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We all have experienced some sleepless nights at some point. We are affected by many things in our lives and stress plays a large role in our sleep pattern. However, there are also several other factors that can affect the quality of our sleep.

In this article, we will discuss the issue of varicose veins and what affect the condition can have on your sleep. We will also provide some simple things you can do at home to improve your condition and hopefully get a good night’s rest.

Varicose Veins and The Impact on Sleep

Varicose veins and muscle cramps go hand in hand. However few patients and even some physicians are unable to put the two conditions together. Doing so, may help you find the solution you need.

To begin with, varicose veins are more common than you think. In fact, 25% of the population has some form of vein disease. Given the large array of symptoms associated with varicose veins ,it is no surprise that restless legs and muscle cramps associated with vein disease is one of the most common causes of poor sleep.

The symptoms are worse at night with varicose veins when some of the circulation starts to improve with getting our feet up. All the swelling, pooled blood, and toxic metabolites start to circulate and with less distraction, the discomfort becomes more apparent.

We often attribute the condition to restless leg syndrome. The body senses the imbalance in your body and creates involuntary movements and contractions of your legs to promote some of the blood movement. The symptoms of RLS and vein disease are blurred with aching, throbbing, cramps and uncontrolled leg movements.

Treatment becomes directed at restless leg syndrome rather than addressing the underlying issue that is vein disease. However, unlike RLS, vein disease is very treatable. A vein doctor New Brunswick NJ can help provide the diagnosis if varicose vein disease is suspected.

How to Sleep With Varicose Veins

The first steps are conservative and in many instances, very effective. We review some simple steps you can take at home to help alleviate sleepless nights from vein disease.

Compression Stockings

The foundation of good vein treatment is the use of compression stockings. Many individuals will purchase compression stockings for use at home and work. Ideally, they are appropriately sized and fitted by a qualified vein doctor Edison NJ. The typical strength is 20-30 mmHg and they can be obtained as knee-high or thigh-high depending on the condition. For patients with bothersome symptoms on both sides, waist level compression stockings can also be considered. The primary goal of compression stockings is preventative.

Hydrate

Flush your system out before you go to sleep. This keeps toxic local metabolites from building up in the legs during the daytime that lead to cramps and muscle twitching.

Elevate Your Legs

This goes for both the day and night time. The more you can keep the swelling down in your legs by elevating your feet and compression stockings, the less likely you are to experience symptoms of vein disease.

Stretching and Massage

Before going to sleep, give your muscles a stretch to help them relax. Massaging your legs can also help settle any tension you have in your legs.

Vein Treatment

This can only be considered in consultation with a vein center New Brunswick NJ providing specialty consultation for vein disease. The diagnosis depends on a careful history and examination to look for clues of vein disease. If medically appropriate, an ultrasound will evaluate the size and direction of blood flow in your legs. This provides important information about the likelihood of vein disease potentially causing symptoms of restless leg syndrome.

Modern vein treatments are simple and safe using minimally-invasive techniques. RF vein ablation and sclerotherapy are the primary tools and target poorly circulating veins. Diseased veins are collapsed from within and healthy circulation is promoted by the re-direction of blood. This stops blood from pooling up in your legs and causing symptoms of vein disease.

 

article source: http://njveinclinic.mystrikingly.com/blog/restless-leg-syndrome

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Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

It is estimated that nearly a third of all women experience chronic pelvic pain during their lifetime. Chronic pelvic pain or pelvic congestion syndrome is defined as pain lasting greater than six months.

The condition is notoriously difficult to diagnose because of the absence of any visible abnormalities on routine tests. In the most common situation, a woman experiencing symptoms consistent with pelvic congestion syndrome will have seen several specialists before arriving at a diagnosis. Clearly, a complete evaluation by a gynecologist is primary. Some general clues include chronic pelvic pain that is worse when sitting or standing (similar to varicose veins), relieved with lying down, and the presence of vulvar varicose veins Paramus NJ.

