treatment is performed by heating your vein with a metal probe until it seals shut.
  • Laser ablation: Laser ablation includes heating the affected vein with a laser until it closes.   
These procedures are all done with a local anaesthetic, to make the treatment quick and virtually painless. 

If you are suffering from varicose veins, make sure to contact a certified vein specialist for the expert care you need. For patients in Montana, give us a visit at Bellamah Vein Center. Our qualified vein experts strive for an atmosphere of honesty, kindness, compassion, and respect, with clinics located in Missoula and Kalispell. Call us today to set up an appointment