While venous conditions like spider veins are mostly a cosmetic issue, varicose veins can worsen and cause mild to moderate leg pain from conditions that stem from it. One of these side effects is phlebitis, which is a superficial form of thrombophlebitis or blood clotting caused by inflamed veins.
At Vein Center Doctor, our team of specialists led by Dr. Rahul Sood can provide full-service vein treatment to address varicose veins and their consequential issues like phlebitis. Residents in New York and New Jersey can treat the vein swelling along their legs and other parts of their body and improve their mobility and the appearance of their skin with a number of our treatments. Book an appointment today and see why Vein Center Doctor is the preferred vein specialist in New York and New Jersey.
What Is Phlebitis?
Phlebitis occurs when a vein experiences inflammation and swells because of the blood clotting within it because of damaged vein walls. This is a superficial form of thrombophlebitis, a condition where blood clots block a vein. Although this is most commonly found on legs (where varicose veins are most likely to form), they can develop anywhere, more frequently in your arms, penis, or breast area.
When you have phlebitis, you can feel a hard lump in the affected area. You can also experience inflammation symptoms like tenderness, redness, skin irritation, a warm temperature over the affected area, and mild to moderate pain. While these can be treated with over-the-counter medication, it’s possible to redevelop inflamed veins if you have untreated varicose veins. There’s also the risk of deep vein thrombophlebitis, so medical evaluation can help detect if you have superficial phlebitis or deep vein thrombophlebitis.
Common Causes of Phlebitis
Phlebitis is commonly caused by varicose veins, which can have a number of causes. Your circulatory system consists of blood vessels that have valves to pump blood flow in one direction. Your arteries pump oxygenated blood from your heart to various body parts, while veins pump blood back to your heart. When a vein wall is damaged or a valve weakens due to reasons like weight gain, stress, aging, hormonal imbalances, or trauma, blood flow is disrupted and results in blood pooling into one section.
When this happens, some blood vessels swell and begin to push outwards, resulting in the colored bumps you can feel on your skin that are varicose veins. Although similar to spider veins, which are a cosmetic issue, varicose veins can have some amount of pain during movement. If left untreated, varicose veins can get worse and result in a number of consequences like twisted veins, moderate pain, and conditions like phlebitis.
Holistic Vein Care: Why Your Veins Need Treatment From a Phlebitis Doctor at Vein Center Doctor
Unlike deep vein thrombophlebitis which affects larger veins and can lead to a serious condition like pulmonary embolism or edema, phlebitis is superficial and happens to the smaller veins on the skin surface. However, patients with phlebitis may experience mild to moderate pain in their affected area, and those with phlebitis on their legs may experience pain and irritation when they walk.
With proper treatment for phlebitis, your condition can be resolved rapidly. At Vein Center Doctor, our patients have access to talented phlebitis doctors and a full-service facility that offers various methods to treat their venous conditions. And to prevent phlebitis from redeveloping, our specialists can also treat your varicose veins to prevent the risks of redeveloping phlebitis or more serious issues like deep vein thrombophlebitis.
Patients who develop phlebitis may also be at risk of thrombophlebitis, so getting proper care can provide you with a thorough medical evaluation to reduce the risk of degenerative venous conditions.
Book your consultation with our phlebitis doctors today to learn more about your condition and the proper treatments to resolve it.
Living with unwanted veins is a thing of the past, when you can simply schedule a free consultation with Vein Center Doctor and find your ideal solution today.
Vein Center Doctor’s Treatments for Phlebitis
To determine if you have phlebitis, Vein Center Doctor’s team of specialists can conduct the needed physical examinations and process imaging like ultrasounds for a diagnosis of your condition.
Superficial phlebitis itself can be treated with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen, lifestyle changes to increase blood flow onto the affected area (especially for those with a sedentary lifestyle), and devices like compression garments. Those diagnosed with deep vein thrombophlebitis may need to be monitored for several days and take anticoagulants to reduce the risk of complications.
After seeking treatment for phlebitis, your phlebitis doctor may recommend treatments to manage your varicose veins to reduce the risk of redeveloping phlebitis. At Vein Center Doctor, our effective treatments are the less-invasive surgical options that are easy, convenient, and suitable for most patients.