The causes of pelvic congestion syndrome

  • Primary disease is secondary to varicosities in the pelvic and ovarian veins. This is more common with multiparous women, obesity, and genetic

  • Secondary conditions such as Nutcracker syndrome, May-Thurner Syndrome, and other obstructing syndromes

Chronic pelvic pain caused by reflux or obstruction of the gonadal, gluteal, or peri-uterine veins is called pelvic congestion syndrome. Incompetent venous valves in the pelvic veins can lead to reflux and development of pelvic varices. These dilated veins may sometimes be seen with ultrasound, CT, or MRI. These enlarged and abnormal veins are more common on the left, more likely in women who have had multiple pregnancies, and very similar in cause to lower extremity varicose veins.

Ovarian vein embolization is a minimally invasive treatment for pelvic congestion syndrome due to enlarged faulty veins causing congestion and pain.  Pelvic congestion syndrome, also known as ovarian vein reflux, is a painful condition resulting from the presence of varicose veins in the pelvis.  Similar to varicose veins in the legs , the cause of ovarian vein reflux is due to weakened valves that impair the return of blood to the heart causing bulging veins.  The increased pressure inside the pelvic veins leads to typical symptoms of pelvic congestion syndrome including pain.   The diagnosis of the pelvic congestion syndrome can be made in one of several ways: pelvic venography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or  pelvic and trans-vaginal ultrasound.

Pelvic congestion syndrome treatment is divided into medical and procedural. Minimally-invasive techniques have supplanted traditional surgery and increased the use and success rates of the curative solutions.

Ovarian Vein Embolization? 
During this procedure, the vein doctor NJ performs a minimally-invasive procedures inside a radiology or procedure room.  Using a percutaneous technique, a catheter is inserted into the leg vein and guided towards the faulty veins in the pelvics. Using fluoroscopic guidance, the catheter is able to deliver coils that seal the faulty vein re-directing blood to the healthier parts of your circulation.  Increasingly, vascular surgeons are using medicated foam agents to treat even the smallest diseased veins similar to varicose veins in the legs.

The length of the procedure is generally 30 minutes to several hours depending on the complexity of the condition and skill of the pelvic congestion syndrome doctors near me.


Pros and Cons of Treatment

 

Pros

  • High Success rates with coil embolization for treatment
  • Minimally invasive procedure with same day discharge. Reduced risks of complications vs traditional surgery
  • There is no need for sutures post procedure
  • General anesthesia is not required

 

Cons

  • Contrast material should be used cautiously in patients with renal disease
  • Contrast material has a small risk of allergic reactions
  • Risks of bleeding, infection or damage to the vein are rare but possible complications.

article source: http://spiderandvaricoseveinsnj.mystrikingly.com/blog/pelvic-congestion-syndrome

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Are you currently suffering from large unsightly varicose veins in New Jersey? If so, you are not alone in seeking vein doctor, and you will want to explore the latest treatments available before making a decision. Leg veins — both spider veins and varicose veins — usually occur because of an underlying vein disease called chronic venous insufficiency. This is a medical condition in which the valves in the veins are dysfunctional due to a host of issues. Mainly, the circulation becomes impaired and early signs can include the development of spider and varicose veins. If left untreated, vein disease can lead to progressive conditions like swelling, skin discoloration and even deep vein thrombosis.

Previously, treatment was far more involved and required surgical procedures like vein stripping. Today, due to the tremendous advances in technology, minimally invasive techniques have become the gold standard at NJ vein treatment, including radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser treatment, venaseal, and sclerotherapy. In this article, we will provide an essential guide to the unique technologies being incorporated in the best vein clinics in NJ, but also across the country.

Radiofrequency Ablation
RF ablation is a minimally-invasive procedure that is the gold standard in current treatments for venous insufficiency. It involves direct insertion of a small catheter into the unhealthy vein. The catheter is designed to deliver heat energy into the vein causing it to collapse and ultimately reroute blood to the numerous healthy veins in your legs. The procedure is done within the office setting and can be completed with just local anesthesia. Most patients are able to continue their normal activities soon after treatment.


Endovenous Laser Treatment
Endovenous laser treatment is similar to radiofrequency ablation, but it uses laser energy instead of heat energy. Utilizing ultrasound guidance, a laser fiber is inserted into the problematic vein through a tiny incision in the skin. Laser energy is delivered directly into the vein to close it permanently. Over time, the vein is gradually reabsorbed by the body as opposed to being removed in typical stripping procedures. The major difference is the quick-recovery time and improved long term results.

