Vericose Veins Prescott

Keeping Your Legs Healthy & Attractive

Chronic venous insufficiency is a condition that causes decreased blood flow from the leg veins to the heart. The decreased blood flow causes the blood to pool in the leg veins, which can lead to varicose veins.

Special valves in the blood vessels of the legs ensure blood flows up toward the heart for recirculation, and prevent the backflow of blood. When blood flows backward, it is called Venous Reflux Disease.

Symptoms such as aching, swelling, fatigue or heaviness in the leg or an ulcer on the leg are common for those with varicose veins. If unchecked and untreated, chronic venous insufficiency can lead to uncontrollable swelling, ulcerations that heal poorly, infections, and tissue loss.

Drs. Matthew Dicker, M.D., and Ben Paxton, M.D., of Vascular and Interventional Specialists of Prescott (VISP) are interventional radiologists who are specially-trained in vein and artery health and function and believe it is important to keep your blood vessels healthy.

Dr. Dicker said, “Aside from the cosmetic aspect, the symptom of varicose veins that prompts treatment the majority of the time is pain, throbbing or aching, usually at the end of the day. It is rare, but at times a varicose vein may bleed.”

There are surgical and non-surgical options for vein treatment. One non-surgical option is vein ablation in which a probe is inserted into the poorly functioning vein to heat and then collapse it. Blood flow then re-routes through healthier veins.

“There are many benefits of vein ablation over a surgical option. Ablation is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that avoids many of the increased risks of surgery, such as pain and infection. The recovery time is much quicker, and there are no scars or stitches. Ablation has a high success rate and lower recurrence rates compared to surgery,” said Dr. Paxton.

Phlebectomy, when a vein is removed through a small incision, and sclerotherapy, when the vein is injected with a material and it collapses, are two other treatment options.

Prescott’s Frank Colella saw Dr. Dicker for a phlebectomy to treat varicose veins that developed as a result of several biking accidents.

In June of 2010, he was in a near-fatal biking accident while riding on White Spar Road. Among other things, he re-injured his left leg and was placed into a cast, which led to poor circulation. The combination of wearing a cast many times, as well as working long hours as a nurse practitioner, led to the development of his varicose veins.

Frank said, “I work four long days, almost ten hours each day, and I see 20 or 25 patients every day. I’m on my feet and stationary all day long.”

Dr. Dicker said, “Often, patients see me for cosmetic reasons and because their veins are unsightly. We can and do perform the procedure for this reason. We also want to make sure the veins are healthy and to rule out chronic venous insufficiency as the cause of the varicose veins, because it is this underlying condition that can pose a more serious health risk.”

Frank is happy with his result and adds, “I’m not sure if it is because of my Italian heritage or what, but biking is in my blood.” And this is a good thing because biking will keep his leg veins healthy for many years to come.

If you have questions about varicose vein treatment options, please contact Vascular and Interventional Specialists of Prescott at (928)771-8477.

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Vascular & Interventional Specialists of Prescott was formed in 2010 by a group of subspecialty radiologists that perform numerous minimally-invasive, low-risk procedures using the tools of our trade for guidance—x-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI. The team’s goal is to educate patients and medical communities, while also providing safe and compassionate health care, with rapid recovery times and low risk of complications.