Alternatives tovaricose vein surgery

If you’d rather not have surgery, there may be other things you can do to relieve your symptoms.

If your varicose veins are mainly a cosmetic problem, and if they’re not too uncomfortable, you can try supportive treatments instead of surgery.

Elevate your legs when you’re sitting or sleeping

By elevating your legs, the blood can return more easily to your heart, taking the pressure off the veins in your legs.

Wear compression stockings or socks

Graduated compression stockings or socks gently squeeze your leg to take the pressure off your veins and stop blood pooling. There are different types of compression stockings and socks and they need to be fitted by an expert, preferably when your leg isn’t swollen. Your doctor can prescribe them and refer you to someone who can do this. If you have extras cover, you may be able to claim for compression stockings or socks.

Exercise regularly

Your calf muscles help return blood up your legs to your heart. Regular walking, swimming and cycling are recommended. 

Avoid standing or sitting for long periods

Standing still or sitting for a long time increases pressure on your leg veins and the discomfort of varicose veins. Try to elevate your legs when you’re sitting still.

Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight puts increased pressure on your veins. If you’re overweight, you may not have visible varicose veins but you can still suffer from the tell-tale symptoms, like a burning sensation, itching and leg swelling. Losing weight won’t fix existing varicose veins but might help them from getting worse.

Natural remedies and supplements

Although several natural remedies and supplements are used to relieve varicose veins, there’s limited evidence for their effectiveness.

Clinical studies of horse chestnut extracts have found that taking an active ingredient contained in the seeds, called aescin, reduces pain, itching and swelling due to varicose veins, at least in the short term. Its long-term effectiveness hasn't been established but it’s relatively safe and any adverse effects are usually mild and infrequent.

Paroven® (oxerutins) is an over-the-counter bioflavonoid medication that can give some mild relief to swollen, painful legs.

If you’re pregnant

Pregnancy can make new varicose veins appear and aggravate any existing ones, although they’ll probably improve after you have your baby. Your doctor will probably advise against treating varicose veins while you’re pregnant, so conservative measures, such as wearing properly measured and fitted graduated compression stockings, are your best options.

If you’re planning to have another baby, and you have varicose veins from your last pregnancy, it’s wise to get them treated before falling pregnant again.