Sclerotherapy
The most popular treatment for spider veins and varicose veins is sclerotherapy. A special thickening solution is injected directly into the affected veins using a catheter, forcing the veins to close and the blood to redirect into healthier veins. The old vein turns into scar tissue that your body will eventually absorb, causing it to fade.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation uses radiofrequency energy to heat the damaged and unhealthy blood vessels, causing scar tissue to form and close up the vein. Your blood flow will be naturally redirected to other veins while your body absorbs the scar tissue.
Endovenous Laser Treatment
Endovenous laser treatment is usually the laser therapy of choice for spider vein and varicose vein treatment. Using laser technology, an ultrasound guides the laser fiber that heats and closes up any unhealthy blood vessels.
VenaSeal
Like our other treatments, VenaSeal requires no surgeon with its minimally-invasive process. An FDA-approved “vein glue” is injected into the affected vein to act as a safe adhesive. This closes the vein and allows your body to eventually re-absorb it while your blood flow is redirected to other veins.
Compression Therapy
Compression therapy is usually a home remedy coupled with the other mentioned procedures to help speed up the recovery period of your body absorbing the scar tissue and improving results. Compression socks or stockings can improve the blood flow in the area and cause the scar tissue to heal quicker.
Why Choose Vein Center Doctor for Treating Phlebitis
Phlebitis (and to a greater extent, varicose veins) can’t be resolved without seeking proper treatment. While most people often assume that varicose veins are similar to spider veins in the sense that they’re both cosmetic issues, it’s possible for varicose veins and phlebitis to worsen without the right treatment.
To avoid the chronic pain caused by these conditions, seek treatment from the center that can provide you with minimally-invasive options to treat your damaged veins.
See a Reliable Phlebitis Doctor at Vein Center Doctor
At Vein Center Doctor, we can provide you with a convenient and comfortable experience that handles the medical and cosmetic aspects of varicose veins and phlebitis. Schedule a consultation at Vein Center Doctor to learn more about your possible options to treat your vein condition.
Find exactly what you need to get rid of your vein-related problems. Dr. Sood and the rest of our team at Vein Center Doctor are ready to help: schedule your free consultation today.
FAQs About Phlebitis
Q: What causes phlebitis on my legs?
A: Varicose veins and other venous conditions are most common on your legs because of a number of factors. These factors affect the valves in your veins and cause them to degrade. These include:
- Weight Gain – some valves, like those on your legs, work twice as hard to overcome gravity and pump blood upwards to your heart. Increased weight can make it harder for blood to flow, resulting in valves working harder and wearing out faster.
- Stress – increases your blood pressure, which can result in your valves working faster. Stress has also been linked to weight gain.
- Pregnancy – pregnant women have increased blood volume, which increases blood pressure and causes smaller veins to swell. Pregnancy also changes a woman’s hormones and often leads to weight gain.
- Hormonal Imbalance – certain types of hormones can make veins dilate, which can affect the valves’ ability to prevent reverse blood flow in the opposite direction.
- Age – older adults are more susceptible to high blood pressure, deep vein thrombosis, and weaker valves.
- Genetics – if your family history includes varicose veins as one of their vascular conditions, it’s highly likely for you to develop this, too.
- Trauma – injuries can cause damage to internal areas of your body, including damage to the structure of your veins and deep vein thrombosis in areas impacted by the injury.
Q: Do I need antibiotics to treat phlebitis?
A: Only venous conditions that result in bacterial infections require antibiotics. Phlebitis doesn’t necessarily mean there is an infection in the area, so don’t take antibiotics for your phlebitis unless instructed by a doctor.
Q: What are some home remedies for phlebitis?
A: Superficial phlebitis may only need anti-inflammatory medication and home remedies to reduce its effects. Using compression garments, increasing blood flow, and raising your legs can help manage the signs and symptoms of phlebitis.
We’re actively doing Phlebitis in the following nearby locations:
Edison, NJ
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Middletown, NJ
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Staten Island, NY
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