“The procedures are life changing. These are people who have been dealing with fatigue and heaviness and aching for years. Three weeks later the varicose veins disappear – they feel a lot better.” Dr. Allan Hoffman

Not so vein: Doctors team up to ease pain of venous disease

It is not true that you can get varicose veins from crossing your legs.

“I’m not sure how that rumor ever got started, said Dr. Allan Hoffman, an interventional radiologist in practice for five years, now at the Vein Institute of the North Shore in Beverly. “But it’s a good question and we get that question a lot.”

Since the Vein Institute opened at the Cummings Center in January it’s nine doctors, all board-certified, have performed between 35 to 40 procedures for patients with venous disease. Collectively they performed close to 150 treatments in area hospitals before coming together at the Vein Institute.

“The Vein Institute is a joint venture between interventional radiologists and vascular surgeons,” explained Hoffman, whose specialty involves catheter-based, minimally invasive, image-guided procedures. “When it comes to health care, baby boomers are well educated and demand quality and convenience. Life is complex and health care is getting more complex every day. This joint venture, being multi specialty, simplifies the medical process by allowing the patient to be treated in one place.”

While some patients receive cosmetic solutions, most patients are seeking relief from compromised vein function.

“It used to be, in the old procedure for varicose veins, the vein was stripped and the patient went out with two major incisions,” Hoffman said. “Post-procedure pain, swelling and complications required the patient to be out of action for three weeks. Now patients are essentially back to work the next day.”

Many patients enter the offices in pain. All have walked out several hours after the outpatient treatment to lead happier, healthier and more active lives.

“Some are dancing the next day and these aren’t 20-year-olds but 60-year-olds,” Hoffman said. “Basically, the goal is to remove the diseased vein so the healthy vein can take over. There is minimal discomfort in all the procedures we perform. As a matter of fact, people come in expecting the worst and leave surprised at how easy it was and how their quality of life improves.”

Venous disease is an under-diagnosed and under-treated medical problem, he said, and “Essentially, the reason the Vein Institute exists is to educate and treat those inflicted with the condition.”

Venous disease, caused by damaged valves in the veins, covers a range of physical conditions, from spider veins, which are bothersome, to limb-threatening venous insufficiency. Causes vary. It can be a hereditary condition or acquired, such as post partum, which is very common; or post traumatic, commonly occurring after an accident. Venous disease is also caused by inflammation, such as thrombophlebitis, which occurs when a blood clot in a vein causes inflammation.

“The result is vascular insufficiency,” Hoffman explained. “Spider veins are most common but least afflicting; varicose veins, moderate; and severe venous malfunction causes sores and ulcers to form on the foot.”

The patient who has varicose veins complains of several symptoms, including an aching tiredness of the legs, fatigue and swelling.

“These are signs that those symptoms are coming from varicose veins and it should be looked into,” he said. “And if a patient has sores on his or her feet that don’t heal that, too, should be evaluated by an expert in vascular disease.”

A person who stands most of the day should be thinking about taking preventative measures, such as compression stockings.

“Waitresses, mail carriers, any job that requires standing,” Hoffman said.

Insurance covers most of the procedures the Vein Institute performs. The office manages precertification with the insurance company.

“We take care of that – the patient just shows up,” he said.

“The procedures are life changing,” he continued. “These are people who have been dealing with fatigue and heaviness for years. Two or three days after the procedure they are feeling better. Three weeks later the varicose veins disappear – they feel a lot better.”

Call the Vein Institute of the North Shore at the Cummings Center in Beverly for more information, 978-922-8346.