Varicose veins can often cause pain and discomfort, prompting a patient to seek medical treatment. Sometimes the patient may not experience pain, but it is still important to diagnose the varicose vein condition and get appropriate treatment from a vein specialist. Advanced non-surgical treatments are now available to successfully eliminate varicose veins.
At Empire Vein Specialists, we combine a physical exam as well as ultrasound imaging analysis to determine the exact extent of the underlying problem of varicose veins.
They will also ask questions from the patient about their family history and past health issues. Poignant, prudent, and board certified vein doctor Dr. Nina Grewal of Empire Vein Specialists provides varicose vein treatments to patients in Inland Empire, Riverside, San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, and surrounding areas of California.
PHYSICAL EXAM
At first, the treatment provider will perform a physical exam to assess the condition of varicose veins in the legs. The patient will be made to stand or sit with her legs dangling. The vascular surgeon will interview the patient about any specific symptoms they may have been experiencing, including any pain. They will review the patient’s past health records and ask whether any members in the patient’s family have had varicose veins.
During the physical exam, the surgeon will gently probe the problem areas to assess the signs of swelling. The patient should explain if her symptoms worsen in any particular situations. For example, the pain may intensify for some women during their menstrual cycle. The vein surgeon will evaluate the following risk factors:
- Family history of vascular problems
- Pregnancy
- Current body mass index (BMI) of the patient
- Any existing vascular condition such as DVT
- History of leg injury or trauma
ADDITIONAL CHECKS
To determine the appropriate vein treatment plan, the vascular specialist may also investigate the following symptoms:
Swelling, pain, heaviness or itching in the affected areas
Discolored skin in the lower legs
Appearance of eczema or other skin issues
Painful and hard varicose veins
A healed or unhealed ulcer in the skin under the knee
ULTRASOUND EXAM
The vascular surgeon will usually order a test called duplex ultrasound scan. High frequency sound waves are used in this scan to create a picture of the varicose veins. The specialist can determine the blood flow and identify the presence of any blood clots. The duplex ultrasound test is a combination of both traditional and Doppler ultrasound tests.
Doppler ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of the flow of the blood through the veins. The combination of traditional and Doppler ultrasound test will help provide a more accurate picture to the specialist to diagnose the exact varicose vein condition.
The ultrasound session does not involve any pain and is non-surgical. It will be conducted by a Registered Vascular Technologist as an in-office procedure. Based on its results, the specialist will plan an appropriate treatment. Experienced vascular surgeon Dr. Grewal receives patients from Inland Empire, Riverside, San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, and surrounding areas of California for varicose vein treatment.
Vein expert, Dr. Nina Grewal, is taking patients from Inland Empire, Riverside, San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, and surrounding areas of California. For more information, call 1.800.VARICOSE.