Medications You Should Make Your Doctor Aware of Before Vein Treatment

While most vein therapies are minimally invasive procedures performed in-office, it’s still important to be adequately prepared to minimize complications. Before receiving vein treatment, you can expect to go through routine questions with your doctor to help cover all bases before the procedure. This is a time when you will also review your current medication list to ensure there is nothing you should discuss before your vein treatment. You can also expect your doctor to go over post-procedure instructions such as resuming medications, activity restrictions, and more. 

While every vein treatment is different, generally, patients are instructed to continue taking most of their daily medications. For example, blood thinners such as Aspirin, Plavix, and Aggrenox are all considered safe to take while undergoing vein treatments. In some cases, patients may experience more bruising, but the efficacy of therapy won’t be affected. If you are at risk for clotting, blood thinning medications during vein treatment may provide a positive benefit. When taking more potent blood thinners like Coumadin, your doctor may modify treating varicose veins to obtain better results. Some numbing medications like lidocaine are used in many procedures and can cause allergic reactions if mixed with other medicines.  It is always wise to let your doctor know all prescription and OTC medications, vitamins, and dietary supplements you are taking before undergoing any vein treatment. 

Make sure you tell your doctor. If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant or if you are breastfeeding.  You need to disclose if you smoke, consume alcohol regularly, or participate in any recreational drug use, as well. Being upfront about things will give you the safest and best results from your given treatment.  

Vein Treatment Near Me

Venous insufficiency can create a myriad of symptoms. These range in severity from mild discomfort to severe pain that interferes with a person’s ability to perform daily activities. While venous insufficiency isn’t necessarily a serious health condition, complications can arise if left untreated. 

Below is a list of the most common symptoms of venous insufficiency. If you are experiencing any of these, consider searching “vein treatment near me” to locate a vein specialist that can help treat your condition. 

• Achy or tired legs.
• Burning or tingling sensations in your legs.
• Leg cramps, primarily at night.
• Red appearance to the skin.
• Swelling in your lower legs and ankles, especially after prolonged standing
• Dry, flakey, or itching skin on your lower extremities.
• Heaviness in your legs.
• Leg ulcers 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, or a combination, it’s best to see a vein specialist. Even if your condition is mild, there are many effective preventative measures you can take to experience better venous health in the future. 

Varicose Vein Treatments 

Conservative therapy is usually the first line of defense against venous insufficiency. This approach involves leg elevation and compression stockings that may offer relief from pain and other symptoms. In addition, avoid standing or sitting for prolonged periods. You can also switch your diet and exercise and eliminate bad habits like smoking and regular alcohol consumption. 

Sometimes conservative therapies alone aren’t enough to alleviate the symptoms or minimize the appearance of varicose and spider veins. If this is the case, there are other minimally invasive spider and varicose vein treatments. They include: 

• Radio Frequency Ablation— this treatment utilizes precise, focused radio-frequency energy to shrink and collapse the malfunctioning portion of the vein, sealing it off from the rest of its healthier network. 

• Ambulatory Phlebectomy— a micro-extraction procedure that removes the bulging varicose veins close to the skin’s surface. 

• Sclerotherapy— is an ultrasound-guided procedure to target and eliminate varicose veins hidden deep beneath the skin.

• VenaSeal— a small amount of medical glue is placed into a catheter, and when the vein is closed, it naturally redirects blood to healthy veins. 

BASS Vein Center is the best choice for residents of the East Bay Area who need better therapy options for varicose and spider vein treatment. Contact us today if you live in Walnut Creek, Concord, Brentwood, Antioch, or any surrounding city. We look forward to assisting you.