Treatment for spider/varicose veins

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WholeFoods4Lyfe
WholeFoods4Lyfe Posts: 1,518 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
What have you done? I have a cluster on the back of my calf that appeared when I was pregnant with my son 11 years ago. It's a bit more spread out now, and what use to be spider veins seem like maybe they are turning in to varicose veins, can that happen? I also have this on and off feeling of a tightness/cramp in the back of that same calf. I have an appointment with my PCP this week and was going to bring it up, but would love to hear from others who have dealt with something similar and what type of treatment you have undergone. Also, if this is considered to medically necessary or cosmetic. Either way, my insurance sucks so it'll probably cost me a good bit of money, but they are very unsightly and I'm ready to finally deal with them.

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  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
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    People have surgery.
  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,565 Member
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    WholeFoods4Lyfe wrote: »
    What have you done? I have a cluster on the back of my calf that appeared when I was pregnant with my son 11 years ago. It's a bit more spread out now, and what use to be spider veins seem like maybe they are turning in to varicose veins, can that happen? I also have this on and off feeling of a tightness/cramp in the back of that same calf. I have an appointment with my PCP this week and was going to bring it up, but would love to hear from others who have dealt with something similar and what type of treatment you have undergone. Also, if this is considered to medically necessary or cosmetic. Either way, my insurance sucks so it'll probably cost me a good bit of money, but they are very unsightly and I'm ready to finally deal with them.

    They have minimally invasive treatments like salt injections and laser treatments to shrink the veins and capillaries. Usually considered cosmetic, though, not necessary. Good luck!
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
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    I've had my veins injected--the best thing I've ever done. My legs used to look like a map of the world. Go see a vein specialist.
  • Loveslupins
    Loveslupins Posts: 67 Member
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    You will see a specialist and they can do an ultrasound on your leg to see if your issues are just superficial spider veins or actual varicose veins. Either way, it’s considered cosmetic. Some insurance covers stockings.
    Sclerotherapy for spider veins and smaller varicose veins is around $100 but you have to wear support stockings which are also around $100. Varicose veins can be treated with a laser....$2000 ish per leg.
  • peggym4640
    peggym4640 Posts: 156 Member
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    A friend of mine who does laser work recommends the injections. Said they work much better than the laser in her opinion. Will do mine in the winter since I didn't have much success with the laser.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
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    peggym4640 wrote: »
    A friend of mine who does laser work recommends the injections. Said they work much better than the laser in her opinion. Will do mine in the winter since I didn't have much success with the laser.

    I always do mine in the winter because I have to wear a heavy compressive pantyhose for a week after. I've had wonderful luck with the injections. They need to be repeated every two years or so because if you're prone to varicose veins, they continue to pop up. I keep the compressive pantyhose and it lasts years.
  • KDar1988
    KDar1988 Posts: 650 Member
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    I've had varicose veins for a long time so bad that my husband said they looked like they were going to bust open. Had some spider veins too. I had surgery to treat/remove the varicose and then injections for the spider veins. Some insurance covers so don't hesitate to see a specialist and see if it can be approved. I've had surgery for the bad veins 4 times and injections about the same. My legs look good now but I'm in need for more injections, have a few places they are coming back. My mother waited too long and she ended up looking like she was wearing brown socks, circulation was shot in the lower legs and feet.
  • bostonjim23
    bostonjim23 Posts: 41 Member
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    surgery an to prevent them compression socks
  • peggy_polenta
    peggy_polenta Posts: 310 Member
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    i have had Sclerotherapy injections on both my spider and varicose veins with great success. depending, you may need more than one treatment. it does cost, but my insurance company paid for the 'medicine' they inject and the compression stockings (which are very expensive and you must wear them after treatment to keep the solution in place. i was left with the bill for the actual service of the doctor injecting. it is a lot of shots at once but the needle is super tiny/fine and you can't feel a thing. i almost fell asleep during the treatment which took about 40 mins.

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