Inside Look

VENUS Vein Clinic

Restoring Your Good Health

By Maria Harding

pictured L-R: Jamie Olsen, CST; Julie Schroeder, RVT; Kelly Schroeder, MD; Sasha Walsh, LPN; Lynn Kavan; and not pictured Amy Hovaldt, RVT

You may be surprised to learn that the majority of vein treatments done at VENUS Vein Clinic are not merely cosmetic. Most procedures provide medical solutions that drastically lessen patients’ pain and discomfort, improving their mobility and ability to rest. “It’s the biggest hurdle I have,” says owner Dr. Kelly Schroeder. “There’s so much misinformation.”

Varicose veins are the blue, swollen, twisted veins that are visible just beneath the skin’s surface. Varicose veins form when valves within the veins stop functioning correctly. The veins are then unable to efficiently return blood to the heart. Blood pools, forming pockets in the veins, causing them to bulge. This pooling can be painful, and it prevents waste fluids from being pulled in from the surrounding tissue, resulting in swelling of the limb.

People with dark skin or less obvious superficial veins may not know to seek treatment for vein disease. Dr. Schroeder says to watch for symptoms like aching, pain, restless legs that keep you awake at night, or swelling that keeps you from being more active. That said, even healthy legs can feel tired. How can you tell if your leg fatigue may be a health concern? “At the end of the day, your legs should not feel appreciably different from your arms,” Dr. Schroeder recommends.

What causes vein disease? “There’s usually a genetic component,” Dr. Schroeder explains. In addition to that, “maybe we have a job where we stand, or sit, all day long. Maybe we lift heavy things. All of those things are very overwhelming to veins.”

Left untreated, vein disease can go beyond unsightliness and discomfort. Serious complications can develop. In fact, Dr. Schroeder was compelled to establish a vein clinic after working for 12 years in emergency medicine. She saw that vein disease was significantly under-treated in her area. “The same people were coming back with venous emergencies—ulcers, cellulitis, bleeding,” she recalls. “They didn’t need to have these emergencies!”She sought additional training, receiving her diploma from the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. Opening her own specialty clinic was how she could do the most good for patients with vein disease.

Dr. Schroeder emphasizes that vein disease is progressive. “I have people come in who say they have suffered for so long!” she says. “They have been told just to lose weight and wear compression socks. Some of our patients are taking two or three medicines, just so they can sleep. Then we fix their veins, and they can stop taking them.”

Because VENUS Vein Clinic specializes in the treatment of vein disease, patients can be confident that the procedures offered are the most current and effective available and that Dr. Schroeder and her team will develop a comprehensive plan for addressing their specific needs. For smaller varicose veins, blood flow is eliminated from the affected portion of the vein by collapsing the vein wall using heat or by sealing the vein with medical-grade adhesive or proprietary micro-foam. For larger veins, the affected section is removed surgically.

Some people hesitate to seek treatment for varicose veins because they fear that closing diseased veins may result in permanent loss of blood flow to the affected area. Dr. Schroeder explains that the detailed consultation prevents this. “We do a very thorough evaluation of all of the blood vessels in your legs. We don’t close veins unless you have a good network for circulation,” she confirms. “It’s like rerouting traffic flow. We close the side streets that are full of potholes, and we send everyone down Dodge Street.”

Spider veins are small vessels just beneath the skin that look like a starburst or a spider web. Treatment for these harmless but unsightly veins is usually addressed through sclerotherapy after all other vein treatments are completed. “It gives people confidence,” says Dr. Schroeder. “That is the only cosmetic part of our practice. It’s the cherry on top of the sundae.”

Though compression socks won’t reverse vein disease, Dr. Schroeder often recommends them to treat swelling due to vein disease or lymphedema. “They will help with symptoms like swelling and discomfort,” she says. Even healthy veins can benefit from their use. “If you have to stand or sit in one place for a long time, like on an airplane or other travel, you should wear a knee-high compression sock,” suggests Dr. Schroeder. “They don’t have to look like grandma socks! My girls have some tie-dye socks, or they can be holiday patterned. Specially fitted compression stockings by our staff are comfortable to wear, as well.”

What’s important to the team at VENUS Vein Clinic is that you have addressed an underlying medical issue, your legs feel great, and you can once again enjoy a healthy lifestyle. To learn more or make an appointment, please call 402-979-8346 (VEIN) or visit VENUSveinclinic.com.