VenaSeal
VenaSeal is the latest technology to receive FDA-approval for the treatment of varicose veins. In contrast to ablation, VenaSeal is a medical adhesive that is deposited to close-off diseased vein segments. The major advantage is eliminating the need for thermal treatments of the vein that usually require more local anesthetic. Additionally, there is no need for any post-treatment compression stockings due to the unique nature of VenaSeal. At this time, VenaSeal is a premiere service at NJ vein clinics and has more limited insurance coverage.

Varithena
Varithena is a specially formulated microfoam utilizing a common medication, polidocanol. It is often the perfect compliment to endovenous techniques such as ablation or VenaSeal. Residual segments of diseased veins are targeted by the microfoam for complete relief of symptoms. A typical session is completed in the vein clinic with direct injection of the medication into varicose veins. Varithena has also been used commonly in recurrent vein disease, particularly the difficult anatomies noted after a prior history of vein stripping.


Minimally Invasive is Newer, but is it Better?
Traditional surgical methods such as stripping have been largely eliminated in the practice of venous medicine. Newer techniques are less disruptive, better tolerated, and associated with improved long-term outcomes. Most importantly, they are safer! The following benefits are clear reasons to opt for minimally-invasive techniques at NJ vein treatment centers:

  • Minimally Invasive and Non Surgical: Endovenous techniques described above are done in the office and require little patient preparation. The procedure requires can be done without sedation and is virtually pain-free.

  • Safer: In the right hands, minimally invasive techniques pose minimal risks! As opposed to surgical methods, serious issues like DVT are very rare.

  • Increased success rates: Unlike stripping procedures of the past, the long term success rates with endovenous techniques are above 95%. Risk of recurrence is rare and difficult problems such as neovascularization are less common.

  • No Down-time: It's remarkable to see patients come in for treatments and return back to work the very same day! Although that may not be for everyone, it's an incredible statement on how far the procedure has come to improve patient well-being without disrupting normal routines.


Where to Find the Newest Treatments?

When looking for varicose vein treatment near me, it's important to find a vein treatment clinic that offers minimally-invasive treatment options. The information should be readily available on each clinic's website. And while some techniques are clearly favored more often due to physician preference, a reputable vein clinic should be able to answer questions on all different modalities. At the Princeton Vein clinics, there are the best vein doctors who specialize in all the latest modalities including radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser treatment, venaseal, and varithena.
 
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Vein disease is quite prevalent in the US with nearly 1 out of every 4 Americans affected.  The disease is more common in females and is most often seen with an inheritance pattern. The most visible symptoms of vein disease are spider and varicose vein, however most suffering from vein disease are unaware of the other potential symptoms and signs related to venous insufficiency.  Having awareness of typical signs and symptoms of vein disease is important to avoid progression of vein disease and seeking early diagnosis at a reputable vein clinic NJ.

What Should Tip You Off to Vein Disease?

If you have vein disease it is common to experience some of these symptoms 

  • Leg pain
  • Leg heaviness
  • Leg cramps
  • Spider veins
  • Varicose veins
  • Skin discoloration
  • Restless leg syndrome
  • Leg Ulcers

Vein disease is characterized by stages known as the Clinical-Etiology-Anatomy-Pathophysiology (CEAP) with the greatest attention given to the clinical manifestations.  This article will help educate the reader on the different stages of vein disease and proper identification to avoid later complications.


CEAP Class 1: Spider Veins

The presence of Spider or Reticular veins are typically the first signs of venous disease.


What Do Spider Veins Look Like?

Telangectasias (or spider veins) are tiny capillaries right on the surface of the skin. They usually form distinct networks or “webs” and can be either bluish/purple or red in color.  
 

What Do Reticular Veins Look Like?

Reticular veins appear as green or blue linear veins on the surface of the skin. They are smaller than varicose veins and do not bulge from the skin.  Many times, reticular veins will be noted to underlie a bed of spider veins and as such are referred to as feeder veins. Getting rid of such spider veins will also depend on treating these feeder (or reticular veins).
 
