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Recommendations for the relief of varicose vein symptoms include wearing support socks or stockings and moving or elevating your legs. If that doesn't help enough, a surgical procedure can be done to seal off or remove the varicose veins.
Most varicose veins don't cause any symptoms. But they sometimes cause itching or painful, tired or swollen legs. To reduce the symptoms, it's a good idea to
- avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time,
- move around as much as possible in everyday life so that you activate the muscles in your legs, which stimulates the flow of blood,
- elevate your legs when you sit so it's easier for blood to flow back to the heart,
- avoid crossing your legs so that the blood vessels don't get pinched.
If it itches, it may be helpful to put a moisturizing cream on your legs because dry skin tends to be itchier.
Overweight people who have varicose veins are often advised to lose weight since being overweight is considered to be a risk factor. But there's no proof that losing weight helps in people who already have varicose veins.
Do compression stockings (support socks) help?
People who have varicose veins are often first advised to wear compression stockings. These stockings put a little pressure on ("squeeze") the veins, which helps to transport the blood back to the heart. But there's a lack of good research on how effective they really are. Studies have so far concluded that compression stockings can slightly reduce pain and swelling in some people.
It's not always easy to wear compression stockings every day. Some find it unpleasant – especially in warm weather. Because of this, in some countries compression stockings are only recommended if someone can't – or doesn't want to – have an operation.
When are other treatments and procedures considered?
It makes sense to have medical treatment for varicose veins if
- general measures don't relieve the symptoms enough,
- complications such as venous leg ulcers occur, or
- the person finds the appearance of their varicose veins very upsetting.
Varicose veins can be surgically removed, or closed off using heat or a special foam. Removing varicose veins doesn't affect the blood supply to the legs because the blood is then "re-directed" and transported by other, healthy veins instead.
How are varicose veins removed?
Varicose vein surgery is among the most commonly performed kinds of surgery. The main procedures to remove varicose veins are:
- Vein ligation and stripping: This involves making two incisions (cuts): One at the top of the leg just below the groin, and one behind the knee or at the ankle. The vein is first tied off or clamped where the top incision is made (vein ligation). A long wire is then inserted into the vein via the lower incision and pushed up through the vein. Finally, a button-like cap is attached to the lower end of the wire and the entire vein is pulled out through the incision near the groin.
- Phlebectomy: In this procedure, several very small cuts (just a few millimeters wide) are made along the affected vein. A small hook is then used to pull the vein out of these cuts as far as possible. The vein is then cut and removed in several pieces. This technique is mainly used for smaller veins, like those that branch off from larger veins. It is meant to prevent the sort of scarring that can occur when bigger cuts are made during other kinds of procedures.
Surgery can very effectively relieve varicose vein symptoms: In more than 80% of people who have varicose vein surgery, it improves symptoms like pain, swelling and itching or makes them go away completely, and their legs look better afterwards.
Both of the surgical approaches can lead to pain, wound infections, bleeding, swelling, scarring and discoloration of the skin. About 15% of people who have varicose vein surgery experience one of these side effects. Serious complications such as thrombosis or nerve damage are very rare.
New varicose veins can develop after surgery. In studies that looked into this matter, 30 out of 100 people who had surgery had developed new varicose veins after two years.
It is usually possible to leave hospital on the same day as having varicose vein surgery. But it can take quite a while for the swelling to go down and the wounds to heal. You may have to wait up to three weeks before you can go back to work.
What other procedures are available?
In what are known as "endovenous" procedures, the vein is closed off from the inside rather than being removed. This is done by making a cut in the skin and vein, inserting a thin tube (catheter) into the vein and then pushing it along the vein. A heat-producing probe is then inserted into the vein through the catheter.
The endovenous procedures include:
- Radiofrequency ablation, where the heat is produced using electromagnetic waves (radio waves).
- Endovenous laser treatment, where laser energy is used to heat the vein from the inside.
Endovenous approaches are about as effective as surgery to remove the vein. They can also cause pain, bruises and scars. But compared to conventional surgery, they are less likely to lead to complications. Because of this, endovenous procedures are being used more often nowadays.
Not all health insurers in Germany pay for endovenous procedures, though, so it's a good idea to find out beforehand whether your health insurer will cover the costs.
Sclerotherapy
There is also another treatment option known as sclerotherapy. This approach involves injecting a liquid or foam into the affected vein. The drug inside the liquid or foam damages the wall of the vein, which then turns into connective tissue. This closes off the vein permanently.
Sclerotherapy is an effective treatment for varicose veins. One disadvantage of this approach is that it can lead to (sometimes permanent) discoloration of the skin at the site of injection. It may also lead to an inflammation of the vein (phlebitis).
Compared to surgery, though, other side effects such as nerve damage or bruising are much less common after sclerotherapy. People are typically able to resume their usual activities much sooner too.
Sources
- Jones WS, Vemulapalli S, Parikh KS, Coeytaux RR, Crowley MJ, Raitz G et al. Treatment Strategies for Patients with Lower Extremity Chronic Venous Disease (LECVD). April 6, 2017. (AHRQ Technology Assessments). [PubMed: 30222278]
- Michaels JA, Campbell WB, Brazier JE, Macintyre JB, Palfreyman SJ, Ratcliffe J et al. Randomised clinical trial, observational study and assessment of cost-effectiveness of the treatment of varicose veins (REACTIV trial). Health Technol Assess 2006; 10(13): 1-196. [PubMed: 16707070]
- Paravastu SC, Horne M, Dodd PD. Endovenous ablation therapy (laser or radiofrequency) or foam sclerotherapy versus conventional surgical repair for short saphenous varicose veins. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016; (11): CD010878. [PMC free article: PMC6464398] [PubMed: 27898181]
- Vemulapalli S, Parikh K, Coeytaux R, Hasselblad V, McBroom A, Johnston A et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of endovascular and surgical revascularization for patients with chronic lower extremity venous insufficiency and varicose veins. Am Heart J 2018; 196: 131-143. [PubMed: 29421005]
IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care services.
Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the German health care system. The suitability of any of the described options in an individual case can be determined by talking to a doctor. We do not offer individual consultations.
Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. It is written by a team of health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed by external experts. You can find a detailed description of how our health information is produced and updated in our methods.
- What can be done about varicose veins, and when is surgery considered? - Informe...What can be done about varicose veins, and when is surgery considered? - InformedHealth.org
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