Will this procedure stop restless legs and is it possible I will be able to do without the medication for restless legs?
Restless leg syndrome is not, necessarily, a function of varicose or spider veins or any venous insufficiency. If you have varicose or spider veins that you want gone, you may proceed with sclerotherapy. But do not do so with the expectation that your restless leg syndrome symptoms will be gone.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
It's possible for sclerotherapy plus ablation of other varicose veins to improve your symptoms.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Restless leg syndrome can be caused by various problems, one of which is venous insufficiency. If your doctor determines that you have venous insufficiency, and can treat it with Sclerotherapy (also called chemical ablation for larger veins), then this may improve your symptoms if they are due to the vein problem. However, for superficial spider veins, it is uncommon that this is the cause of restless leg symptoms.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Other answers to this question
There is a strong correlation between restless legs and venous insufficiency. If your ultrasound reveals venous insufficiency and it's treated, there is a strong chance that you will experience symptomatic improvement. If you are having sclerotherapy for spider veins only, this is doubtful. Of note, spider veins can cause symptoms. I recommend that you ask your vein doctor whether you have venous insufficiency or not.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
There is a strong correlation between restless legs and venous insufficiency. If your ultrasound reveals venous insufficiency and it's treated, there is a strong chance that you will experience symptomatic improvement. If you are having sclerotherapy for spider veins only, this is doubtful. Of note, spider veins can cause symptoms. I recommend that you ask your vein doctor whether you have venous insufficiency or not.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Although it is known that restless leg syndrome can be due to venous insufficiency, there are many causes of this problem and the exact mechanism for the cause of RLS is not known. It would be important for you to obtain a full venous ultrasound to look at both your superficial and deep systems. However, I am not aware of any evidence that treating spider veins will resolve RLS, and, if you do have venous insufficiency, treating this may or may not resolve your symptoms.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
I have not seen anything in the research to indicate this.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Many patients with restless leg syndrome and venous insufficiency do significantly better after having their vein problem treated. The treatment for the venous insufficiency most probably would include sclerotherapy of the insufficient veins. However surface sclerotherapy of spider veins will not help much for restless leg syndrome.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Often not.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Sclerotherapy will have no effect on restless leg syndrome.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Many, many very different problems can cause restless leg syndrome, including venous insufficiency. Some patients who have severe venous insufficiency will find that the RLS improves or resolves after treatment of the venous insufficiency, but one cannot count on this. Generally, sclerotherapy alone is not likely to resolve RLS, but sclerotherapy as a portion of treatment for venous insufficiency may be of help.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
It is possible that vein treatment will help RLS. Venous insufficiency is a
common cause of RLS. Sclerotherapy works nicely for treating many sizes of
diseased vessels.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Although there has been some suggestion that treatment of varicose veins may assist in restless leg there is no strong evidence that I am aware of.
I would suspect that sclerotherapy would be less likely to help with this.
Michael D. Ingegno, MD
General Vascular Surgery Group
San Leandro California
www.vasculargroup.com
Published on Jul 11, 2012