I went to an information night on leg vein health the other night. I've really been considering having laser treatment for my varicose veins. It's not an apppearance thing, but serious pain and swelling and ITCHING that's driving me crazy.

I saw my regular doctor about these problems and her comment was - well, you've never had an ulcerated leg, we ought to wait for that. I was in shock - we have to wait until it's in extremis before we do anything? I already wear compression stockings and elevate my legs but it's not enough. She finally agreed to have ultrasound done on my legs, but all I got afterward was a phone call from her assistant saying, yes I have varicose veins. Well gosh, no kidding.

I had a blood clot in one leg 11 years ago, and now, although the clot's long gone, the leg swells very badly, and the skin on my ankle is tight, red and ITCHY. (That's why I'm awake at almost 3 am.)

I was wondering if anyone here has had the laser surgery?

Also, has anyone taken that medication that's supposed to relieve itching, twitching legs?

Laser doesn't work on varicose veins, only on spider veins.

Last year I had surgery on mine (out patient) by a specialist. He cut the veins in three or four different areas and pulled them out. You have to wear bandages for one day and then, switch to compression stockings. Not painful. You HAVE to walk a lot of you could have problems.

So, I would go to a specialist and forget what your doc says. It's painful!

How about AFTER the surgery - I don't mean the days after, but now, a year later - how do your legs feel?

Hi, Dejavu: There was something on TV here some time ago where treatment was not laser but injection of some sort or another. I'll ask around next week and let you know.

Hi, Dejavu: Here's a link on radio frequency ablation. http://www.touchbriefings.com/pdf/1438/price.pdf

And here's another which is the foam schelrotherapy:
http://www.dr-bull.com/treatment_veins.htm

Are these procedures available there?

Lola, thanks so much for the links. Very informative. BTW, I misspoke when I said laser surgery - I meant laparoscopic surgery. The various methods mentioned in the 'touchbriefings' link were also discussed at the information meeting I went to the other night.

Dianne - Laser DOES work on varicose veins. I had the endovenous laser therapy procedure done on both my legs two years ago. Here is a website about it: http://www.evlt.com/content/physicians/evlt-procedure/info.jsp

My left leg was not completely helped by this procedure, so my doctor then used a VNUS Closure procedure.

Are you sure that your doctor pulled the veins out? That would be "stripping", and it's a very old-fashioned and painful method. Are you sure it wasn't the VNUS Closure? In that, they sort of vacuum out the veins after cutting them in 3 or 4 places. Stripping is extremely painful and you are immobilized for quite a long time.

Dejavu, I had vein surgery in 1995 on the right leg only. It was called "stripping", but NOT on the main vein. I had 8 incisions that I could still point out to you. My surgeon was cautious before doing this surgery...until he said it looked like some ulceration was there. I will tell you however, that now, 12 years later, new varicose veins took over in the same leg. Very common. And, my leg is all black and blue...ugly, really ugly. There was no alternative, it had to be done. I have had a few ultrasounds to check on the blood flow since. Seems to be okay. I do have some swelling in the right ankle at the end of the day. All my doctors say I will always have that. Would I do it again, I think so.

I have made an appointment to discuss things with my doctor next Wednesday and will float the idea to her about the VNUS procedure and others. One thing I need right away and that is the medication to make it STOP ITCHING. If she's lukewarm about checking out the minimally-invasive procedures, then I'll investigate them on my own.