FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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This form of contact is not meant to discuss your medical care and treatment. Please call our office at 262-240-9640 if you have any questions or concerns.
If your legs are:
Aching, tired, cramping, restless, heavy, swelling, itchy, throbbing, numb, burning
or have
Spider veins, charley horses at night, toe cramps, sores on legs that don’t heal, legs that feel better during exercise than they do when standing
YOU MAY HAVE VEIN DISEASE
Your leg muscles are able to strengthen if you use them in everyday activities. So, if you’ve developed any of these symptoms during your daily routine, that’s not normal and should be checked out.
Varicose veins with their associated symptoms and complications constitutes the most common of all vascular disorders of the legs.
Approximately 25 million people in the United States suffer from this condition. Varicose veins are enlarged veins at or close to the skin’s surface.
They may be large and rope-like or small and spider-like. Varicose veins are caused by blood pooling in the veins that carry blood back up to the heart.
Venous Insufficiency, or reflux, develops when the valves that usually keep the blood flowing up from your legs and back towards your heart become damaged or diseased.
Varicose veins can develop from this reflux due to the pressure caused by the broken valves in the legs. In the majority of patients with Venous Insufficiency, the cause is hereditary vein wall weakness.
Standing and sedentary occupations can contribute to the disease. The diseased veins also tend to get worse with age, increased weight, and pregnancy, but anyone can develop this condition.
If you suspect that you may have vein disease, we recommend that you come in for a COMPLIMENTARY 30 minute screening. At your free screening, we will perform a brief evaluation and a limited ultrasound.
If we confirm your diagnosis, we will be able to estimate your treatment plan and answer any questions that you may have. Most of our patients will then proceed on to a full consultation and a detailed ultrasound exam.
Diagnostic ultrasound is used to identify the source of your varicose or spider veins. Ultrasound demonstrates the direction of blood flow, size of vessel, and the location of disease. By obtaining an accurate mapping of the veins, your physician is then able to plan a course a treatment specific to your needs.
If we confirm your diagnosis, we will be able to estimate your treatment plan and answer any questions that you may have. Most of our patients will then proceed on to a full consultation and a detailed ultrasound exam.
Sclerotherapy is commonly used to treat both varicose veins and spider veins. This procedure involves injecting a small volume of an FDA approved medicine (sclerosant) into the diseased vein using a small needle. This sclerosant medicine acts on the lining of the vein, causing it to seal closed and eventually disappear. It is quickly performed in the physician’s office and no anesthesia is required.
Endovenous Laser Treatments is the most effective, and least minimally invasive procedure to treat your leg veins and generally takes less than an hour. Using a local anesthetic, a thin laser fiber is inserted into the vein through a small entry point. Laser energy is delivered to the diseased vein causing it to collapse, seal closed and eventually disappear.
Quality care is one of our hallmarks. Each treatment lasts about an hour, with most patients coming in for multiple visits. Our outpatient procedure includes catheterizing the veins, which is a fairly simple procedure.
Treatment options are simple, safe, and with minimal discomfort. Best of all, patients can resume normal activities immediately, with only a few limitations.
However, for two weeks following treatment, your doctor may recommend a regular walking regimen and suggest that you refrain from strenuous activities, such as heavy lifting or aggressive exercise.
Today’s varicose vein treatment options are simple and safe. Best of all, there is little to no down time.
Minor side effects can include:
-Temporary discoloration around the treated area
-Bruising or swelling
-Tenderness which can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications
– Possible infection at the incision site
-Other risks your doctor will go over with you at your consultation
Varicose veins are a chronic condition. If you have the inherited tendency, you will always be at risk for developing more. There isn’t any treatment that can completely protect you against the development of new varicose veins. If new veins do appear, they are usually very easy to treat.
With the proper documentation and demonstration of medical necessity, insurance companies will cover the cost of treatment for vein disease
Your treatment is covered by most insurance plans if not done solely for cosmetic reasons. We will contact your insurance company to determine your coverage and file your claims. Insurance plans cover most of the cost of treatment other than deductible, co-payments, and co-insurance.
To be eligible for insurance coverage of treatment, insurance companies require documentation of medical necessity. Most patients with venous insufficiency have symptoms that are inadequately relieved with conservative therapy and will qualify for coverage of the treatment.
Medical necessity is evaluated at the time of your initial consultation and ultrasound mapping. Written documentation is sent to the insurance company to confirm the medical necessity. Referrals by another physician are not usually necessary to initiate an evaluation of treatment in our office.
Spider veins are often thought to be a cosmetic issue because they are visible on the surface of your legs, however, they are most commonly a surface symptom of medical vein disease. Even if your spider veins are purely a cosmetic concern, we have years of experience in treating them and have three different technologies available to give you the best outcome with the fewest visits.