The mildest form of varicose veins, known as spider veins, may not require a doctor’s care. However, as vein disease progresses, you may need treatment to relieve the resulting discomfort, redness, swelling, and ulcers. Consider how vein disease progresses and the best options for treating varicose veins at home or with a doctor’s help.

The Progression of Vein Disease

Stage 1: The first stage of vein disease is called spider veins. When these first develop, you may notice the appearance of dilated skin capillaries just under the skin. These create a spider-like appearance, but they usually cause no further symptoms.

Stage 2: If spider veins progress to varicose veins, they become rope-like and bulge from the surface of your skin. This is the stage of vein disease when you may begin to experience achy, tender, and sore legs, which may interfere with your day-to-day life.

Stage 3: Left unaddressed, varicose veins may evolve into other health problems, such as leg edema. This condition is characterized by chronic swelling that worsens as the day goes by and after standing for long periods. At this stage, some people also experience restless leg syndrome, itchy skin, and leg cramps.

Stage 4: Over time, vein disease can lead to skin changes, including discoloration and thinning of the epidermis. It may begin to appear as though you have brown stains on your skin, which occurs as blood leaks from your blood vessels into the surrounding soft tissue.

Stage 5: In the final stage of vein disease, leg ulcers develop. These may be extremely painful and itchy, requiring constant care and dressing to avoid infection.

At-Home Treatments for Varicose Veins

In the early stages of vein disease, you may not be too concerned if you’re not in any pain. However, even if there’s no discomfort, you shouldn’t ignore superficial spider veins and newly developing varicose veins. Prompt care may improve their appearance, but what’s more, at-home treatment can prevent the progression of vein disease. Here’s what you can do without additional assistance from a doctor.

Wear Compression Stockings

You can find over-the-counter stockings at a pharmacy or medical supply store. Expect mild to moderate compression from these products. Higher pressure stockings require a prescription. The purpose of compression stockings is to help your muscles push blood up your leg. They provide the most compression at the ankles and gradually decrease in pressure the higher up your leg they go.

Put on your compression stockings in the morning before getting out of bed. While lying on your back, raise your legs into the air and pull the stockings on evenly. Wear them all day, if possible. Also, take breaks from your daily activities to elevate your legs for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day.

Take OTC Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Aspirin and ibuprofen are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) designed to reduce inflammation and treat mild to moderate pain. You can take these over-the-counter medications with or without wearing compression stockings.

Medical Procedures for Varicose Veins

At-home care is often enough to prevent spider veins from getting any worse. Still, you should contact a doctor immediately if you notice the skin around a varicose vein becoming discolored or ulcerated. You may also need medical treatment if you experience vein-related leg pain, even if there are no obvious outward symptoms.

The goal is to treat your vein condition with the least invasive procedure possible. Consider your options.

Interventional Radiology

This minimally invasive treatment is an alternative to open surgery. It involves placing a catheter inside the body with the aid of image-guided technology, such as CT scans, X-rays, or MRIs. Heat is then applied with radiofrequency waves or lasers to destroy and ultimately close the varicose vein.

Laser Treatment

This medical procedure is usually performed on small varicose veins. It involves directing light energy from a laser at a bulging vein, causing it to gradually fade and disappear. Multiple treatments may be needed to see the final results.

Sclerotherapy

Small to medium-sized varicose veins may be treated with sclerotherapy. This chemical treatment involves injecting material into the affected vein, causing it to harden and shrink so it can no longer transport blood.

Surgery

As a last resort, surgical removal—also known as ligation and stripping—may be used to treat large varicose veins that have advanced past the early stages of vein disease. Be aware that surgery may leave tiny scars behind.

Schedule a Free Vein Screening in Salem, OR

Salem Radiology Consultants is proud to be the largest radiology group in the Salem, Oregon area. Our depth of specialization ranks among the services you would expect to find at major university medical centers. If you’re concerned about bulging, uncomfortable veins in your legs, we can help. Contact us at (503) 399-1262 to schedule a free vein screening at our clinic today.

If your doctor suspects that you might have osteoporosis, you’ll probably be sent for a bone density scan also known as a DEXA scan. Osteoporosis occurs when your bones become thin and weak because they’re lacking in calcium and other important minerals. Osteoporosis, when treated by your physician, can significantly lower your risk of serious fractures.  To help evaluate whether or not you have osteoporosis, your physician may recommend a bone density test (DEXA scan) to measure the strength of your bones and your risk of fracture.

