All About Compression Therapy For Varicose Veins

Have you ever noticed visible, bulging veins on your legs or feet? If so, you could be dealing with varicose veins. Circulation issues in your legs can result in large, twisted veins that aren’t just an eyesore. They’re also painful and itchy in some cases.

Compression therapy can improve your circulation and get rid of your symptoms.

At the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute, our team offers comprehensive care when you have varicose veins. Leading our expert care team are Dr. Hesham Fahkri and Dr. Abdulghani Saadi, both of whom specialize in heart and vascular care.

Our team provides many effective treatments for vascular issues like varicose veins.

What are varicose veins?

If you’ve ever seen someone with squiggly, large veins on their legs, they likely have varicose veins. These veins typically appear on your lower extremities and are the result of valve problems in your circulatory system.

The weak or damaged valves in your veins cause blood to pool in your legs. This leads to enlargement of certain veins, which you know as varicose veins.

Varicose veins are sometimes only a cosmetic concern, but they often signal another issue and come with a number of symptoms, including:

Itching around the area
Soreness or aching in your legs
Leg or ankle swelling
Fatigue or heaviness in your legs
Large, bulging veins

In some cases, the skin around the varicose veins becomes discolored.

Untreated varicose veins also lead to venous ulcerations. Even if you don’t have serious complications from the veins, it’s a good idea to get treatment to prevent any issues from arising.

Understanding compression therapy

The first line of treatment for mild to moderate varicose veins are compression stockings. These stockings apply steady pressure to your legs, which eases discomfort and pain.

This treatment also prevents the veins from getting any worse and improves overall circulation to your lower extremities.

There are three main types of compression therapy for varicose veins. We evaluate your symptoms and your legs to determine the best route of compression for you. The three main forms of compression therapy include:

Supportive pantyhose

This is the lightest form of compression therapy and is usually only effective for mild forms of varicose veins.

Compression stockings

This type of compression therapy is available over the counter at many different stores, including online and drugstores. It is the middle option for compression therapy and provides more support than pantyhose.

Prescription stockings

For moderate to severe varicose veins, we may recommend prescription compression stockings. These provide the most support and compression to your lower extremities. They’re often the most effective option, helping your circulation and discomfort.

Compression stockings are either knee-high or thigh-high, depending on your specific area of discomfort. Typically, you should wear the compression stockings when you’re up moving around or during the day at work.

At night, you prop your feet up to improve the circulation to your legs. We may also recommend that you wear the stockings at night, especially for more severe varicose veins.

Is compression therapy for everyone?

Sometimes, compression therapy alone isn’t enough to subdue your symptoms and provide relief from the circulation issues. In this case, we recommend other options, such as:

We evaluate each patient on a case-by-case basis to determine what method of treatment is best. If you’re a candidate for compression therapy only, we get you the personalized therapy you need to get back on your feet and feeling better.

If you’d like to learn more about compression therapy and varicose vein treatments, call one of our offices in Wesley Chapel, Sun City Center, or Tampa, Florida, today. You can also request an appointment using our handy online booking tool.