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Dr Stoll do you know of any good drs in the new england area that treat vein problems? Went for my MRI. Dr wrote up orders for knee and soft tissue of calf. When I got there the dr in charge of MRI told techs just to do knee. Said doing the calf would be another "series". I think they just want me to come back and get more of my money. Tech wouldn't give me details but I got the idea that there is no bakers cyst. Don't know whether I should bother seeing the ortho doc now. Called a doctor in mass who specializes in vascular surgery and problems after surgery. They set up an appointment and told me to bring all my records. I didn't realize it was so easy to get your records now. So I called the vascular lab where I had testing. This was the vascular doc who said that I had no reflux and I could get the veins that I didn't like the looks of injected. These are not spider veins. They are swollen but not twisted "in between" veins in calf were I had veins removed 3 years before. He also said I could wear support hose Leggs etc if I wanted to. When I got the copy of the report first they got the legs mixed up. Problems with left and they have it as right. It says I have "an incompetent deep venous system with small amount of reflux involving the popliteal above the knee and popliteal below the knee." I called and talked to the tech that did the test. She said yes there is some insufficiency but it is very very slight. Thats probably why the doctor didn't mention it because its so slight and it is probably not causing the problem I'm having, swelling in calf/pain. I asked if it was wise to have the veins in calf injected(sclerotherapy) and she said it would not cause a problem because they were so superficial. She said the refux is in the upper thigh, middle thigh, and lower leg.
What should I do??? If it is slight why does it appear to be getting worse so rapidly? If it is slight can I reverse it with exercise and supplements? Should I be wearing support hose all the time now to prevent this from getting worse? Why didn't the doctor tell me the truth in the first place? I felt like crying when I opened the letter they sent. And I wasted money on MRI. I'm not an expert but I'm guessing that the reason that my calf is swelling is because I had the veins there removed and there is no place for the refux to go except in calf and small veins?????
Looking for some good honest advice.
Thanks Doc Stoll
perennial
In Reply to: re:/calf pain/veins posted by perennial on July 17, 2003 at 10:25:51:
I would try castor oil packs. Try calling Cayce Corner Store
toll free 1866-812-8778. People have gotten amazing results with this treatment. I have read many good things about this and it's not harmful. Plus it's costs less than $10. Heal thyself. Think good thoughts too.
In Reply to: re:/calf pain/veins posted by perennial on July 17, 2003 at 10:25:51:
Again, sorry about the extra post doc. Could the changes in my calf muscle be a prelude to a leg ulcer? I am very upset and worried about this. And I am mad as hell at the vascular surgeon I saw. They don't won't to be bothered with you, what about prevention? Don't they believe in it? I feel like I was mislead.
In Reply to: Re: re:/calf pain/veins posted by Gen on July 17, 2003 at 10:58:15:
does Cayce have the castor oil packs or something else??
thanks
perennial,,,,I am sorry things did not turn out so well for you....I went to vascular doctor years ago when I was in so much pain - he said at the time, don't let anyone inject you or do surgery on you! I thanked him and said keep me informed,,,,several years I called back, and things had changed,,,,it was now OK for laser and surgery,,,,and I bit and had tests done and money out of my pocket too!! Could not afford the results!! So I am intersted in anything I can do "for myself"....
In Reply to: Re: re:/calf pain/veins posted by Jayne on July 17, 2003 at 15:07:43:
You can make the packs yourself. Get castor oil from the health food store. Take a cotton cloth fold the cloth in
thirds so it's thick. You can use cotton flannel or a thin terry cloth towel. Soak the cloth with castor oil, but not dripping wet. Wrap the cloth around leg with a piece of plastic and use a heating pad for an hour or two. I slept with my leg wrapped and no heating pad. Do this till your leg gets better. Be patient and pray to get better. The Edgar Cayce store does sell castor oil packs. I made my own. They also sell alot of other wonderful products.
In Reply to: Re: re:/calf pain/veins posted by Gen on July 17, 2003 at 20:47:41:
What is the castor oil pack supposed to do for you? Does it help with swelling and pain or is supposed to help varicose veins? Willing to try. My leg is very uncomfortable now. Cramps up at night, I think because I bend my knee when I sleep.
