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An Easy Cure for Chronic Leg Pain

Novi, MI – Most people don’t realize that aching, tired legs are caused by a very common condition known as Venous Insufficiency. It’s often associated with varicose veins, but not always. The most amazing thing is that the condition is easy to treat, and it’s usually covered by insurance.

Symptoms of venous insufficiency of the legs:

• Pain

• Swelling

• Aching/Throbbing

• Heaviness/Fatigue

• Night cramps

• Restless legs

• Varicose veins

• Itchy veins

• Non-healing ulcers

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s very much worth visiting a vein physician. As part of your evaluation, an ultrasound should be performed while you are standing. This allows the practitioner to look for blood going the wrong direction in some of your veins, which denotes venous insufficiency, or reflux. If you are evaluated while lying down, your diagnosis will often be in error.

As for treatment, it’s quick, safe and extremely effective. No longer do you need to undergo surgical procedures, such as stripping and ligation, nor do you require surgery within a hospital, which requires an inpatient stay or long recovery. Instead, you can have your procedure at a specialized medical office, be up and walking immediately, and go back to work the next day.

Imagine a large network of veins carrying blood up towards the heart. If you have one or more bad veins, they can be closed down and the other normal healthy veins immediately take over. The cause of varicose veins and all the symptoms of venous insufficiency are related to a refluxing vein – a bad vein. The treatment is to simply close down the refluxing vein using heat – known as endovenous thermal ablation.

There are two types of heat that can be used for these procedures. Endovenous Laser Ablation uses laser energy (a highly concentrated beam of light) to the targeted tissue with extreme precision, so as not to affect the surrounding tissue. The other form of heat is electrical energy known as Radiofrequency Ablation (VNUS ClosureFAST™).

Both treatments consist of placing a very small needle into the affected vein using ultrasound guidance, and inserting either an FDA approved laser fiber or a VNUSClosureFAST™ catheter into the vein. Subsequently, heat is delivered to the vein which seals it shut (ablation). Once the diseased vein is closed, other healthy veins take over the task of carrying blood from the leg, thereby reestablishing normal flow and eliminating pain.

The procedure is virtually painless and the results are outstanding. For more information, please visit www.novivein.com.

Board certified in Interventional Radiology and Phlebology, Jeffrey H. Miller, MD,  is also a diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners as well as the American Board of Radiology. He holds a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in interventional radiology. As of January, 2008, Dr. Miller was one of only two American Medical Association registered phlebologists (physicians who specialize in vein disease) in the state of Michigan. Dr. Miller can be reached at: (248) 344 9110 or  millerjh1@comcast.net.