Current Pedorthics | September-October 2017 | Vol.49, Issue 5 | Page 27

STANDING ON THE JOB
RISK
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Bulging Veins
Genetic Susceptibility
Long Periods of Standing
Long Periods of Sitting
Aching Throbbing
Ichiness
Sores
Swelling
Pregnancy Old Age Obesity

VARICOSE VEINS

Illustrations adapted from : @ Shutterstock . com / Designua also realized that running wasn ’ t feeling as good as it used to , either during or afterward .
Bragdon ’ s leg problems — both visible and not-so-obvious — gradually became worse , until a new condition presented itself , one she affectionately named “ twitchy legs .”
“ I started having this annoying thing happen more and more where I constantly had to fidget ,” she said . “ I could not stop moving my legs , even when I was just sitting on the couch watching TV .”
Bragdon didn ’ t put all the pieces together until she was talking to one of her patients who had also experienced symptoms
before she sought vein treatment . After an a-ha moment , Bragdon made an appointment for a consultation with a Board-certified phlebologist .
A diagnostic ultrasound confirmed venous reflux ; the vein valves in both legs were not functioning properly , her left leg worse than the right leg . The treatment plan included endovenous laser ablation ( EVLA ) to fix the reflux on Bragdon ’ s left leg and ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy to treat the source of the dysfunctional vein valve on the right leg . She described both procedures as “ a piece of cake .”
Four months later and the leg twitching and nighttime cramping are 90 % gone as
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