In Reply to: Re: re:/calf pain/veins posted by Jayne on July 17, 2003 at 15:07:43:
What were your symptoms Jayne. Do you have deep vein problems too? I am interested in the cream you suggested. BHI? Where can I get it? Don't know of anything else to do for yourself, I am just finding out what my problem is. Hard to pry anything out of some of these docs. Why are they so unwilling to be honest and help people?
In Reply to: Re: re:/calf pain/veins posted by perennial on July 17, 2003 at 22:52:01:
Perennial - the BHI cream comes in a tube and you have to get at a health food store....comes from England and they will not sell to anyone! I have learned more at health food stores and good books on DVT - Deep Vein Thrombosis/Varicose veins.....
In Reply to: Re: re:/calf pain/veins posted by perennial on July 17, 2003 at 22:42:47:
if you have night leg cramps,,,there is a Leg Cramp homeopathic pill.... with quinine - works quick, and is good,,,,also at Health food store:-)
In Reply to: re:/calf pain/veins posted by perennial on July 17, 2003 at 10:25:51:
Hi, Perennial.
Isn't the allopathic monopoly wonderful?
Remember that the diagnostic techniques we have available today (MRIs, etc.) will be considered grossly inadequate 100 years from now!
Slight reflux, as detected by an MRI could be very clinically significant in the leg. Since this involves the seep veins I am afraid that you are on the verge of having a worse problem. Injection will not work for this and surgery is not a solution either. Support is your only option along with frequent, gentle rebounding for short periods of time.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: re:/calf pain/veins posted by Walt Stoll on July 18, 2003 at 08:01:05:
Thanks for the advice doc. Actually the slight reflux was found when I had an ultrasound. That doc (vascular) didn't tell me about slight reflux. Thats why my GP set up MRI to find out what was going on. It was only when I asked for my records that I got the report that said they had found reflux. The vascular doc didn't tell me. Didn't think it was signifigant. So now I will try to get suport hose. Have read your posts about them. Only wear up to knee, right?
Rebounding is OK as long as I wear support? It is kind of a catch 22. Exercise will cause deep veins to reflux into other veins but not exercising will lead to weak muscles less support on deep veins, am I on the right track??? Thank you, everyone, for your support and advice. This BB is a godsend.
perennial
In Reply to: Re: re:/calf pain/veins posted by perennial on July 17, 2003 at 22:42:47:
Yes, the castor oil packs help with the swelling and pain and the varicose veins. Try them. It will help.
In Reply to: Re: re:/calf pain/veins posted by perennial on July 18, 2003 at 12:06:10:
Thanks, Perennial.
The study that indicated support above the knee made varicosities worse did not include people with deep vein insufficiency. Hopefully your reflux is not yet far enough advanced to have to be concerned about the total integrity of the deep veins.
There are normally 2 ways blood returns from the legs: 1. The valves in the deep veins are only a few inches (at most) apart and so only the stand-pipe pressure of that short distance exerts pressure on the next valve down. 2. Muscular contraction, as you use your legs, pumps the blood up above the valves.
Rebounding adds an additional factor of gravity pulsations.
If this were me, I would combine all of those factors and see what happens. If you ever need support it will have to go to your waist and be significant (like an astronaut's pressure suit).
Hope this helps.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: re:/calf pain/veins (Archive.) posted by Walt Stoll on July 19, 2003 at 07:56:13:
Maybe I should get thigh high support hose for my leg when I exercise? Tech who did ultasound said very slight reflux but in is in upper thigh, mid-thigh, and lower leg. Will exercise/rebounding help? Worried about clotting too from blood not circulating properly. Grandfather had clotting problems with legs.
thanks again doc for your help. Can't believe you find the time to help all the people on the board but sure glad you do.
perennial
In Reply to: Re: re:/calf pain/veins (Archive.) posted by perennial on July 19, 2003 at 09:52:39:
Thanks, Perennial.
I woudl think that when you exercise is when you would need the support the least (at this stage). It is when you are sitting or standing that you need the support.
You can help prevent the clotting by taking an adult aspirin twice a week. Also, omega 3 fish oils help the same process.
Walt
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