The Strongest Predictor for Varicose Veins is

Genetics

We meet genetics with epigenetics (the diet, environmental, and lifestyle factors that turn on/off genes)

What are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins occur when the blood has a difficult time coming back up to the heart and stretches out the veins it is traveling in making the veins lumpy and twisted.

Because veins carry blood up, for me this means something is impeding the blood from traveling back up.

In pregnancy, it could be a baby.

At other times, it has to do with an organ or fascia or inflammation impeding venous return.

What is venous insufficiency?

Venous insufficiency means the veins are not able to carry the blood back to the heart the way they should.

This occurs because the little valves inside the veins are not working right and there is some back flow in the blood.

This causes blood to pool and put you at risk of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots).

What are the signs and symptoms of of varicose veins & venous insufficiency?

Venous insufficiency presents similarly to varicose veins, but not all people with varicose veins have venous insufficiency.

  • Pain, fatigue, tightness, burning in legs that worsens throughout the day
  • Heaviness in legs with walking that is relieved with rest or elevating your legs
  • Brown leathery skin by your ankles
  • Flaky itchy skin by your ankles

How Are Varicose Veins Treated by Biomedicine?

In biomedicine, the first stage of managing varicose veins is helping you with compression stockings and instructing you to elevate your legs when you have pain.

If you want or need more intervention, the following options are available through biomedicine.

Endovenous Laser Ablation

  • Local anesthesia is given and ultrasound imaging guides a laser fiber into the skin
  • More anesthesia is injected in the skin around the vein
  • The laser releases quick intense heat (up to 1580 degrees f) causing the vein to collapse and seal
  • This procedure takes 25 minutes and is 98% effective

Venefit (Radiofrequency Closure)

  • Venefit is similar to endovenous laser ablation. Both use heat to cause the vein to collapse and seal
  • Rather than using laser-generated heat that is very hot and can damage vein walls and surrounding blood, Venefit uses radiofrequency closure
  • Radiofrequencies are more controlled and only reach 120 degrees f

Sclerotherapy

  • Sclerotherapy injects an irritating solution into a vein causing the vessel to swell. This cuts off blood flow and causes the vein to shrink.
  • Typically two appointments are needed to collapse a vein completely
  • Nitric oxide is used to block pain.

Varithena

  • Varithena is like sclerotherapy, but rather than using irritating chemicals to close the veins, Varithena uses foam to block the blood flow and kill the vein

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

  • This is a procedure for removing small superficial veins
  • Small incisions are made in the skin and the veins are removed in segments through the incisions
  • This is a form of vein stripping (removal) – and generally is not performed since less invasive options are available

Endoscopic Laser Varicose Vein Surgery

  • This surgery is generally only used with patients who have severe ulcers.
  • A small tube with a camera and laser is inserted into the vein
  • The laser will give a pulse of heat that kills the vein causing it to collapse and seal
  • Because this is surgery, and more invasive, there is increased risk of nerve injury and infection.
  • The recovery time takes a couple weeks.
  • This surgery is generally avoided

VenoSeal

  • A resilient glue is injected into the large veins by a small catheter.
  • No anesthesia is needed
  • The problem with this procedure is that the glue never fully breaks down
  • 5% have an allergic reaction to the glue
  • You will have a permanent soft cord that will not be painful

Ligation and Stripping Surgery for Large Veins

  • This surgery is only for people who are not good candidates for less invasive treatment
  • People who have this surgery are already getting ulcers or at risk of getting ulcers, have severe leg pain, have severe venous insufficiency and very large varicose veins, have a job that requires them to stand for long periods of time
  • The surgery is done under general anesthesia
  • During the surgery one incision will be made at the top of the vein by the groin, and another incision will be made at the bottom of the vein by the thigh or calf
  • The top of the vein will be tied off to stop blood flow, then a device will be threaded into the vein and the entire vein will be pulled out through the bottom incision.
  • The surgeon will stitch up the incisions
  • The procedure will take 1-2 hours, then recovery for 1-2 hours before you can go home
  • Although a low risk surgery, possible complications are infection, bleeding, blood clots, scarring/bruising, injury to nerves, reaction to anesthesia
  • Your legs will take 2-4 weeks to heal

How is Venous Insufficiency Treated by Biomedicine?

Venous insufficiency is treated similarly to varicose veings

  • Endovenous Therapy (like laser or radiofrequency)
  • Ligation and stripping surgery
  • Phlebectomy

Can Natural Medicine and Manual Hands-On Therapy Prevent Vascular Surgery & Procedures?

In my opinion it is always good to try conservative care prior to more invasive care.

Natural medicine and manual hands-on therapy optimizes your body’s function to the degree it is able to be optimized.

This could mean improving the venous system to a degree that you function adequately without surgery or procedures.

If you still want or need surgery or procedures after treatment with natural medicine and manual hands-on therapy, the underlying structures will have been optimized with natural medicine and manual hands-on therapy so your recovery and experience after surgery and procedures should be better.

What to Expect from Natural Medicine & Manual Hands-On Therapy for Varicose Veins?

You will lay on the treatment table with your clothes on.

Dr. Caroline Peterson begins listening to your venous system around your collar region where all the blood has to come back to.

She always starts treatment there, because all the fluid needs to return to this area.

To be able to lift the blood out of the pelvis and lower extremities, the path up has to be clear.

Usually about 3-4 hours are needed to treat the chest and abdominal region before beginning work on the pelvis and legs.

Anyone with varicose veins should get pelvic floor therapy.

Venous congestion in the pelvic bowl can influence back up of veins in the legs.

Usually about 2-4 hours are needed to treat the pelvic organs through the belly before doing intrapelvic care.

Intrapelvic care involves laying on the treatment table under a sheet with your underware off.

Dr. Caroline Peterson will glove up and with your permission will insert a finger into the vagina or anus to evaluate the veins, muscles, nerves, lymph, and fascial of the pelvic bowl.

The pelvic bowl must be drained prior to working on the legs.

Once the legs are included in the care, the whole venous system of the body must be integrated since more blood is getting into the channels.

You can expect 10-20 hours of manual therapy

You will also need to take herbs and learn how to drain your own veins for maintenance.