Vein Services
The vascular system is important to your body’s well-being. It consists of arteries that supply the body with oxygenated blood and veins that return the blood to the heart. When a vein becomes damaged, the blood may pool, causing the vein to become narrowed or obstructed. Left untreated, the veins may develop chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) – or vein disease – which can lead to pain, swelling and open sores.
What Causes Vein Disease?
Vein disease is common, and varicose veins can happen to anyone. However, there are certain factors that can increase your risk, including:
- Being female
- Having a family history of vein disease
- Performing heavy-lifting
- Smoking
- Standing for prolonged periods of time
- Being overweight
- Having multiple pregnancies
Vein Disease Symptoms
Vein disease can cause changes in your legs that you can feel and/or see. Common signs of vein disease include:
- Heaviness
- Burning
- Aching
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Open sores/non-healing wounds
- Itching
- Cramping
- Restless leg syndrome
- Varicose and spider veins
Diagnosing Vein Disease
If you’re experiencing discomfort in your legs or notice bulging, burning veins, call us at (406) 455-4368 for an appointment. Our vein team will perform a comprehensive evaluation and consultation. During your consultation, the team will evaluate your symptoms and discuss potential further examination, such as venous ultrasound evaluation.
Treatment for Vein Disease
Our multidisciplinary approach to caring for vein disease includes diagnosis, advanced imaging and multiple treatment options. Depending on the severity of your condition, treatment for vein disease may include lifestyle changes, medication, minimally invasive procedures or surgical intervention.
Common procedures and surgical interventions include:
- Radiofrequency ablation. A catheter (thin, flexible tube) is inserted into the leg to deliver heat that shrinks the vein wall until it becomes sealed shut. This causes the blood to be rerouted to healthy veins.
- Sclerotherapy. The doctor injects a chemical directly into the malfunctioning vein. The vein scars and is eventually reabsorbed by the body. Blood is forced to reroute through healthy veins.
- Ligation and surgical stripping. This procedure is only needed for very severe cases. It calls for the patient to be put to sleep using general anesthesia. The surgeon then ties off the affected vein to stop blood flow in it. If there’s extensive damage, the vein may need to be removed (stripped).
VenaSeal™ Closure System: A New, Innovative Treatment for Vein Disease
At Benefis, we also offer VenaSeal, a cutting-edge minimally invasive vein treatment, performed by cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Steven Bailey.
The VenaSeal system uses a catheter to deliver a small amount of specially formulated medical adhesive to seal (close) the diseased vein. The procedure is virtually painless and causes little to no bruising. Patients can get back to their regular activities quickly and usually don’t even need to wear compression stockings following their procedure.
Contact Us
You don’t have to live with the discomfort that comes with vein disease. Please contact our nurse navigator at (406) 455-4368 to schedule your consultation.