What Causes Spider and Reticular Veins?

Venous insufficiency and genetics are the most common culprits.  Venous insufficiency refers to dilated and incompetent veins underneath the surface of the skin related to either truncal veins or perforator veins.  Venous insufficiency is what is responsible for the symptoms of vein disease. The most common reasons for venous insufficiency are: 

  • Family history
  • Prolonged standing or sitting at work or home
  • Pregnancy (multiple increases risks)
  • Hormone changes or imbalances
  • Obesity
  • Smoking

Stage 1 disease is often cosmetic in nature and treated with sclerotherapy or vein removal.  However, a thorough examination by a qualified vein doctor will consider additional symptoms to explore venous insufficiency before cosmetic treatments.  

CEAP Class 2: Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are larger and more dilated veins that appear underneath the surface of the skin as twisted, enlarged veins. It is during Stage Two when individuals become bothered by the appearance and symptoms of vein disease.

  • Family history
  • Prolonged standing or sitting
  • Pregnancy or menopause
  • Hormone changes or imbalances
  • Obesity

More often than not, spider and reticular veins are treated as a cosmetic issue 

Stage Two: Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are larger and more dilated veins (> 3mm) that appear on and above the surface of the skin as twisted, dilated veins. This tends to be the most bothersome sign of vein disease because of the disturbing appearance.


Varicose veins don’t always cause pain or obvious symptoms, but educated patients will realize some of the symptoms may have been considered something else.  Proper attention requires a level of understanding that leads to early diagnosis and treatment of venous insufficiency.
Symptoms of Varicose Veins

  • Bulging, dark purple or blue veins
  • Burning or itchy legs
  • Pain and heaviness in the legs
  • Restless legs at night
  • Charlie horses
  • Pain after prolonged periods of standing
  • Skin discoloration near the varicose vein
  • Superficial phlebitis (inflammation of the vein causing pain)
  • Varicose vein bleeding

Causes of Varicose Veins

The problem involves veins in the lower extremities that suffer from high pressure from within.  Naturally, blood pools in these veins due to gravity, resulting in high pressure within the veins.  Over time, these vein walls can become damaged from the constant pressure and suffer from venous insufficiency.   This is when symptoms such as leg cramps, heaviness, and swelling should no longer be ignored.  

Risk Factors

The risk factors for spider veins and varicose veins are the same.  Again, the most important determinant is likely to be a family history of vein disease.

CEAP Class 3: Swelling

Stage three marks more advanced vein disease and is a strong reason to seek an evaluation.  Leg Swelling may be present without obvious signs of spider or varicose veins.  The cause of swelling is due to venous insufficiency and indicates increased venous pressures.  However, swelling is also a sign of other serious conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, renal or liver disease, malnutrition, lymphatic disease and blood clots.  These conditions should be properly considered along with venous insufficiency. 
Symptoms Accompanying Leg Swelling/Inflammation:

  • Leg heaviness
  • Skin indented from external pressure (socks, fingertips, etc.)
  • Itchy, dry skin
  • Muscle spasms
  • Leg ulcers due to significant leg swelling

These symptoms should prompt immediate attention from a health professional or your vein doctor. 
 
CEAP Class 4: Skin Discoloration/Pigmentation

At this stage of vein disease,  the appearance of your skin as skin becomes thinner and even some discoloration becomes visible.  This is due to the chronic venous hypertension and pooling of blood in the lower extremities that leads to inflammatory changes on the skin.   
Symptoms of Skin Discoloration

  • Brown or purplish discoloration of the skin (concentrated around the shins and ankles)
  • Skin thickening and/or hardening around varicose veins
  • Corona Phlebatica
  • Leg ulcers

 
For advanced stages of vein disease (CEAP class 4-6), it’s very important to receive attention from a qualified vein specialist and sometimes even a wound clinic to help manage the disease.  Treatment for venous insufficiency becomes paramount if detected by ultrasound.

