Varicose Veins Don't Just Hurt Older People | Advice From A 31 Yr Old Vein Patient
Young People Need To Watch For Varicose Veins
One of our varicose vein patients was kind enough to sit down with us and talk about his unique experience with treatment. He’s in his early 30’s and didn’t recognize that some of the pain he was feeling in his leg was due to vein disease.
Ben, thank you for taking time to share your experience. Can you tell us a little bit about why you sought treatment for varicose veins?
"Sure, I had noticed varicose veins in my left leg since my late teens. But I never thought much about them and didn’t really care that they looked ugly at the time. They were on the back of my leg out of view and they weren’t very noticeable in my younger years. However, I began to read more about the possible risks of leaving varicose veins untreated. Things like skin ulcers, DVT’s etc. concerned me.
I also didn’t realize that some of the pain that I was feeling in my leg was a symptom of the varicose veins. Sometimes when you live with something for a long time, it’s hard to recognize the negative effects. My leg would be really sore after snowboard trips, and it would hurt during hikes. Also, after leg day in the gym I always noticed that my left leg hurt much longer and recovered more slowly after heavy exercise."
It sounds like there was a lot more than just cosmetic concerns for you. Did the varicose veins affect your life in ways that made daily activities hard?
"Yes! My work requires a lot of seat time since I operate mainly from a laptop. I found that my legs would feel really heavy and even fall asleep after sitting for extended periods. I was constantly having to get up and walk around to keep my legs from hurting.
I also have pretty fair skin and my varicose veins made me feel a little uncomfortable in some situations as I got older. I found myself wearing pants pretty often. People would sometimes ask what happened to my leg which led to me having to explain what varicose veins are."
How has your life improved after getting varicose vein treatment here at Alaska Vein Care?
"I have to say that the first thing I noticed was that my leg doesn't itch anymore. It feels so much better. I would always feel the need to scratch it until the skin was nearly raw. But now it feels great.
Vein treatment has allowed me to hike pain-free again. My leg doesn't hurt anymore and my recovery time is so much quicker. I've experienced improvements with my weightlifting routine as well. I'm so thankful I finally got treatment!"
Many of the people we treat are female and over the age of 40. Most males and younger people don’t realize that this is an issue until it’s progressed to a painful state. What finally prompted you to seek help with your varicose veins?
"That is true. Most of my friends who noticed them on my leg had no idea what varicose veins are. But older people tended to say things like “I have varicose veins also! They hurt!” So I think there is a lack of understanding and education for people that are younger.
I finally sought treatment after talking with a friend of mine who explained that some of the pain and fatigue in my left leg was probably caused by the vein disease. Then I started researching the symptoms and I was having a lot of the same problems. One that I really hated was the itchiness in my leg. It itched so bad!"
Can you explain the process of your treatment for anyone who’s considering it but is maybe hesitant? How difficult was it to get your varicose veins treated?
"Honestly, it wasn’t hard at all. I had an initial consultation with Dr. Tandberg where he examined my legs and used an ultrasound on my legs to measure the blood flow. He answered a lot of my questions and was really helpful.
Within a week I returned for the procedure with Dr. Biggs and everything went smoothly. The nursing staff was extremely kind and the doctor was mindful of my comfort level.
I’m usually hesitant to seek treatment for most medical issues. But I’m really glad I finally did this! My leg feels twice as good and doesn’t itch or hurt anymore. Thank you guys so much!"
Check out Ben's video testimonial here:
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