Varicose veins. Very bulging.

I'm in the North East and currently waiting for surgery on my leg, my veins are quite bad and I've also developed Varicose eczema which isn't responding to any treatment.

Some areas still do operate on varicose veins on the NHS but ours don't my son in law had t pay around £3000 for his a couple of months ago,but he was talking to someone from another part of the country who had his done recently on the NHS

Hi Userhere, one of my legs looks pretty similar to yours. The GP told me the NHS no longer treat varicose veins in this area unless there are ulcers. I went to a free talk at the private hospital (Nuffield group) and there were three or four different options for removal. I then followed through with a leg scan and assessment (cost about £350). I had ages with the consultant who talked me through all of the scan as he was doing it. Apparently although there is bulging all over my leg it comes from just one point nearly in the groin area where the valve doesnt function any more. VVs were assessed as medium severity and not likely to lead to ulcers unless I get some other condition restricting my movement. If I wanted them removed it would take a couple of hours with EVLA where the vein is destroyed with a laser. Then wearing a compression stocking for a week or so. Possibly I might need follow up with foam, but not always. £4,000 if I needed follow up as well. I decided not to go ahead.

Wow you brought back memories for me Userhere. I had an awful vein injected some years ago. I saw a woman doctor at the surgery, whom I had never liked. She scared me a bit as she had no bedside manner at all. My appointment day at the hospital arrived and although I wasn't looking forward to the procedure I so wanted to get rid of the pain. Anyway when I was shown through to the room to have the injection, who should step into the room but
this awful GP from my surgery.
It suddenly seemed much worse with her doing it. First I had to get over the shock of it being her. But I'm pleased to say it did work and I've never had any more trouble with veins.
It might be cheaper to have your veins injected rather than having them removed. It worked well for me.

My sister had hers removed privately it cost £3.5k. So it can be done, just not on the NHS. Worth it if you are self conscious about it.

Any advice about a good cream to put on inflamed veins?

There are are many natural supplements which have mixed success.
In other words, they work miraculously for some people and not others, it's just a case of trying.

Try Googling and see what you come up with.

Varicose vein surgery used to be carried out routinely on men and women until about 15 years ago or so. I had one leg done successfully about 20yrs ago but I think it is now definitely regarded as a cosmetic procedure and is not carried out under the NHS probably as a cost-cutting exercise.

cant you get them removed? My husband had his vv done a number of years ago and he says it was one of his better decisions

Hi User welcome if you're new. I also have bulging varicose veins in one leg. I asked the GP about them (they are unsightly and sometimes ache) and he told me "There is no treatment that isn't purely cosmetic, wear support stockings if they ache, nothing to be done".

So I think we are stuck with them .

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Attaching the images.