CEAP Class 5 and 6: Healed and Active Ulcers

Leg ulcerations result from the chronic, untreated inflammatory condition that results from advanced venous insufficiency. This stage requires coordinated care from a vein specialist and wound clinic, especially with active ulcerations.  Most recently, a randomized study reported in the NEJM demonstrated the superiority of early endovenous ablation treatment for the healing of active ulcers in comparison to conservative treatment.  This has encouraged the early identification of superficial venous reflux disease in the treatment of leg ulcers.
 
Putting It All Together:

Spider veins and Varicose Veins represent a continuum of vein disease that culminates in more serious medical concerns with advanced, untreated venous insufficiency.
Awareness of all types of symptoms related to vein disease, especially in the presence of spider or varicose veins should prompt early attention by a vein specialist.
The importance of identifying vein disease was strongly supported by recent randomized data demonstrating more rapid healing of leg ulcers with modern vein treatments in comparison to compression stockings and delayed ablation.

Modern vein treatments seek to cure underlying venous reflux using catheter based techniques that are minimally-invasive and improved efficacy.  Early treatment for symptomatic vein disease at CEAP class 2 or greater is appropriate when conservative therapies have not alleviated symptoms.

 

article source: https://centralnjveinclinic.weebly.com/blog/six-stages-of-vein-disease

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Varicose veins are a common problem and affects nearly 25% of the US population.  Most affected individuals are essentially asymptomatic and do not need to pursue any specific treatments. Instead, simple wellness measures including exercise, compression stockings, leg elevation when appropriate and smoking cessation.  However, for those with symptoms including leg pain, leg heaviness, itchy or discolored skin, and restless legs that are affecting their quality of life despite conservative measures, a vein evaluation is recommended. The goal is to find not only what kind of doctor do you see for varicose veins, but a vascular specialist that does it really well.  The best vein doctors will help you manage your symptoms and offer treatment alternatives that match your symptoms and can be done without disruption to your normal routine.  So let’s begin with some advice on selecting which doctor is best for you from your internet search:

Be certain that your vein doctor is board-certified and “trained” in vascular treatments.  So this goes beyond a piece of paper indicating completion of some test , but also informs you that the vein specialist completed a formal residency or fellowship in endovascular treatments. 

Vein evaluation is a must!  If you have no symptoms but are concerned about cosmetics, you do not need endovascular treatments.  Vein ablation is best suited to manage symptoms of venous insufficiency.  Receiving unnecessary treatments is not to your advantage and instead focus should be on cosmetic treatments available including laser or cosmetic sclerotherapy.

If you are having treatment for venous insufficiency, the most advanced techniques are endovascular ablation, foam sclerotherapy, and venaseal.  In some cases, MOCA or mechanochemical ablation can also be considered. Stripping is an older technique and is no longer the preferred or best treatment for underlying vein disease.  It has a higher level of complications and is less effective

Phlebectomy is still very useful for large protruding veins that are not suitable for ablation or sclerotherapy.  In fact, treating large protuberant veins with sclerotherapy can lead to longer healing periods with sometimes long lasting cosmetic skin discoloration.  Phlebectomy is a fast and efficient tool to eliminate large varicose veins without any large incisions. 

The above factors focus on being certain on the qualifications of your vein doctor and the breadth of their skills to offer various treatment solutions tailored to your symptoms, anatomy, and vein presentation.  The other qualities are more abstract and are the individual feeling you get about your interaction with the staff and vein specialist.   Being given appropriate time and patience to your questions and concerns reflects on how much value the vein clinic places on the individuals care.   We often see high volume centers in multiple settings that emphasize getting as many tasks done in one day, rather than focusing on quality. If you feel less than satisfied with the interactions, it’s very reasonable to consider a different vein clinic even if you have to travel extra miles.   Just remember if you can’t get the time and answers to your questions, what is the likelihood you will see the time and commitment given to your vein treatment. Getting high level care is difficult because the experience of a vein doctor is so variable and due to financial constraints, many clinics today are trying to fit as many cases in a limited daily schedule.  Something has to give and that generally is quality. The final results will make the extra commute worthwhile and that level of expertise can only be delivered by the very best vein clinics committed to continuing education, investment into new technology, and you the patient for time.

 

article source: http://philadelphia.primegatecity.com/community/uncategorized/your-guide-to-choose-the-best-vein-doctor.html