Varicose Veins Aren't Just a Cosmetic Issue

Article Via VIP Murfreesboro

By Lee Rennick

Amberlie Ballinger is a mother of two young boys, Nathan and Aaron. It takes lots of stamina to keep up with them, but Amberlie was having a hard time doing that. She was in constant leg pain, her legs would get
tired, throb, and be restless.

“Before my surgery I was having leg fatigue daily,” said Ballinger. “I even changed how I walked to compensate for the pain, which caused further issues to my feet, ankles etc. In the evenings, I would have restless leg many nights so my sleep was compromised.”

She is a stay at home mom who is active in her church, and she serves on the Stewart’s Creek Elementary PTO Board of Directors. When not busy at her children’s school, she loves to go traveling with her family and engage in all kinds of outdoor activities. It’s hard to stay engaged when walking not only hurts, but drains your energy.

When it all got to be too much, she reached out to Dr. Ramesh Gowda at Murfreesboro Medical Clinic’s Vascular Surgery and Vein Center for help. Her first office visit was a consultation to see what kind of procedure Amberlie was going to require. There are a number of possible ways to heal varicose veins, which she suffered from, depending on what exactly was going on in her legs.

First, he prescribed the wearing of compression stockings for two to three weeks to see if they would improve the situation. Compression stockings are specially made to be snug fitting, fitting tighter at the ankle and then loosening as they move up the leg. They help your blood vessels work better by giving them a bit of help pushing the blood back towards your heart when the veins in your legs are having trouble doing it on their own.

“It didn’t [improve] anything, in fact I thought my pain actually increased at times,” said Ballinger. “After the trial period [in compression stockings], I was scheduled for vein ultrasounds so they could see my vein structure within. Then I was scheduled for surgery after the review.”

“Everything was explained well,” added Ballinger, “and I had a clear understanding of what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. They were great!!”

Amberlie’s surgery was performed as an outpatient in Dr. Gowda’s office with a minimally invasive endovenous ablation to correct her painful legs and varicose veins.

Surgery was the first of two procedures that Amberlie had done by Dr. Gowda. Each leg was treated in two separate appointments over a four-week period.

“About a week post-surgery I could tell everything had improved,” Ballanger said with a smile. “Except for wearing compression stockings in the heat of the summer, I was no longer in pain or discomfort. Just sweaty from the tight-fitting socks. I feel like I have so much more energy now, and I’m able to give that back to my family with is a huge blessing!!”

Her second procedure, which she had done on both legs just recently, was a Spider Vein Removal, called sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy was developed in the 1930s. It is simple and can again be done on an outpatient basis. After the treatment, surface veins will fade over three to six weeks.

“I had the spider vein procedure as a follow up,” said Ballinger. “That was cosmetic, but I wanted to feel like I had a complete leg rehabilitation,’ and removing the unsightly surface veins that were a constant reminder to me that I had vein issues was important to me. I was feeling good, and wanted my legs to look healthy, too.”Now, Amberlie is back to having fun engaging in some of her favorite hobbies, like interior design and sewing, as she prepares to move into a new home with her sons and husband of 18 years, Bill. They have lived in Rutherford County for the last five years, and she looks forward to doing more exploring of the area with her family. She also enjoys playing cards and board games with friends.

“The entire staff at Dr. Gowda’s office are fantastic,” Ballinger exclaimed. “All the medical staff and front office staff really made me feel like a valued customer. They care about you as a person, and want to help you feel your best. They all have great bed side manner, and they make you feel comfortable and relaxed during all the procedures.”