• Several different factors might lead a doctor to recommend a bone density scan. Doctors use these scans to identify a decrease in bone density before any bones actually break, and determine whether or not you’re at risk for fractures. Osteoporosis is most common in post-menopausal women, but people of any gender and age can be affected by it. Therefore, regardless of your age or sex, your doctor may recommend a bone density scan if you have:
  • Lost at least 1.6 inches in height.
  • Broken a bone with only mild trauma.
  • Taken certain drugs, like steroids.
  • Received an organ or bone marrow transplant.
  • Had a drop in hormone levels, whether it’s due to the natural aging process or because of cancer treatments.
• The scan is easy, quick and painless, and doesn’t require much preparation. You’ll need to tell the doctor if you’ve had any tests with contrast, because that can interfere with your bone density test, and you’ll also need to avoid calcium supplements for at least 24 hours before your bone density test. Wear loose, comfortable clothing, avoiding any clothes with belts, zippers, or buttons, and removing all metal objects from your pockets. The test only takes 20-30 minutes, during which time you’ll lie on a padded platform while a mechanical arm passes over your body. A bone density test doesn’t expose you to very much radiation; it’s less than the amount emitted during a chest x-ray.
• Understanding the results of the scan is a little bit tricky. The higher your bone mineral content, the denser your bones are, and the less likely they are to break. The results are reported in two numbers: the T-score and the Z-score.
  • The T-score compares your bone density with the bone density expected in a healthy young adult of your same gender. It’s expressed in numbers that represent how far above or below average your bone density is. A score of -1 or above is normal, while a score between -1 and -2.5 is indicative of osteopenia. Osteopenia is a condition that involves low bone density, and it can lead to osteoporosis if left untreated. If your result is below -2.5 you likely already have osteoporosis.
  • The Z-score indicates your deviation above or below what’s expected for someone of your age, sex, weight, and racial or ethnic origin. If this score is much higher or lower than the average expected number, something other than aging may be responsible for your abnormal bone loss. In this case, the doctor will attempt to identify the underlying problem, so that the condition can be treated. The right treatment can slow or even stop bone loss.

If you need a bone density scan, contact Salem Radiology. Established in 1974, we are the largest radiology group in the area and offer a depth of specialization among our doctors that you would expect to find only at major university medical centers. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call (503) 399-1262 or contact us through our website

Has your doctor recommended an ultrasound? A diagnostic ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of organs and other structures inside your body. Ultrasound imaging, also known as sonography or diagnostic medical sonography, is a valuable tool for diagnosing and treating a wide range of diseases and conditions.

During an ultrasound, a sonographer will use a handheld wand or probe to send sound waves into your body. Typically, the ultrasound device is outside of your body during the procedure, but some ultrasounds involve placing it inside your body. The sound waves are reflected back to the machine in a way that creates two and three-dimensional images, allowing the radiologist to examine images from the targeted area. Ultrasound scans can be used in obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology, urology, in the diagnosis of cancer, and to evaluate orthopedic conditions. Ultrasound doesn’t use radiation, and it’s less expensive than some other forms of imaging.

There’s not much preparation for an ultrasound. What’s required depends on the type of ultrasound you’re undergoing.

• For the abdomen: If your liver, kidneys, gall bladder, biliary ducts, pancreas, or para-aortic region are the subject of the exam, you’ll need to take nothing by mouth for 8 hours prior to your exam.
• For pelvic ultrasounds: If the ultrasound will examine the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries, you’ll need to drink 32 ounces of water a half an hour before your exam, and avoid urinating until after the exam. If the exam is obstetrical, you’ll only need to drink 20 ounces of water.
• Other regions: For an ultrasound of the appendix, breast, carotid, renal, shoulder, thyroid, or another musculoskeletal area, no preparation is required.

You’ll need to wear loose clothing to your ultrasound exam, and it’s wise to leave valuable jewelry at home since you’ll need to remove any jewelry before the test. The ultrasound exam typically takes between 30 and 60 minutes. During the exam, water-based gel that has been warmed will be applied to your skin, over the area being examined. An ultrasound imaging professional known as a sonographer will press a small, handheld device called a transducer against the area, moving it to get the necessary images.

In most cases, an ultrasound is painless, though you might feel some discomfort from pressure applied by the transducer, particularly if you’re required to have a full bladder. When the exam is over, a radiologist will analyze the images and send a report to your doctor. You can return to normal activities immediately following an ultrasound.

If you’ve been told you need an ultrasound, contact Salem Radiology. Established in 1974, we are the largest radiology group in the area and offer a depth of specialization among our doctors that you would expect to find only at major university medical centers. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call (503) 399-1262 or contact us through our website.