Come talk to me about varicose veins

[redplasticspoon]

I'm only 25 and have had them since I was 23 and had my first child. I have just started wearing TED compression stockings and feel like a granny!

Can anyone reassure me its not just me?

[redplasticspoon]

Bumping.. anyone?

[MummyMellie]

Me tooo! Am pretty fit and active, always have been and yet they are still there - grrrr!
Am considering surgery but am still working up to being brave enough!

[ProfMarkWhiteley]

You are not alone.
OUr research shows girls lose the valves in thier veins (the cause of varicose veins) when they are very young - 1 in 20 by age 9 years and 1 in 9 by age 18 years.
Stocking help symptoms but don't stop them worsening - nor cure them.
You need expert duplex ultrasound to find where they come from, then local anaesthetic laser or radiofrequency ablation if severe - or injections of foam if not.
Surgery with general anaesthetic and scalpels and stitches is never needed now.

[Salteena]

I had laser ablation on mine, both legs. It was great. Expensive, but worth it (not available on the NHS, not surprisingly).