Many unrelated to vein conditions can mimic vein varicosities. Therefore, it is very important for your physician to go through an appropriate and meticulous work up to establish a correct diagnosis first.

It is imperative for you to recognize and tell your doctor exactly what is bothering you, how long it has been going on, what type of things can make it worse or better. Typically, people with varicosities notice enlarged veins on the lower and later on their upper legs. They usually get worse with prolonged standing.

The disease progresses from changes you can see to more advanced changes which you actually can feel. It starts with feeling of heaviness in the legs. Then, heaviness evolves into the pain, cramps, burning sensation, itching, swelling and skin discoloration. The leg swelling causes the skin to become so stretched that it breaks. If condition stays untreated, small breaks in the skin become ulcers and enlarge further and further. Long-standing ulcers are perfect feeding ground for infection and, with more time, even for cancer. Varicose veins can also cause bleeding and formation of blood clots.

Less typical presentation of varicose vein disease is so-called restless leg syndrome. During this poorly understand condition people feel very uncomfortable keeping their legs still. In some people it can be worse during the day, in others at night. The researchers have established a close association between restless leg syndrome and vein varicosities.

If your symptoms resemble those caused by a varicose vein disease, you doctor, after careful physical examination, will proceed to the diagnostic ultrasound.  This test usually takes about 20 minutes, is done right in the office and never causes any pain or discomfort. It is done while you are standing up. This way we can actually see the blood being backed up because of malfunctioning valves in your veins.

The initial ultrasound is done during your first visit. Nevertheless, your doctor is always does another examination just before the laser procedure is being performed. That time your diseased veins are being marked. Yet another ultrasound is being used during the actual procedure to guide the laser probe through your vein and to make sure that all affected areas are being treated. In other words, the ultrasound is the eyes of your doctor with which the diagnosis is being made, procedure is being seen and eventually results are being checked.